Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
Encyclopedia
The Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment was a battle fought in December 1879, during the Second Anglo-Afghan War
.
On 3 September 1879 Sir Pierre Cavagnari, the British Resident
in Kabul, and his escort were massacre
d by mutinous Afghan troops, initiating the second phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
.
A force was assembled and named the Kabul Field Force
, under the command of major-general Frederick Roberts
. After defeating Afghan forces at Chariasab on 6 October, Roberts marched into Kabul on 13 October.
At the end of November, an army under the command of Mohammed Jan, who had denounced Yaqub Khan as a British puppet and instead declared Musa Jan the new amir, gathered in the area north of Kabul. On 11 December a small detachment (c.170 men) of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
and the 14th Bengal Lancers encountered a 10,000+ Afghan army advancing on Kabul. As it was of the utmost importance that Mohammed Jan's advance was delayed the woefully outnumbered Lancers charged the Afghans. Heavy casualties were suffered and the Afghans continued their advance. On December 15, the Afghan army began to besiege
the British forces entrenched in the Sherpur Cantonment
.
As news of a relief column under the command of Brigadier General Charles Gough
reached Mohammed Jan, he ordered his troops to storm the cantonment on 23 December. By midday, the assault had been repulsed, and the Afghan army dispersed. No quarter
was given to Afghans found in the area with weapons.
The Sherpur Cantonment
is maintained up to the present as a British military cemetery.
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
.
On 3 September 1879 Sir Pierre Cavagnari, the British Resident
Resident (title)
A Resident, or in full Resident Minister, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of indirect rule....
in Kabul, and his escort were massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
d by mutinous Afghan troops, initiating the second phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
.
A force was assembled and named the Kabul Field Force
Kabul Field Force
The Kabul Field Force was a field force created in September 1879 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, under the command of General Frederick Roberts...
, under the command of major-general Frederick Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
. After defeating Afghan forces at Chariasab on 6 October, Roberts marched into Kabul on 13 October.
At the end of November, an army under the command of Mohammed Jan, who had denounced Yaqub Khan as a British puppet and instead declared Musa Jan the new amir, gathered in the area north of Kabul. On 11 December a small detachment (c.170 men) of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
9th Queen's Royal Lancers
The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, or the Delhi Spearmen, were a cavalry regiment of the British Army. They are best known for their roles in the Indian mutiny of 1857 and for their part in the North African campaign of World War II including the retreat to and the battle of El Alamein in 1942.-Early...
and the 14th Bengal Lancers encountered a 10,000+ Afghan army advancing on Kabul. As it was of the utmost importance that Mohammed Jan's advance was delayed the woefully outnumbered Lancers charged the Afghans. Heavy casualties were suffered and the Afghans continued their advance. On December 15, the Afghan army began to besiege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
the British forces entrenched in the Sherpur Cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
.
As news of a relief column under the command of Brigadier General Charles Gough
Charles John Stanley Gough
General Sir Charles John Stanley Gough VC, GCB was born in Chittagong, India was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:At age 16, Gough moved to India,...
reached Mohammed Jan, he ordered his troops to storm the cantonment on 23 December. By midday, the assault had been repulsed, and the Afghan army dispersed. No quarter
No quarter
A victor gives no quarter when the victor shows no clemency or mercy and refuses to spare the life in return for the surrender at discretion of a vanquished opponent....
was given to Afghans found in the area with weapons.
The Sherpur Cantonment
Sherpur Cantonment
Sherpur Cantonment, or the British Cemetery, is located in Kabul, Afghanistan.The place used to be a British military camp or Cantonment, the site of the 1879 Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment in the Second Anglo-Afghan War....
is maintained up to the present as a British military cemetery.
British Indian Army Regiments
- 12th Cavalry
- 14th Murray’s Lancers
- Queen’s Own Corps of Guides
- 5th Cavalry, Punjab Frontier Force
- 1st PWO Sappers and Miners
- 23rd Bengal Native Infantry (Pioneers)
- 28th Bengal Native Infantry (Punjabis)
- 3rd Sikh Infantry
- 5th Punjabis (Vaughan’s Rifles)
- 2nd Gurkha Rifles
- 4th Gurkha Rifles
- 5th Gurkha Rifles
- 22nd (Derajat) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)
- 24th (Hazara) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)