Khelat (Battle honour) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Khelat
Part of the First Anglo-Afghan War
Outer wall of Kalat city.
Date 13 November 1839 Location Kalat, Pakistan Result British victory
Belligerents
British Empire East India Company	Baluchi Tribe
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

The Siege of Khelat in 1839 was an important event during the First Anglo-Afghan War. It was a quick battle where British forces attacked a strong fort in a place called Khelat. This fort was held by local tribes. The British needed to secure their travel routes during the war.

What Was the Siege of Khelat?

The Siege of Khelat happened on November 13, 1839. It was a battle where British soldiers attacked the fortress of Khelat. This fort was located in what is now Kalat, Pakistan. The battle was part of a bigger conflict, the First Anglo-Afghan War. The British won this battle.

Why Did the Siege Happen?

The fortress of Khelat was controlled by a local group called the Baluchi tribe. This tribe was not friendly to the British. They were causing problems for British travel and supplies. The Baluchi tribes had attacked British groups and even killed soldiers and helpers. These attacks made it hard for the British to move between Afghanistan and India.

To stop these attacks, a group of British soldiers from Bombay decided to act. They were on their way back to India when they attacked the Khelat fort. This attack was a way to get back at the Baluchi tribes for their actions.

What is a Battle Honour?

A "battle honour" is like a special award given to military units. It celebrates their bravery and success in a specific battle or campaign. The honour "Khelat 1839" was given to British and Indian army units. It recognized their part in the successful attack on the Khelat fortress.

This honour was officially given in 1840 and 1841. The spelling of "Kelat" was later changed to "Khelat" in 1910. Several units received this special recognition for their actions:

• The 4th Bengal Irregular Cavalry, now known as the 1st Horse.
• The Bombay Sappers & Miners, now called the Bombay Engineer Group.
• The 31st Bengal Infantry, which later became the 1st Battalion, the Rajput Regiment. This unit is now the 4th Battalion, the Brigade of Guards.