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{{War|name=Tibet Expedition |dates=Dec 1903 – Sept 1904 |image=Tibetimage.jpg |location=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet Tibet] |combatant1=British Field Force |combatant2= Tibetan Armed Forces|result=[http://tibetjustice.org/materials/treaties/treaties10.html Anglo-Tibetan Agreement of 1904] |medal=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet_Medal Tibet Medal]| category=[[:Category:Tibet Expedition|Tibet Expedition]] |link1= }}
{{War|name=Tibet Expedition |dates=Dec 1903 – Sept 1904 |image=Tibet-flag-free.jpg |location=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet Tibet] |combatant1=British Field Force |combatant2= Tibetan Armed Forces|result=[http://tibetjustice.org/materials/treaties/treaties10.html Anglo-Tibetan Agreement of 1904] |medal=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet_Medal Tibet Medal]| category=[[:Category:Tibet Expedition|Tibet Expedition]] |link1= }}
{{Battlemap|war=Tibet Expedition 1903-04|link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.000478a21a9b85b1eee21&ll=28.468691,89.868164&spn=3.515063,5.020752&t=p&z=8 }}
{{Battlemap|war=Tibet Expedition 1903-04|link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.000478a21a9b85b1eee21&ll=28.468691,89.868164&spn=3.515063,5.020752&t=p&z=8 }}
The '''Expedition to Tibet''' in 1903-04, also known as the '''Anglo-Tibet War'''.


== Summary ==
== Summary ==
'''The expedition to [[Tibet]] in 1903-04, also known as the Anglo-Tibet War'''. At the beginning of the 20th century Britain and Russia were competing for influence in Central Asia. To counter the perceived threat, the British sent an expedition under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Younghusband Francis Younghusband] to negotiate with the Tibetans. The first excursion with Claude White, the Political Officer for Sikkim, to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khamber_Jong Khamba Jong] was rebuffed and a field force was dispatched through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelep_La Jelep Pass]. The Tibetans were defeated at two major battles and the expedition reached Lhasa in August 1904. The Dalai Lama had fled but Younghusband forced a one-sided treaty on the regent which gave Britain trading rights in Tibet. This was later repudiated by the Tibetans.
At the beginning of the 20th century Britain and Russia were competing for influence in Central Asia. To counter the perceived threat, the British sent an expedition under [[Francis Younghusband]] to negotiate with the Tibetans. The first excursion with Claude White, the Political Officer for Sikkim, to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khamber_Jong Khamba Jong] was rebuffed and a field force was dispatched through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelep_La Jelep Pass]. The Tibetans were defeated at two major battles and the expedition reached Lhasa in August 1904. The Dalai Lama had fled but Younghusband forced a one-sided treaty on the regent which gave Britain trading rights in Tibet. This was later repudiated by the Tibetans.


