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{{Battlemap|war=The March from Peshawar to Kabul|link=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101241150585833319689.00046bd915f672415c6e5&t=p&z=9}}

The '''1st Afghan War''' 1839-42.

==Summary==

In the face of continued expansion of the Russian Empire, Britain sought to secure the northwestern borders of British India by establishing [[Afghanistan]] as an ally and buffer. Under the pretext of restoring the former ruler [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuja_Shah Shah Shuja] to the throne the British assembled an invading army. 21,000 troops under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keane_(British_soldier) Sir John Keane] entered Afghanistan via [[Quetta]] occupying [[Kandahar]] and [[Kabul]]. This led to the disastrous retreat to Gandamak and a second invasion by the Army of Retribution under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pollock Maj-Gen George Pollock]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Nott General William Nott] advanced from Kandahar meeting Pollock and recapturing Kabul. After releasing British prisoners and destroying Kabul bazaar the British returned to India.

==Actions==

See [[:Category:1st Afghan War]] for an alphabetical list.

|-

|2nd

|align="right"|4,250

|-

|-

|

|align="right"|28,350

|-

|-

|

|align="right"|10,800

|-

==Casualties==

Names of fallen officers from the [[British Army]] and native forces can be found on Stephen Lewis' [http://glosters.tripod.com/FAfghan.htm Officers Died] site.

== Recommended Reading ==

''"First Afghan War"'' by H Durrand 1879 ISBN 818650530X

== External Links ==