2nd Afghan War
Summary
Concerned about Tsarist Russian expansion the Briish tried to get the Afghan Amir Sher Ali to agree to a diplomatic mission to Kabul. When this was refused but a Russian mission admitted, the British invaded from three directions. With the country occupied, Sher Ali's son Yakoub Khan signed the Treaty of Gandamak in May 1879. The British forces withdrew but an uprising in Kabul led to the murder of the British Resident Sir Pierre Cavagnari. This provked a second invasion by the British under Major General Sir Frederick Roberts and the occupation of Kabul following the Battle of Charasia in October 1879. The Afghans were again defeated at the Siege of Sherpur Cantonment in December. A further revolt led to the defeat of the British at Maiwand in July 1880 folowing which Kandahar was besieged. Roberts led a force from Kabul to defeat the Afghans under Yakoub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar. The Treaty of Gandamak was confirmed and the British withdrew.
External Links
- Second Anglo-Afghan War Wikipedia
- 2nd Afghan War 1878-80 The British Empire website
- The Second Anglo-Afghan War Garen Ewing's comprehensive site including:
- The Afghan War Database Project - a searchable database of 900+ soldiers who took part in the war. Many entries include biographical details, some have photographs.
- Map of Afghanistan - showing the principal locations in 1880
- 66th Berkshires in the Campaign history.farmersboys.com
- Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds has many photographs and documents relating to the time the Suffolk regiment were serving in India during the 2nd Afghan War. Details of what is held in the Suffolk Regiment Archive can be found in their Suffolk Regiment Archives leaflet and their Photographic Collections leaflet