== Field Force ==
== Field Forces ==
'''First Excursion'''<br>
'''First Excursion'''<br>
''British Commissioner to Tibet: [[Francis Younghusband|Major Francis Younghusband]]''<br>
''Political Officer for Sikkim: [[Photographer#Books|J Claude White]]''
*200 [[32nd Punjab Pioneers|32nd Pioneers]]
*200 [[32nd Punjab Pioneers|32nd Pioneers]]
*300 support<br>
*300 followers<br>
'''Mission Escort'''<br>
'''Tibet Mission'''<br>
*Six Coys [[44th Gurkha Rifles|8th Gurkhas]]
''British Commissioner to Tibet:  [[Francis Younghusband|Major Francis Younghusband]]''<br>
*Eight Coys [[23rd Punjab Pioneers|23rd Pioneers]]
''Escort Commander: [http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101034705/ Brig-Gen James Macdonald CB]''
*Half Coy 2nd Sappers
*Six Coys [[44th Gurkha Rifles|8th Gurkhas]] ''Lt-Col Kerr''
*Maxim gun detachment of [[9th Regiment of Foot|Norfolk Regiment]]
*Eight Coys [[23rd Punjab Pioneers|23rd Pioneers]] ''Lt-Col Hogge''
*Two 7-pounder guns of 8th Gurkhas
*Half Coy 2nd Sappers ''Maj Haycock''
*Two guns No 7 Mountain Battery
*Maxim gun detachment of [[9th Regiment of Foot|Norfolk Regiment]] ''Lt Hadow''
*Two 7-pounder guns of 8th Gurkhas ''Capt Leeke''
*Two 10 pounder guns of No 7 Mountain Battery Royal Garrison Artillery ''Maj Fuller''
*Field Hospital
*Field Hospital
*Engineer Field Park
*Engineer Field Park
*Ammunition Column
*Ammunition Column
*Telegraph, postal and survey detachments<br>
*Telegraph, postal and survey detachments<br>
'''Reinforcements'''<br>
'''Later Reinforcements'''<br>
*One Wing  [[7th Regiment of Foot|Royal Fusiliers]]
*One Wing  [[7th Regiment of Foot|Royal Fusiliers]] ''Col Cooper DSO''
*[[40th Regiment of Punjab Infantry|40th Pathans]]
*[[40th Regiment of Punjab Infantry|40th Pathans]] ''Lt-Col Campbell DSO''
*[[29th Regiment of Punjab Infantry|29th Punjabis]]
*[[7th Regiment of Punjab Infantry|19th Punjabis]] ''Maj Herbert''
*Three Coys Mounted Infantry ''Capts Otterley & Peterson, Maj Rowlandson''
*Maxim gun detachment of [[83rd Regiment of Foot|Royal Irish Rifles]] ''Lt Bowen Colthurst''
*Two 7-pounder RML guns of No 30 Mountain Battery ''Lt Marindin''
*Two 10-pounder RML guns of No 27 Mountain Battery ''Lt Field''
'''Followers'''
*10,000 transport drivers
*8,000 supply and transport coolies
*10,500 mules and ponies
*400 donkeys
*9,225 bullocks and yaks


