Difference between revisions of "Siege of Khelat-i-Ghilzai"

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{{Battles_Infobox
 
{{Battles_Infobox
 
|partof=[[:Category:1st Afghan War|1st Afghan War 1839-42]]
 
|partof=[[:Category:1st Afghan War|1st Afghan War 1839-42]]
|date=March-May 1842  
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|date=9 March-21 May 1842  
 
|location=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalat_(Zabul) Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan]
 
|location=[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalat_(Zabul) Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan]
 
|presidency=[[Bengal]]  
 
|presidency=[[Bengal]]  
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|commander1=Capt John Halket Craigie
 
|commander1=Capt John Halket Craigie
 
|commander2=
 
|commander2=
|strength1=
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|strength1=900
|strength2=
+
|strength2=6,000
|casualties1=
+
|casualties1=2 wounded
|casualties2=
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|casualties2=400
 
}}
 
}}
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'''This was an event during the [[1st Afghan War]]'''<br>
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'''For context see main article [[General Nott at Kandahar]]'''
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== Synopsis ==
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Captain Craigie took occupation of Khelat-i-Ghilzie in November 1841. At the end of the month he was reinforced by sepoys of the [[43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry]] provided by Colonel Maclaren on his return to [[Kandahar]]. In bitter winter weather the garrison worked to improve the defences and at the beginning of March they were besieged by Afghan tribesmen. The attackers dug trenches encircling the place and were able to fire from protected positions. On 21 May a major assault with scaling ladders was mounted but beaten off in a fierce battle which effectively ended the siege. When Colonel Wymer arrived with a relieving force there was nothing to do but dismantle the fortifications and return to Kandahar.
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The 3rd Regiment of Shah Shulja's Infantry was renamed [[The Regiment of Khelat-i-Ghilzie]] in recognition of its bravery. The garrison was awarded the [http://www.britishmedals.info/defence_of_kelat_i_ghilzie_medal.html Defence of Khelat-i-Ghilzie Medal].
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== Garrison ==
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*600 [[12th (Khelat-i-Ghilzie) Pioneers|3rd Regiment of Shah's Infantry]]
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*43 European artillerymen
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*Some Sappers and Miners
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*250 sepoys [[43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry]]
  
 
== External Links ==
 
== External Links ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Afghan_War Wikipedia - 1st Afghan  War]<br>[http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/sli/1afghan.htm Somerset Record Office - 1st Afghan War]<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PAi&dq=Brigadier+Shelton&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPR1,M1 Google Books - History of the War in Afghanistan]<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA430&dq=Craigie&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPA430,M1 Google Books - Siege of Khelat]<br>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ViEYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA91&dq=Kelat-i-Ghilzie&as_brr=3 Google Books - Attack on Khelat-i-Ghilzie 27 May 1842]<br>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA582&dq=Khelat&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPA583,M1 Google Books - Relief of Khelat]
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Anglo-Afghan_War 1st Afghan  War] Wikipedia
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==== Historical books on-line ====
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*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA430&dq=Craigie&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPA430,M1 Siege of Khelat] Google Books<br>
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*[http://books.google.com/books?id=ViEYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA91&dq=Kelat-i-Ghilzie&as_brr=3 Attack on Khelat-i-Ghilzie 21 May 1842] Google Books<br>
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*[http://books.google.com/books?id=ViEYAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA91&dq=Kelat-i-Ghilzie&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=Kelat-i-Ghilzie&f=false Craigie's despatch] Google Books
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*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=IBEWAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA582&dq=Khelat&as_brr=1&ei=AFrOR-P0DJXOywT8goiwBQ#PPA583,M1 Relief of Khelat] Google Books<br>
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*[http://www.google.com/books?id=38plTGsBDAcC&pg=PA242&dq=Craigie+Khelat-i-Ghilzie&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false Khelat-i-Ghilzie Medal] Google Books
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*[http://www.google.com/books?id=XiEPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR125&dq=Memorials+of+Affghanistan:+We+marched+into+quarters+at+Khelat-i-Ghilzie&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false ''Memorials of Affghanistan'' - Capt Craigie's account] by J H Stocqueler 1863 (Google Books)
  
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[[Category:1st Afghan War|Khelat-i-Ghilzai, Siege of]]
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[[Category:General Nott at Kandahar|Khelat-i-Ghilzai, Siege of]]
 
[[Category:1st Afghan War|Khelat-i-Ghilzai, Siege of]]
 
[[Category:1st Afghan War|Khelat-i-Ghilzai, Siege of]]

Latest revision as of 18:22, 28 May 2014

Siege of Khelat-i-Ghilzai
Part of 1st Afghan War 1839-42
Date: 9 March-21 May 1842
Location: Qalat, Zabul Province, Afghanistan
Presidency: Bengal
Co-ordinates: 32.104205°N 66.907841°E
Result: British victory
Combatants
British & Indians Various Afghan tribes
Commanders
Capt John Halket Craigie
Strength
900 6,000
Casualties
2 wounded 400

This was an event during the 1st Afghan War
For context see main article General Nott at Kandahar

Synopsis

Captain Craigie took occupation of Khelat-i-Ghilzie in November 1841. At the end of the month he was reinforced by sepoys of the 43rd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry provided by Colonel Maclaren on his return to Kandahar. In bitter winter weather the garrison worked to improve the defences and at the beginning of March they were besieged by Afghan tribesmen. The attackers dug trenches encircling the place and were able to fire from protected positions. On 21 May a major assault with scaling ladders was mounted but beaten off in a fierce battle which effectively ended the siege. When Colonel Wymer arrived with a relieving force there was nothing to do but dismantle the fortifications and return to Kandahar.

The 3rd Regiment of Shah Shulja's Infantry was renamed The Regiment of Khelat-i-Ghilzie in recognition of its bravery. The garrison was awarded the Defence of Khelat-i-Ghilzie Medal.

Garrison

External Links

Historical books on-line