Battle of Maiwand
| Battle of Maiwand | ||
|---|---|---|
| Part of 2nd Afghan War 1878-80 | ||
| Date: | 27 July 1880 | |
| Location: | Meivand Kariz, Afghanistan | |
| Presidency: | Bengal | |
| Co-ordinates: | 31.733066°N 65.138988°E | |
| Result: | Major British defeat | |
| Combatants | ||
| British & Indians | Various Afghan tribes | |
| Commanders | ||
| Maj-Gen George Burrows | Ayub Khan Malalai of Maiwand | |
| Strength | ||
| 2,500 British & Indian troops 12 guns |
3,000 cavalry 9,000 infantry 36 guns | |
| Casualties | ||
| 21 officers & 948 men killed 8 officers & 169 men wounded |
approx 3,000 | |
Summary
Ayub Khan advanced from Herat with a force of 25,000. Brigadier-General George Burrows set out from Kandahar to oppose him with 2,500 British and Indian troops expecting the support of 6,000 friendly tribesmen. The supposed allies deserted and left Burrows to face the enemy at Maiwand. There followed one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the British army in India.
Victoria Cross
Sergeant Patrick Mullane and Gunner James Collis of the Royal Horse Artillery won the VC and both survived the action.
British Forces
British Army
- 66th Regiment of Foot
- Royal Horse Artillery E/B Battery (six 9-pounders)
Indian Army
- 1st Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadiers)
- 30th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry (Jacob's Rifles)
- 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry (260 sabres)
- 3rd Sind Horse (200 sabres)
- Bombay Sappers and Miners (half company)
External Links
2nd Afghan War 1878-80 The British Empire
Battle of Maiwand britishbattles.com
Battle of Maiwand Garen Ewing
Battle of Maiwand British Empire
Battle of Maiwand Wikipedia
The Last Stand: The Journal of the Maiwand Files Project Victorianwars.com. Contains many articles about Maiwand
List of 30th Bombay Native Infantry killed www.angelfire.com
Malalai - Afghan Heroine Garen Ewing
Battle of Khushk-i-Nakhud Garen Ewing
Map showing Khushk-i-Nakhud Garen Ewing
That Day by Rudyard Kipling www.everypoet.com
Article: "The amazing story of Bobbie, the bravest dog of war, as told in a British soldier's diary of a bloody battle in Afghanistan 130 years ago" by Geoffrey Wansell 19 November 2009 www.dailymail.co.uk. Describes letters written by Captain John Slade of the Royal Horse Artillery about the Battle of Maiwand
Recommended Reading
"Road to Kabul" by Brian Robson 1986 ISBN 1862271968
| General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar | |
|---|---|
|
Actions fought on this march: | |
| Phases: General Browne's March from Peshawar to Gandamak – General Roberts' March to Ali Kheyl – General Stewart's March to Kandahar | |
| General Roberts' March to Kabul – General Stewart's March to Kabul – General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar | |
| Part of the 2nd Afghan War | |