== Chronology ==
== Chronology ==
Line 39: Line 54:
|-
|-
|  4 July
|  4 July
|  Claude White (Sikkim Political Officer] left Tangu
|  Claude White (Sikkim Political Officer) left Tangu
|-
|-
|  5 July
|  5 July
Line 60: Line 75:
|-
|-
|  12 December
|  12 December
|  Crossed the border at [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelep_La Jelep Jelep La] 4267m
|  Crossed the border at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelep_La Jelep Jelep La] 4267m
|-
|-
|  14 December  
|  14 December  
Line 90: Line 105:
|-
|-
|  26 May
|  26 May
|  Battle of Palla
[[Battle of Palla]]
|-
|  6 June
|  [[Action at Kangma]]
|-
|-
|  6 July
|  6 July
Line 110: Line 128:
| Reached Lhasa
| Reached Lhasa
|}
|}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_expedition_to_Tibet British Expedition to Tibet] Wikipedia
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_expedition_to_Tibet British Expedition to Tibet] Wikipedia
*[http://tibettalk.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/the-younghusband-expedition/ The Younghusband Expedition] tibettalk.wordpress.com
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404074508/https://tibettalk.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/the-younghusband-expedition/ The Younghusband Expedition] tibettalk.wordpress.com, archived.
*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=P7pdbiFCW80C&pg=PP1&dq=India+and+Tibet+Younghusband&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false India & Tibet by Francis Younghusband] Google Books
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Younghusband Francis Younghusband] Wikipedia
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Younghusband Francis Younghusband] Wikipedia
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=y39xtFqUn5sC&pg=PA364#v=onepage&q=&f=false List of Officers on the Lhasa Mission] Google Books
*[http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/430387/Images-of-Empire-amazing-pictures-show-the-entry-of-British-forces-into-Tibet-in-1904 Images of Empire - amazing pictures show the entry of British forces into Tibet in 1904]  September 18, 2013 www.express.co.uk
*[http://intotibet1903-04.blogspot.com/2008/12/2nd-rajput-mess-alipore-calcutta.html 50 Letters from Capt Mainprise] blogspot.com
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113238/http://www.taroscopes.com/miscellanous-pages/rapeofindia.pdf  "Officers, Gentlemen and Thieves: The Looting of Monasteries during the 1903/4 Younghusband Mission to Tibet"] by Michael Carrington ''Modern Asian Studies 37, 1 (2003''), pp. 81–109, archived.
*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1beWTgMf4VUC&pg=PA506&lpg=PR506&dq=Chumbi&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=Chumbi&f=false Chronology of the Expedition] Google Books
*[https://ryderarchives.weebly.com/tibet.html "Survey work in Tibet"] Captain  Charles Ryder of the Survey of India was in charge of survey work on the Younghusband expedition  He later became the Surveyor-General of India. Ryder Archives.
==== Historical books online ====
*[https://www.archive.org/stream/lhasaaccountofco02land#page/364/mode/2up/ List of Officers on the Lhasa Mission who actually reached Lhasa.] by Perceval Landon. Archive.org, see below. Some of the  medical personnel are not on this list.
*[https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.13256/page/n769 Chronology of the Expedition] by L Austine Waddell  Archive.org, see below.
*[https://archive.org/details/jramc-1904-vol3/page/271/mode/2up "With the Thibet Mission Force"] by Major A. R. Aldridge ''J R Army Med Corps'' 1904;3:3 272-273 Archive.org
:[https://archive.org/details/journalofroyalar4190grea/page/234/mode/2up "With the Tibet Mission Force"] by Major A. R. Aldridge J'' R Army Med Corps'' 1905;4:2 235-240 Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/jramc-1904-vol3/page/535/mode/2up "With the Sikkim Tibet Mission Force"] by Captain C. W. Mainprise ''J R Army Med Corps'' 1904;3:5 535-538 Archive.org
:Captain Mainprise also wrote many letters which have been transcribed online as ''Field Force To Lhasa 1903-04''. 50 Letters from Captain Cecil Mainprise.<ref>[http://intotibet1903-04.blogspot.com/2008/12/2nd-rajput-mess-alipore-calcutta.html ''Field Force To Lhasa 1903-04'']. 50 Letters from Captain Cecil Mainprise. intotibet1903-04.blogspot.com.</ref>
*[https://archive.org/details/jramc-1906-vol6/page/n79/mode/2up "Reprint: The Tibet Mission Force, 1903-1904"] ''J R Army Med Corps'' 1906;6:1 67-90. It is not stated what this article is reprinted from, but it appears to an official report for government. Archive.org
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/unitedservicema00pollgoog#page/n713/mode/1up "Across the North East Frontier"] by Colonel HC Wylly , page 642 ''The United Service Magazine Volume 29 New Series April 1904 to September 1904'' Archive.org
