Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar wrote: > Published 3/2/2007 > > Another Perspective = The Myth of Afghanistan > > By Hal G.P. Colebatch [a lawyer and author, has lectured in > International Law and International Relations at Notre Dame > University and Edith Cowan University in Western Australia > and worked on the staff of two Australian Federal Ministers.] > > Quote --- > > *** The very word "Afghanistan" has come to mean something like > "graveyard of invading armies." Type "British Defeat Afghanistan" > into Google and you will come up with about 3,360,000 entries. > > It is a myth the British themselves largely created. <snip> Colebatch, as many historians are, is being somewhat selective in his choice of examples. Yes, he is partly correct in so far as the charges of the Light and Heavy Brigades are concerned, but set that against two linked happenings in the Zulu War, the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift in 1879. Until a few years ago Isandwana, perhaps the most complete defeat by the British Army, some 1,500 troops being killed by the rampant Impi.was an engagement unknown to the public. However a couple of days later at Rorke' Drift, only a few miles away, were 145 troops defending the small border post against the Zulus where after ferocious fighting for ten hours the Zulus were driven off. It was not the defeat at Isandawa that was impressed on the mind of the public, but the 'triumph' of Rorke's Drift was hailed as a high point in the annals of the British army. So far as Afghanistan is concerned the major British debacle there was the First Afghan War. All started well so far as the British were concerned, and after a while they summoned their wives and households to Kabul, where they led life as if on an Indian cantonment. Part of the force returned to India, and there was a change in command. At that the position deteriorated, concessions were made to the Afghans and finally a 'safe conduct' was accepted, in return for which the British would return to India. The winter was bad, the temperatures freezing, when the force meandered out of Kabul towards the pass and India. Sniping started immediately, many died from the cold and finally, the higher command having presented themselves as 'hostages' to the Afghans for a 'safe passage' for the troops and remaining camp followers. Ambushes and road blocks were in place through out the pass, and the slaughter continued. Finally there were but a very few left. The final stand took place at Gandamak on the morning of 13th January 1842 in the snow. 20 officers and 45 European soldiers, mostly of the 44th Foot, found themselves surrounded on a hillock. The Afghans attempted to persuade the soldiers that they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began followed a series of rushes. Captain Souter, (a gr gr grandfather of mine), wrapped the colours of the regiment around his body and was dragged into captivity with two or three soldiers. One person had escaped the previous night, without orders. It was the evocative painting of him riding an exhausted horse that was the subject of Lady Butler's painting "The Remnants of an Army", towards the walls of Jallallabad that afternoon that is possibly the most poignant image of these events. Elphlenstone, through age and illness, was not fit for command, but was able to prevent others on his staff showing any spark of initiative or leadership.The entire force of 690 British soldiers, 2,840 Indian soldiers and 12,000 followers were killed or in a few cases taken prisoner. The 44th Foot lost 22 officers and 645 soldiers, mostly killed. Afghan casualties, largely Ghilzai tribesmen, are unknown. Even set against the casualties sustained in WW I this is probably the greatest single defeat suffered by Great Britain, through her agent, the H.E.I.C.. Prior to this British force of arms had been thought invincible in the sub-continent, the retreat from Kabul illustrated that this manifestly was not so. An uneasy underswell originating here could well have helped fuel the fires of the Mutiny in 1857. This was a disaster well beyond that at Isandwa, from which long lasting lessons were learnt by the British: The First Afghan War provided the clear lesson to the British authorities that while it may be relatively straightforward to invade Afghanistan it is wholly impracticable to occupy the country or attempt to impose a government not welcomed by the inhabitants. The only result will be failure and great expense in treasure and lives. Another was that the political officers must not be permitted to predominate over military judgments. Soviet Russia's experience shows that these lessons still hold good, but the memory now appears be fading in the minds of our political lords and masters. Yours Aye Andrew Sellon For God's sake, do not drag me into another war! I am worn down and worn out with crusading and defending Europe and protecting mankind; I must think a little of myself. I am sorry for the Spaniards – I am sorry for the Greeks – I deplore the fate of the Jews; the people of the Sandwich Islands are groaning under the most detestable tyranny; Baghdad is oppressed – I do not like the present state of the Delta – Tibet is not comfortable. Am I to fight for all these people? Am I to be Champion of the Decalogue and to be eternally raising fleets and armies to make all men good and happy? We have just done saving Europe, and I am afraid the consequence will be that we shall cut each other's throats Rev. Sydney Smith 1771-1854, Canon of St. Paul's.

