Bobbie
Encyclopedia
Bobbie was the name of a British regimental mascot dog, a mongrel from Reading
, who accompanied his regiment to Afghanistan
and became involved in the disaster of Maiwand
. He survived and upon his return to England was presented to Queen Victoria.
, and went overseas with the regiment in the late 1870s.
In 1880 the regiment was stationed at the fort in Kandahar
, Afghanistan
, which had been occupied by the British since January 1879, just after the start of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
.
On 3 July 1880 a column of some 2,700 troops under Brigadier George Burrows set out from Kandahar to assist friendly tribesmen in putting down a rebellion by Ayub Khan. Bobbie accompanied the troops. For ten days Burrows searched for the rebel force. Meanwhile, the friendly tribesmen turned out not to be so friendly, leaving Burrows' force to face an ever-increasing rebel army in countryside where every man's hand was ready to turn against them.
Eventually the British force was surrounded and attacked by the much larger Afghan force. Along with a line of Indian regiments and cavalry, the 66th Foot made a determined stand while the guns were evacuated, Bobbie barking furiously at the attackers. The British were over-run, over half of the 66th regiment being wiped out, while the survivors had no option but to get back as best they could to Kandahar. In the confusion Bobbie got lost, but the following day, survivors making their way back to the fort spotted him trying to catch up, though he was wounded. He was re-united with his owner, who was also on the wounded list.
Upon arrival back in England Bobbie was presented to Queen Victoria along with several soldiers of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment who received their Distinguished Conduct Orders.
Unfortunately, a year later, Bobbie was accidentally run over and killed by a hansom cab
in Gosport
. He was stuffed and can be seen today at the regimental museum in Salisbury, decorated with an unknown soldier's Afghan War medal.
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, who accompanied his regiment to Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and became involved in the disaster of Maiwand
Battle of Maiwand
The Battle of Maiwand in 1880 was one of the principal battles of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Under the leadership of Malalai Anaa, the legendary woman of Afghanistan, the Afghan followers of Ayub Khan defeated the British Army in one of the rare nineteenth-century victories of an Asian force...
. He survived and upon his return to England was presented to Queen Victoria.
Life
Bobbie belonged to Lance-Sergeant Peter Kelly of the 66th Regiment of Foot (the Berkshire Regiment). He was initially stationed at Brock BarracksBrock Barracks
Brock Barracks is a British Army barracks in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. Located on Oxford Road in the district of West Reading. The majority of the buildings and structures within Brock Barracks are Grade II listed.- History :...
, and went overseas with the regiment in the late 1870s.
In 1880 the regiment was stationed at the fort in Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, which had been occupied by the British since January 1879, just after the start of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
European influence in Afghanistan
The European influence in Afghanistan refers to political, social, and sometimes imperialistic influence several European nations have had on this historical development of Afghanistan.-Rise of Dost Mohammad Khan:...
.
On 3 July 1880 a column of some 2,700 troops under Brigadier George Burrows set out from Kandahar to assist friendly tribesmen in putting down a rebellion by Ayub Khan. Bobbie accompanied the troops. For ten days Burrows searched for the rebel force. Meanwhile, the friendly tribesmen turned out not to be so friendly, leaving Burrows' force to face an ever-increasing rebel army in countryside where every man's hand was ready to turn against them.
Eventually the British force was surrounded and attacked by the much larger Afghan force. Along with a line of Indian regiments and cavalry, the 66th Foot made a determined stand while the guns were evacuated, Bobbie barking furiously at the attackers. The British were over-run, over half of the 66th regiment being wiped out, while the survivors had no option but to get back as best they could to Kandahar. In the confusion Bobbie got lost, but the following day, survivors making their way back to the fort spotted him trying to catch up, though he was wounded. He was re-united with his owner, who was also on the wounded list.
Upon arrival back in England Bobbie was presented to Queen Victoria along with several soldiers of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment who received their Distinguished Conduct Orders.
Unfortunately, a year later, Bobbie was accidentally run over and killed by a hansom cab
Hansom cab
The hansom cab is a kind of horse-drawn cart designed and patented in 1834 by Joseph Hansom, an architect from York. The vehicle was developed and tested by Hansom in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. Originally called the Hansom safety cab, it was designed to combine speed with safety, with a low...
in Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
. He was stuffed and can be seen today at the regimental museum in Salisbury, decorated with an unknown soldier's Afghan War medal.
External links
- Dogs in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
- http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/10460_memorial_for_dog_hero_of_maiwand Picture of Bobbie
- http://www.britishbattles.com/most-massacred.htm Two paintings of Bobbie in the thick of the fight