*''Lhasa and Its Mysteries: A Record of the Expedition of 1903-1904'' by L Austine Waddell  Lieut.-Colonel, Indian Medical Service. [https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.13256/page/n7  1905, original edition. With illustrations] Archive.org, Public Library of India Collection. [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433082446406?urlappend=%3Bseq=15 2nd edition 1905. With illustrations] (rotatable) Hathi Trust Digital Library. [https://archive.org/details/cu31924023498813 3rd and Cheaper edition 1906] With a lesser number of illustrations. Archive.org. The author, who took part in the expedition and was mentioned in despatches,  was also a Tibetan scholar  and explorer. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Waddell Laurence Waddell] Wikipedia.
*''Lhasa: An Account of the Country and People of Central Tibet and of the Progress of the Mission sent there by the English Government in the year 1903-04'' by Perceval Landon 1905 Archive.org. [http://www.archive.org/stream/lhasaaccountofco01land#page/n9/mode/2up  Volume 1], [http://www.archive.org/stream/lhasaaccountofco02land#page/n9/mode/2up Volume 2]. The author was special correspondent of ''The Times'' on the expedition. USA edition title: [https://archive.org/details/openingoftibet00land  ''The Opening of Tibet''] Archive.org. A one volume edition which appears to have less photographs, but  which may possibly  include a different selection of images.
*[https://archive.org/details/unveilingoflhasa00cand ''The Unveiling of Lhasa''] by Edmund Candler 1905. Archive.org. The author was the ''Daily Mail'' correspondent accompanying the expeditionary force.
*[https://archive.org/details/tolhassaatlast00millrich/page/n7 ''To Lhassa at Last''] by Powell Millington (pseud. i.e.  Captain Mark Synge, later Lt-Col, Supply and Transport Corps) 1905 Archive.org
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/frontieroverseas04indi#page/n9/mode/2up ''Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India: Volume 4  North and North-Eastern Frontier tribes''] by Intelligence Branch Army Headquarters India 1907 Archive.org. Includes Tibet.
*[https://archive.org/details/cu31924023224490 ''With Mounted Infantry In Tibet''] by Brevet Major W J Ottley, 34th Sikh Pioneers 1906 Archive.org.
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924023235108 ''India and Tibet. A History of the Relations which have Subsisted between the Two Countries from the Time of Warren Hastings to 1910; with a Particular Account of the Mission to Lhasa of 1904''] by Sir Francis Younghusband KCIE. Published by John Murray 1910. Archive.org. 
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/IndianMountainArtillery/mountainartillery#page/n129/mode/2up  "Tibet"], page 115, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' by Brigadier-General C A L Graham 1957 Archive.org.
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924024155206 ''Sikhim And Bhutan, Twenty-one Years On The North-east Frontier 1887-1908''] by [[Photographer#Books|J Claude White]]. Archive.org 1909 edition.
*[http://www.kingscollections.org/servingsoldier/collection/reminiscences-of-tibet "Reminiscences of Tibet"]. Online report by Frederick Campbell who accompanied the Younghusband Expedition to Lhasa, Tibet, 1904. [http://www.kingscollections.org/servingsoldier/home  The Serving Soldier] King’s College London Collections.
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/greatplateaubein00rawl#page/n207/mode/2up "The Gartok Expedition 1904-1905"], page 159 ''The Great Plateau being an account of exploration in Central Tibet, 1903, and of the Gartok expedition, 1904-1905'' by Captain C. G. Rawling 1905 Archive.org. The terms of the Treaty provided that a trade mart be opened at Gartok and the expedition took place to survey the area and select a suitable location.
*[https://archive.org/details/britishdocuments04greabyu/page/304 “The British Expedition to Thibet 1903-4”] page 306 ''British documents on the origins of the war, 1898-1914, Volume IV:  The Anglo-Russian Rapprochment, 1903-7'' edited by  G P Gooch and Harold Temperley 1929. Archive.org
*[https://archive.org/details/bayonetstolhasaf00flem ''Bayonets to Lhasa: the first full account of the British invasion of Tibet in 1904''] by Peter Fleming  1961. Archive.org Lending Library. [https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.29537  Another file, Archive.org], mirror from the collection of the  Archaeological Survey of India at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
*[https://pahar.in/indian-subcontinent-books/  ''Postal History of Indian Military Campaigns: Sikkim-Tibet, 1903-1908''] by  D. S. Virk 1989. Pdf to download. Pahar-Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset, category Books/Indian Subcontinent, scroll down to 1989.
*[https://archive.org/details/trespassersonroo0000hopk/page/158  "Chapter 10. Lhasa – At Last"] page 159 ''Trespassers on the Roof of the World : the Secret Exploration of Tibet'' by  Peter Hopkirk 1995. Archive.org Lending Library. Peter Hopkirk was with ''The Times of London'' for nineteen years, as chief reporter and Middle and Far East specialist.
*[https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.31280/page/5/mode/2up "A North-East Frontier Cemetery"] by W J Buchanan page 6, ''Bengal, Past and Present'' Vol 9 July-Dec 1914. Gnatong on the trade route from Sikkhim to Tibet. Archive.org, mirror from ASI/IGNCA
 
