Tibet Expedition
| Tibet Expedition | |
|---|---|
| Dec 1903 – Sept 1904 | |
| Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns | |
| [[Image:|250px| ]] | |
| Location: Tibet | |
| Combatants: | |
| British Field Force | Tibetan Armed Forces |
| Result: Anglo-Tibetan Agreement of 1904 | |
| Medals: Tibet Medal | |
| Links: | |
| Category: Tibet Expedition | |
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See our interactive map of Tibet Expedition 1903-04 locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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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
- 200 32nd Pioneers
- 300 followers
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
- British Expedition to Tibet Wikipedia
- The Younghusband Expedition tibettalk.wordpress.com
- Francis Younghusband Wikipedia
- 50 Letters from Capt Mainprise blogspot.com
Historical books online
- List of Officers on the Lhasa Mission Google Books
- Chronology of the Expedition Google Books
- 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. Another copy of this title is at India & Tibet by Francis Younghusband Google Books
- Sikhim And Bhutan, Twenty-one Years On The North-east Frontier 1887-1908 by J Claude White. Archive.org 1909 edition.
