Forcing the Khyber Pass: Difference between revisions
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== Synopsis == | == Synopsis == | ||
'''General George Pollock''' finally completed preparations and marched from [[Jamrud]] on 5 April. Negotiations to bribe the tribes to allow passage through the Khyber Pass had failed and there was no alternative but armed assault. The general detailed the left and right wings of his force to crown the heights on either side of the pass. This they did successfully preventing the Afridi tribesmen from attacking the main body of the army. Once the heights were won the main force was able to demolish the great barrier of mud, stones and tree branches which blocked the pass. The force moved forward to [[Ali Masjid]], which the enemy had evacuated, camped the night. Little opposition was encountered from that point until [[ | '''General George Pollock''' finally completed preparations and marched from [[Jamrud]] on 5 April. Negotiations to bribe the tribes to allow passage through the [[Khyber Pass]] had failed and there was no alternative but armed assault. The general detailed the left and right wings of his force to crown the heights on either side of the pass. This they did successfully preventing the Afridi tribesmen from attacking the main body of the army. Once the heights were won the main force was able to demolish the great barrier of mud, stones and tree branches which blocked the pass. The force moved forward to [[Ali Masjid]], which the enemy had evacuated, and camped the night. Little opposition was encountered from that point until [[Jalalabad]] was reached. | ||
For details of the forces which took the pass see [[The Army of Retribution March to Kabul]]. | For details of the forces which took the pass see [[The Army of Retribution March to Kabul]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:40, 17 April 2010
| Forcing the Khyber Pass | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42 | ||
| Date: | 5 April 1842 | |
| Location: | Khyber Pass, Pakistan/Afghanistan | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 34.102179°N 71.121968°E | |
| Result: | British victory | |
| Combatants | ||
| British & Indians | Various tribesmen | |
| Commanders | ||
| Maj Gen George Pollock | ||
| Strength | ||
| Casualties | ||
| 14 killed 102 wounded 15 missing |
300 killed 700 wounded | |
Synopsis
General George Pollock finally completed preparations and marched from Jamrud on 5 April. Negotiations to bribe the tribes to allow passage through the Khyber Pass had failed and there was no alternative but armed assault. The general detailed the left and right wings of his force to crown the heights on either side of the pass. This they did successfully preventing the Afridi tribesmen from attacking the main body of the army. Once the heights were won the main force was able to demolish the great barrier of mud, stones and tree branches which blocked the pass. The force moved forward to Ali Masjid, which the enemy had evacuated, and camped the night. Little opposition was encountered from that point until Jalalabad was reached.
For details of the forces which took the pass see The Army of Retribution March to Kabul.
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
George Pollock (1786-1872)
External Links
1st Afghan War Wikipedia
1st Afghan War Somerset Record Office
Forcing the Pass Google Books
Gen Pollock's Despatch Google Books
Khyber Pass, Afghanistan Wikipedia