Andrew Sellon <andrew@sellon.vispa.com> wrote: Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar wrote: > Published 3/2/2007 >Andrew Sellon wrote > > , concessions were made to the Afghans and finally >a 'safe conduct' was accepted, in return for which the British would >return to India. >. The final stand took place at >Gandamak on the morning of 13th January 1842 in the snow. 20 officers >and 45 European soldiers, mostly of the 44th Foot, found themselves >surrounded on a hillock. The Afghans attempted to persuade the soldiers >that they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began followed a >series of rushes. Captain Souter, (a gr gr grandfather of mine), wrapped >the colours of the regiment around his body and was dragged into >captivity with two or three soldiers. >One person had escaped the previous night, without orders. It was the >evocative painting of him riding an exhausted horse that was the subject >of Lady Butler's painting "The Remnants of an Army", towards the walls >of Jallallabad that afternoon that is possibly the most poignant image >of these events. Comment by Moira Breen This is known as the First Afghan War in British history 1839-42 The above is the Retreat from Kabul in January 1842 and described in great detail in www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak which also has some very good copies of paintings of this event. This site can also be accessed through Google. 4500 British troops and 1200- civillians were lost. Dr Brydon is the "one person who escaped" and is the subject of Lady Butler's painting. My mother had a copy of this painting on the stairway when I was growing up as a child in India and from a very early age I learnt about this battle. My father was a physician in the British Military Hospital in Quetta - on the border of Afghanistan and India (now Pakistan) - and where I lived the first 3 years of my life. This part of the world is very much in our news on TV everynight and many of the conclusions drawn from the War of 1842 cited by Andrew Sellon are still relevant to-day. Moira Breen USA

> We have recently added details of the action at Gandamak on the > FIBIS Battle Index. I have been unable to find the background of > Captain Souter or what happened to him after his capture. Does > anyone have any knowledge of any records we can link to? > >> . The final stand took place at >> Gandamak on the morning of 13th January 1842 in the snow. 20 officers >> and 45 European soldiers, mostly of the 44th Foot, found themselves >> surrounded on a hillock. The Afghans attempted to persuade the >> soldiers >> that they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began followed a >> series of rushes. Captain Souter, (a gr gr grandfather of mine), >> wrapped >> the colours of the regiment around his body and was dragged into >> captivity with two or three soldiers. Thanks Sy

----- Original Message ----- From: "Sy Morse-Brown" <symb@mac.com> To: <india-british-raj@rootsweb.com> >>>>> surrounded on a hillock. The Afghans attempted to persuade the >>> soldiers >>> that they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began followed a >>> series of rushes. Captain Souter, (a gr gr grandfather of mine), >>> wrapped >>> the colours of the regiment around his body and was dragged into >>> captivity with two or three soldiers. I am glad we don't have the rest of the story although - Kipling knew. Sally

Moira I would like very much, to have viewed the URL below but I am 'told' 'Directory Listing is Denied' . If John F is reading this, perhaps he can tweak a tiny url - or something ?! Wishes Sally S > Comment by Moira Breen > This is known as the First Afghan War in British history 1839-42 > The above is the Retreat from Kabul in January 1842 and described in > great detail in www.britishbattles.com/first-afghan-war/kabul-gandamak > which also has some very good copies of paintings of this event. This > site can also be accessed through Google. 4500 British troops and 1200- > civillians were lost.