Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar-Honours

2nd Afghan War (1878-1880)

From: Major L. L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals:

"It would take too much space to give a long account of the reasons for this war, so just sufficient detail is given to … see why the campaign was necessary.

"In 1873 the boundaries between Afghanistan and India were agreed upon by the British and Shere Ali the Amir, for the peaceful recognition of which he was to be paid a substantial subsidy.

"In 1877, Shere Ali refused to have a British :resident at Kabul, raised an army and did all he could to promote bad feeling between the border tribes and the British.

"In August, 1878, he signed a treaty with Russia giving her the guardianship of himself and the right to protect Afghanistan. He refused to receive a Mission sent by the Viceroy and threatened the advance party of another led by Sir Nevil Chamberlain which left Peshawur on 21st September, 1877.

"Finally an ultimatum was sent to Shere Ali on 28th October, 1878, to which a reply was demanded by 20th November.

"In the meanwhile troops had been concentrated at Peshawur, Kohat and Quetta. As no answer was received by 20th November, the Army, which had been organized into three columns, began to cross the frontier on 21st November, 1878. The three columns were as follows: The first, the Peshawur Valley Field Force under Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Browne, V.C., K.C.S.I., C.B.; the second, the Karram Valley Field Force under Major-General Frederick Roberts, V.C., C.B.; the third, the Kandahar Field Force under Lieutenant-General Donald Stewart.

"The Peshawur Force crossed the border at Jamrud on 21st November and captured the hill- fortress of Ali Musjid on the same day.

"The Kurram Force crossed the border and defeated the Afghans in the Peiwar Kotal, at the entrance to the Kurram Valley route to Kabul, on 2nd December. After these two actions Shere Ali fled from Kabul and his son Yakoob Khan assumed command. General Roberts annexed the Kurram Valley and after a little more desultory fighting Yakoob Khan, on 30th May, 1879, concluded peace. By this peace he agreed to a British Resident being in Kabul. The Khyber Pass, the Kurram and Pisheen Valleys were to be occupied by the British. The Amir was to be paid an annual subsidy of £60,000 to be on his good behaviour.

"Sir Louis Cavagnari, K.C.S.I., was appointed Resident at Kabul, where he arrived on 24th July, 1879. On 3rd September, Sir Louis, and other British residents, together with the bodyguard of the Corps of Guides, was murdered.

"General Roberts was ordered to march to Kabul with the Kabul Field Force. He started on 27th September and on the way defeated the Afghans at Charasia on 6th October. He entered Kabul on the 8th, where he was practically surrounded. He concentrated his troops in the cantonments at Sherpur, where they were severely attacked on 23rd December, 1879, Reinforcements under General Gough arrived on the 24th and Kabul was reoccupied.

".… In April, 1880, General Stewart moved out of Kandahar with a view to clearing the lines of communication to Kabul. When nearing Ghuznee he encountered the Afghans at Ahmed Khel on 19th April and defeated them. He reached Kabul on 2nd May,

"On 22nd July, 1880; Abdur Rahman, nephew of Shere Ali, was proclaimed Amir thus causing Yakoob Khan's brother, Ayoub Khan, a great deal of resentment which he showed by getting all the tribes in Herat to revolt. General Burrows was sent from Kandahar to oppose him, but was badly defeated at Maiwand where the 66th Foot lost 62% of their strength, the Sappers and Miners 60% and E Bty, B. Brigade R.A. 23%, the latter gained two V.C.'s, one C.B, and eight D.C.M's.
The remnants of his force retired to Kandahar closely followed by Ayoub Khan, who promptly surrounded the city and besieged it, together with the forces under General Primrose.

"General Roberts, who was then in Kabul, offered to relieve Kandahar, which he did on 1st September.

"For this memorable feat the star which follows was awarded (the Kabul to Kandahar Star).

"It is interesting to note that five generals who were holders of the Victoria Cross took part in this campaign. They were Generals Browne, Gough, Macpherson, Tytler and Roberts.

"What finer tribute was ever paid to the magnificent Gurkhas than that Lord Roberts should have chosen a member of this regiment and one of the Seaforth Highlanders as the supporters of his armorial bearings? This was done to perpetuate his esteem for the gallantry and comradeship of these two regiments during the attack on the Peiwar Kotal.

"The 1st King George V Own Gurka Rifles were originally raised by Lieutenant R. Ross in 1815, and designated the 1st Nasiri Battalion. A very apt title—Nasiri means friendly."

From: Major L. L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals, Fifth Edition revised by Edward C. Joslin, London: Spink & Son, 1979.

		Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar Honours and Decorations
		Lord Roberts was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy while serving as a Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery (Indian Army) during the Indian Mutiny. The Victoria Cross is Britain's highest award for gallantry. In 1899, his son, Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts, was awarded the V.C. posthumously for his actions at the Battle of Colenso during the South African War.

		Background and short biography of Lord Roberts.
		In his autobiography, Forty-One Years in India, London, 1897, Lord Roberts recounts the Siege of Delhi (1857) during the Indian Mutiny (Chapters XIII through XIX).

Return to the Pine Tree Web Home Page