==References==
<references/>
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== Recommended Reading ==
'''India and Tibet''', A History of the Relations which have Subsisted between the Two Countries from  the Time of Warren Hastings to 1910; with a Particular Account of the Mission to Lhasa of 1904. by Sir Francis Younghusband KCIE. Published by John Murray 1910. Reprinted by LLP 2002. ISBN 81-7536-278-2<br>
'''Sikhim And Bhutan''', Twenty-one Years On The North-east Frontier 1887-1908. by J Claude White. Published by Asian Educational Services, Delhi 2000. Reprinted by LLP 2008. ISBN 81-7536-164-6 & ISBN 9788175361645, 978-8175361645 [http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924024155206 Archive.org] 1909 edition.


[[Category:Minor Campaigns|Tibet Expedition]]
[[Category:Minor Campaigns|Tibet Expedition]]
[[Category:Tibet Expedition| Tibet Expedition]]
[[Category:Tibet Expedition| Tibet Expedition]]
[[Category:Campaigns with FIBIS Battle Maps|Tibet Expedition]]
[[Category:Campaigns with FIBIS Battle Maps|Tibet Expedition]]

Latest revision as of 01:13, 21 September 2024

Tibet Expedition
Dec 1903 – Sept 1904
Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns
Location: Tibet
Combatants:
British Field Force Tibetan Armed Forces
Result: Anglo-Tibetan Agreement of 1904
Medals: Tibet Medal
Links:
Category: Tibet Expedition
See our interactive map of
Tibet Expedition 1903-04
locations and routes on Google Maps

The Expedition to Tibet in 1903-04, also known as the Anglo-Tibet War.

Summary

At the beginning of the 20th century Britain and Russia were competing for influence in Central Asia. To counter the perceived threat, the British sent an expedition under Francis Younghusband to negotiate with the Tibetans. The first excursion with Claude White, the Political Officer for Sikkim, to Khamba Jong was rebuffed and a field force was dispatched through the Jelep Pass. The Tibetans were defeated at two major battles and the expedition reached Lhasa in August 1904. The Dalai Lama had fled but Younghusband forced a one-sided treaty on the regent which gave Britain trading rights in Tibet. This was later repudiated by the Tibetans.

Field Forces

First Excursion
British Commissioner to Tibet: Major Francis Younghusband
Political Officer for Sikkim: J Claude White

Tibet Mission
British Commissioner to Tibet: Major Francis Younghusband
Escort Commander: Brig-Gen James Macdonald CB

  • Six Coys 8th Gurkhas Lt-Col Kerr
  • Eight Coys 23rd Pioneers Lt-Col Hogge
  • Half Coy 2nd Sappers Maj Haycock
  • Maxim gun detachment of Norfolk Regiment Lt Hadow
  • Two 7-pounder guns of 8th Gurkhas Capt Leeke
  • Two 10 pounder guns of No 7 Mountain Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Maj Fuller
  • Field Hospital
  • Engineer Field Park
  • Ammunition Column
  • Telegraph, postal and survey detachments

Later Reinforcements

  • One Wing Royal Fusiliers Col Cooper DSO
  • 40th Pathans Lt-Col Campbell DSO
  • 19th Punjabis Maj Herbert
  • Three Coys Mounted Infantry Capts Otterley & Peterson, Maj Rowlandson
  • Maxim gun detachment of Royal Irish Rifles Lt Bowen Colthurst
  • Two 7-pounder RML guns of No 30 Mountain Battery Lt Marindin
  • Two 10-pounder RML guns of No 27 Mountain Battery Lt Field

Followers

  • 10,000 transport drivers
  • 8,000 supply and transport coolies
  • 10,500 mules and ponies
  • 400 donkeys
  • 9,225 bullocks and yaks

Chronology

First Excursion

19 June 1903 Mission left Darjeeling
21 June Reached Gangtok
26 June Arrived at Tangu
4 July Claude White (Sikkim Political Officer) left Tangu
5 July Mr White reached Diagong
7 July Mr White reached Khamba Dzong
18 July Younghusband reached Khamba Dzong
11 October Younghusband left Khamba Dzong for Simla

Mission to Lhasa

5 December 1903 Mission left Darjeeling
12 December Crossed the border at Jelep Jelep La 4267m
14 December Arrived at Yadong
20 December Reached Pagri
7 January 1904 Crossed the Tang La 4,521 m
8 January Made camp at Tuna
31 March Battle at Guru
9 April Action at Tsamdang Gorge
11 April Reached Gyantse
5 May Tibetan attack at Gyantse
7 May Battle of Karo La
26 May Battle of Palla
6 June Action at Kangma
6 July Gyantse Dzong stormed
14 July Mission left Gyantse for Lhasa
19 July Reached Nagartse
24 July Crossed the Kampa La 4,794 m
31 July Crossed the Bramaputra at Chaksam Ferry
4 August Reached Lhasa


External links

Historical books online

"With the Tibet Mission Force" by Major A. R. Aldridge J R Army Med Corps 1905;4:2 235-240 Archive.org
Captain Mainprise also wrote many letters which have been transcribed online as Field Force To Lhasa 1903-04. 50 Letters from Captain Cecil Mainprise.[1]

References

  1. Field Force To Lhasa 1903-04. 50 Letters from Captain Cecil Mainprise. intotibet1903-04.blogspot.com.