General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar
Summary
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See our interactive map of 2nd Afghan War: Third Phase locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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Following the defeat at the Battle of Maiwand, General Roberts set out on 7 August 1880 on a forced march from Kabul to relieve Kandahar. on 1 September Roberts defeated Yakub Khan at the Battle of Baba Wullee. General Stewart completed the evacuation of British troops from Kabul on 11 September and Brig-Gen Watson took remaining British forces out of Kurram 6-21 October. The last British units left Kandahar on 15 Aprill 1881.
Field Force from Kabul
9,986 men, 8,134 camp followers, 1,779 cavalry horses and 450 artillery mules
Cavalry Brigade
- 9th Lancers (318 men)
- 3rd Bengal Cavalry (394 men)
- 3rd Punjab Cavalry (408 men)
- 1st Central India Horse (248 men)
- 2nd Central India Horse (247 men)
Artillery Division
- 6-8th Royal Artillery (234 men, 6 screw guns)
- 11-9th Royal Artillery (234 men, 6 guns)
- No 2 Mountain Artillery
1st Infantry Brigade
- 92nd (Gordon) Highlanders (651 men)
- 23rd Pioneers (701 men)
- 24th Punjab Native Infantry (575 men)
- 2nd Prince of Wales’s Own Gurkhas (501 men)
2nd Infantry Brigade
- 72nd (Duke of Albany’s) Highlanders (787 men)
- 2nd Sikh Infantry (612 men)
- 3rd Sikh Infantry (570 men)
- 5th Gurkhas (561 men)
3rd Infantry Brigade
- 2nd Battalion 60th Rifles (616 men)
- 15th Sikhs (650 men)
- 25th Punjab Native Infantry (629 men)
- 4th Gurkhas (637 men)
Followers
- 2,192 doolie bearers
- 4,698 transport and other departments
- 1,244 private servants and native cavalry grooms
Forced March Itinerary
| 8 August | Left Kabul | |
| 15 August | Reached Ghuznee | 90 miles |
| 23 August | Relieved Khelat-i-Ghilzai | 220 miles |
| 31 August | Reached Kandahar | 300 miles |
External Links
Roberts' March Garen Ewing Article
Regiments in the 2nd Afghan War www.garenewing.co.uk
Relief Column Wikipedia
Historical books on-line
Forty-one Years in India from Subaltern to Commander-in-Chief by Field Marshal Lord Roberts od Kandahar 1900 March from Kabul archive.org
| General Roberts' March from Kabul to Kandahar | |
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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 | |