Forcing the Khyber Pass
| 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
Historical books on-line
Memorials of Affghanistan - Forcing the Khyber Pass by J H Stocqueler 1863 (Google Books)
History of the War in Afghanistan Vol III (1841-1842) - The Forcing of the Khybur by John William Kaye Revised Edition (1858)