Kabul Field Force facts for kids
The Kabul Field Force was a special group of soldiers formed in September 1879. It was created during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. This force was led by General Frederick Roberts.
It included soldiers from both the British Army and the British Indian Army. At first, there were about 7,500 men. Later, the force grew to around 14,000 soldiers.
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Why the Force Was Formed
The Second Anglo-Afghan War had a second part. This began after a British envoy, Pierre Louis Napoleon Cavagnari, and his team were killed in Kabul on September 3, 1879.
At that time, the only British troops in Afghanistan were the Kurram Valley Field Force. General Roberts also commanded this group. More units quickly joined them. The new, larger force was ordered to march to Kabul. Their goal was to take action after the killings.
March to Kabul and Key Battles
General Roberts' force had 7,500 men and twenty field guns. It included infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry (soldiers on horseback), artillery (big guns), and Sappers & Miners (engineers).
They moved through the Kurram Valley towards Kabul. Along the way, they won several small fights. They also met messengers from Emir Ayub Khan. He said he was not responsible for the killings.
By early October, the force reached Charasiab. This was about twelve miles from Kabul. Around 8,000 Afghan soldiers were waiting there. Roberts' force defeated the Afghan Army at the Battle of Charasiab on October 6, 1879. The British then captured Kabul on October 13. A reporter named Howard Hensman wrote about this event.
Force Size and Changes
In November 1879, heavy snow fell. This caused some of the force's elephants to die. By mid-November, the Kabul Field Force was split into two main parts, called Divisions.
The First Division was in and around Kabul. It had 100 British officers and 2,783 other British soldiers. It also included 71 Indian officers and 5,060 other Indian soldiers. The Second Division was along the Khyber Pass supply route. It had 90 British officers and 2,385 other British soldiers. Plus, it had 118 Indian officers and 8,590 other Indian soldiers.
Battle of Sherpur and a Heroic Act
In December 1879, about 10,000 Afghans rose up against the British. But General Roberts was ready for them. His force won a big victory at the Battle of Sherpur.
During a fight at Killa Kazi on December 11, 1879, something special happened. James Adams, a chaplain (a religious leader) with the force, saved some men. They were from the 9th Lancers regiment and were stuck in a ditch. He rescued them while under enemy fire. For his bravery, he later received the Victoria Cross, a very high award.
New Commanders and Disbandment
On May 1, 1880, Lieutenant General Sir Donald Stewart arrived in Kabul. He brought 7,200 more troops from Kandahar. The next day, he took over command of the Kabul Field Force from Roberts.
This combined force was then renamed the Northern Afghanistan Field Force. A new pro-British leader, Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, was put in charge. British forces began to get ready to leave Kabul.
However, in July 1880, the British lost a battle in southern Afghanistan called the Battle of Maiwand. Because of this, General Stewart ordered Roberts to march to Kandahar. Roberts took 10,000 men with him, creating a new group called the Kabul-Kandahar Field Force.
The Northern Afghanistan Field Force, still led by Stewart, finally returned to India in August 1880. They traveled through the Khyber Pass. With no British-led troops left in northern Afghanistan, the Northern Afghanistan Field Force was then officially ended.
See also
- Kurram Valley Field Force
- Battle of Charasiab
- Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
