Spin Maldak 29th May 1919

[The Monkey God]

Hi Guys,

Anyone have an interest in the Third Afghan War?

Can you tell me what was happening at Spin Maldak, on the 29th May 1919?

Many thanks in advance.

Gordon.

[Archer]

Spin Baldak.

"The third Afghan War began in April 1919, the new Emir of Afghanistan, Amanullah, decided to bolster his popularity by invading India in order to seize the old Afghan provinces west of the River Indus. He believed that the British and Indian troops would be too war-driven to resist. Although there was a shortage of artillery and machine guns, a division from Peshawar defeated a superior Afghan force in the Khyber Pass and forced them back towards Jellalabad. The main Afghan attack took place in the Tochi-Kurram valley area where the Waziristan Militia deserted to the enemy. A large Afghan force beseiged two battalions of Sikhs and Gurkhas and a squadron of cavalry in Thal. Although under constant attack for a week until they were relieved by a different convoy. In Baluchistan the British stormed the Afghan fortress of Spin Baldak on May 27th. Spin Baldak guarded the road to Kandahar and its capture reduced the chance of an Afghan invasion by that route. Amanullah’s invasion had failed but the peace treaty that brought the war to an end did recognize full Afghan independence. In the next 40 years another war was to take place on Afghan soil involving the world" (The Continuing Role of the Outside World in Afghanistan)

[The Monkey God]

Spin Baldak.

"The third Afghan War began in April 1919, the new Emir of Afghanistan, Amanullah, decided to bolster his popularity by invading India in order to seize the old Afghan provinces west of the River Indus. He believed that the British and Indian troops would be too war-driven to resist. Although there was a shortage of artillery and machine guns, a division from Peshawar defeated a superior Afghan force in the Khyber Pass and forced them back towards Jellalabad. The main Afghan attack took place in the Tochi-Kurram valley area where the Waziristan Militia deserted to the enemy. A large Afghan force beseiged two battalions of Sikhs and Gurkhas and a squadron of cavalry in Thal. Although under constant attack for a week until they were relieved by a different convoy. In Baluchistan the British stormed the Afghan fortress of Spin Baldak on May 27th. Spin Baldak guarded the road to Kandahar and its capture reduced the chance of an Afghan invasion by that route. Amanullah's invasion had failed but the peace treaty that brought the war to an end did recognize full Afghan independence. In the next 40 years another war was to take place on Afghan soil involving the world" (The Continuing Role of the Outside World in Afghanistan)

Thanks Archer, thats been of great interest!! To anyone whose interested, I`ve discovered the follow.....

The “first line” Territorials, however, were still abroad: indeed the 1/4^th had at last, after over 4 years of garrison duty, seen something of active service on the Indian Frontier. It had moved up to the Frontier early in 1918, being stationed at Quetta where it remained until detailed in May 1919 for operations against the Afghans. The chief action in which it took part was the capture on May 27^th 1919 of the Afghan position at Spin Maldak, about the strongest post in Afghanistan, in which the battalion was at last given a chance of disguising itself. It took its chances to some purpose, the position being stormed after an action lasting over eight hours in the hottest weather. The Afghan resistance was stubborn, but so well did the 1/4^th fight that the Brigadier, B-Gen J L R Gordon, presented it was the drums capture from the enemy as a memento. After this action the battalion remained on active service until the conclusion of the peace with Afghanistan in September. It then returned to Quetta and was placed on orders for home in October, eventually leaving for Karachi on October 30^th 1919, just years since its departure to India.

[Archer]

Pleasure!

We're talking about the 1/4th Royal West Kents here.

You'll find a lot more about them here.

William

[The Monkey God]

Pleasure!

We're talking about the 1/4th Royal West Kents here.

You'll find a lot more about them here.

William

& thanks again William!!! Gordon.

[paul wood]

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& thanks again William!!! Gordon.

Nice picky of spin baldack]

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