Difference between revisions of "Battle of Maiwand"

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== That Day by Rudyard Kipling ==
 
 
(the poem Kipling wrote to commemorate<br> the experience of the 66th Foot at the Battle of Maiwand).
 
 
It got beyond all orders an' it got beyond all 'ope;<br>
 
It got to shammin' wounded an' retirin' from the 'alt.<br> 
 
'Ole companies was lookin' for the nearest road to slope;<br> 
 
It were just a bloomin' knock-out -- an' our fault!<br> 
 
 
Now there ain't no chorus 'ere to give,<br> 
 
Nor there ain't no band to play;<br> 
 
An' I wish I was dead 'fore I done what I did,<br> 
 
Or seen what I seed that day!<br>
 
 
We was sick o' bein' punished, an' we let 'em know it, too;<br> 
 
An' a company-commander up an' 'it us with a sword,<br> 
 
An' some one shouted "'Ook it!" an' it come to sove-ki-poo,<br> 
 
An' we chucked our rifles from us -- O my Gawd!<br> 
 
 
There was thirty dead an' wounded on the ground we wouldn't keep --<br> 
 
No, there wasn't more than twenty when the front begun to go;<br> 
 
But, Christ! along the line o' flight they cut us up like sheep,<br> 
 
An' that was all we gained by doin' so.<br> 
 
 
I 'eard the knives be'ind me, but I dursn't face my man,<br> 
 
Nor I don't know where I went to, 'cause I didn't 'alt to see,<br> 
 
Till I 'eard a beggar squealin' out for quarter as 'e ran,<br> 
 
An' I thought I knew the voice an' -- it was me!<br> 
 
 
We was 'idin' under bedsteads more than 'arf a march away;<br> 
 
We was lyin' up like rabbits all about the countryside;<br> 
 
An' the major cursed 'is Maker 'cause 'e lived to see that day,<br> 
 
An' the colonel broke 'is sword acrost, an' cried.<br> 
 
 
We was rotten 'fore we started -- we was never disciplined;<br> 
 
We made it out a favour if an order was obeyed;<br> 
 
Yes, every little drummer 'ad 'is rights an' wrongs to mind,<br> 
 
So we had to pay for teachin' -- an' we paid!<br> 
 
 
The papers 'id it 'andsome, but you know the Army knows;<br> 
 
We was put to groomin' camels till the regiments withdrew,<br> 
 
An' they gave us each a medal for subduin' England's foes,<br>
 
An' I 'ope you like my song -- because it's true!<br>
 
 
An' there ain't no chorus 'ere to give,<br>
 
Nor there ain't no band to play;<br>
 
But I wish I was dead 'fore I done what I did,<br>
 
Or seen what I seed that day!<br>
 
 
 
 
 
== External Links ==
 
== External Links ==
[http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/index.php Garen Ewing - 2nd Anglo-Afghan War]<br>[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/indiancampaigns/campafghan1878.htm The British Empire - 2nd Afghan War 1878-80]<br>[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/indiancampaigns/campafghan1878maiwand.htm British Empire - Battle of Maiwand]<br>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maiwand Wikipedia - Battle of Maiwand]<br>[http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/narratives/khushk-i-nakhud.php Garen Ewing - Battle of Khushk-i-Nakhud]<br>[http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/waroffice/map_south.php Garen Ewing - Map showing Khushk-i-Nakhud]
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[http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/index.php Garen Ewing - 2nd Anglo-Afghan War]<br>[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/indiancampaigns/campafghan1878.htm The British Empire - 2nd Afghan War 1878-80]<br>[http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/indiancampaigns/campafghan1878maiwand.htm British Empire - Battle of Maiwand]<br>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Maiwand Wikipedia - Battle of Maiwand]<br>[http://www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/afghan14.htm List of 30th Bombay Native Infantry killed]<br>[http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/narratives/khushk-i-nakhud.php Garen Ewing - Battle of Khushk-i-Nakhud]<br>[http://www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar/waroffice/map_south.php Garen Ewing - Map showing Khushk-i-Nakhud]<br>[http://www.everypoet.com/Archive/Poetry/Rudyard_Kipling/kipling_that_day.htm That Day by Rudyard Kipling]
  
 
== Recommended Reading ==
 
== Recommended Reading ==
 
"''Road to Kabul''" by Brian Robson 1986 ISBN 1862271968
 
"''Road to Kabul''" by Brian Robson 1986 ISBN 1862271968

Revision as of 14:22, 13 March 2009

Battle of Maiwand
Part of 2nd Afghan War 1878-80
Date: 27 July 1880
Location: Meivand Kariz, Afghanistan
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: 31.733066°N 65.138988°E
Result: British defeat
Combatants
British & Indians Various Afghan tribes
Commanders
Maj Gen George Burrows Ayub Khan
Strength
Casualties

External Links

Garen Ewing - 2nd Anglo-Afghan War
The British Empire - 2nd Afghan War 1878-80
British Empire - Battle of Maiwand
Wikipedia - Battle of Maiwand
List of 30th Bombay Native Infantry killed
Garen Ewing - Battle of Khushk-i-Nakhud
Garen Ewing - Map showing Khushk-i-Nakhud
That Day by Rudyard Kipling

Recommended Reading

"Road to Kabul" by Brian Robson 1986 ISBN 1862271968