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

This was an event during the 1st Afghan War
For context see main article The Army of Retribution March to Kabul

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 on 14 April.

The Army of Retribution

Left Column (to crown the heights)
Lieut-Col Moseley commanding

• Two Coys HM 9th Regiment of Foot
• Four Coys 26th Bengal Native Infantry
• 200 Jezailchees under Maj Huish, 26th NI
• Seven Coys 53rd Native Infantry under Maj Hoggan
• Three Coys 60th Native Infantry under Capt Napleton
• Four & a half Coys 64th Bengal Native Infantry
• One & a half Coys HM 9th Regiment of Foot
• Torabaz Khan’s auxiliaries
  

Centre Column
Advance Guard under Brigadier Wild

• Grenadier Coy 9th Queen’s Regiment
• One Coy 26th Bengal Native Infantry
• Three Coys 30th Native Infantry
• Two Coys 33rd Native Infantry under Maj Barnewell, 9th
  

Main Body

• Sappers & Miners
• Horse Artillery 4 guns
• Mountain Train 2 guns
• Foot Artillery 3 guns
• Two Squadrons 3rd Dragoons
• Treasure & ammunition on camels
• One Squadron 1st Native Cavalry
• Two Coys 53rd Native Infantry
• Commissariat stores
• One Squadron 1st Native Cavalry
• One Ressalah irregular Horse
• Baggage & camp followers
• Ammunition
• Litters & camel-panniers for the sick
• One Squadron 1st Native Cavalry

Rear Guard

• Foot Artillery 3 guns
• 10th Light Cavalry
• Two Ressalahs Irregular Horse
• Two Squadrons 3rd Dragoons
• Horse Artillery 2 guns
• Three Coys 60th Native Infantry
• One Coy HM 9th Regiment of Foot
  

Right Column (to crown the heights) Lieut-Col Taylor, 9th Foot commanding

• Two Coys 9th Regiment of Foot
• Four Coys 26th Native Infantry
• 400 Jezailchees under Co Taylor, 9th Foot
• Seven Coys 30th Native Infantry under Maj Payne
• Three Coys 60th Native Infantry under Capt Riddle
• Four Coys 64th Bengal Native Infantry under Maj Anderson
• Details of Broadfoot’s Sappers
• One & a half Coys HM 9th Regiment of Foot under Maj Davis
• Torabaz Khan’s auxiliaries

Biographies

Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906:
George Pollock (1786-1872)

External Links

• 1st Afghan War Wikipedia
• Khyber Pass, Afghanistan Wikipedia

Historical books on-line

• Forcing the Pass Google Books
  
• Gen Pollock's Despatch Google Books
  
• 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)