Tibet Expedition
| Tibet Expedition | |
|---|---|
| Dec 1903 – Sept 1904 | |
| Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns | |
| File:Tibetimage.jpg | |
| Location: Tibet | |
| Combatants: | |
| British Field Force | Tibetan Armed Forces |
| Result: Anglo-Tibetan Agreement of 1904 | |
| Medals: Tibet Medal | |
| Links: | |
| Category: Tibet Expedition | |
|
See our interactive map of Tibet Expedition 1903-04 locations and routes on Google Maps | |
|---|---|---|
Summary
The expedition to Tibet in 1903-04, also known as the Anglo-Tibet War. 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 Force
First Excursion
- 200 32nd Pioneers
- 300 support
Mission Escort
- Six Coys 8th Gurkhas
- Eight Coys 23rd Pioneers
- Half Coy 2nd Sappers
- Maxim gun detachment of Norfolk Regiment
- Two 7-pounder guns of 8th Gurkhas
- Two guns No 7 Mountain Battery
- Field Hospital
- Engineer Field Park
- Ammunition Column
- Telegraph, postal and survey detachments
Reinforcements
- One Wing Royal Fusiliers
- 40th Pathans
- 29th Punjabis
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.