Mohmand campaign of 1935 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Second Mohmand campaign |
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.svg){kind=small} Mohmands |
 British Army |
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The Second Mohmand campaign was a military operation in 1935. It involved the British Army fighting against the Mohmand tribes. This happened in the Northwest Frontier area of British India, which is now part of Pakistan. This campaign was special because it was the first time tanks were used in a real battle in India. Before this, there had been several other military actions against the Mohmands, going back to the late 1800s.
In 1935, the Mohmand tribes, led by the Haji of Turangzai and his three sons, were causing trouble in the plains. About 2,000 tribesmen were stopping workers who were fixing the Mohmand–Gandab road.
Contents
What Was Mohforce?
The government decided to send a large military group to stop the trouble. This group was called the Mohmand Force or Mohforce. It was put together by August 17th.
Mohforce included soldiers from the Indian Army, a special group with tanks called the Royal Tank Corps, and cavalry (soldiers on horseback). Airplanes from the Indian Wing also helped. Important commanders like Claude Auchinleck and Harold Alexander were part of Mohforce. Both later became very high-ranking generals in World War II. Auchinleck was in charge of Mohforce.
Tanks Join the Fight
Mohforce started its advance near the end of summer. Two tanks led the way for the soldiers. These tanks could help get around tribal fighters who were holding back the foot soldiers.
The tanks were Mark II light tanks. Each had one machine gun. They didn't have their radios because they were being fixed. So, one tank had to drive back and forth to carry messages between the tanks and the soldiers. The Mohmands had never seen tanks before. They called them "the snakes that spit."
Moving Through the Mountains
The troops moved into the Kamalai plateau, which was the main area for the tribes. They had to build new roads and bring in water supplies. This took about six weeks. After that, they could move into the Nahakki Pass.
The soldiers took the high ground around the Nahakki Pass during a night operation. After sunrise, the cavalry rode through the pass to the open land beyond. The main headquarters for the British force was set up about 5 miles south of the Nahakki Pass.
Later, a group of soldiers exploring southwest of Nahakki was attacked. Thirty-five members of Mohforce died, including British and Indian officers and soldiers.
Peace and Withdrawal
After some intense fighting, the attackers were pushed back. The British force took control of the Badmanai Pass, which ended the tribal hold in Jarobi.
Soon, the different Mohmand groups asked for peace. They met at tribal councils called jirgas and agreed to the British terms. Order was brought back to the area. The British force stayed there until all the agreed-upon fines were collected. Once the fines were paid, the British troops went back to their own territory by the end of October.
Captain Godfrey Meynell was given a very brave award, the Victoria Cross, after he died. He earned it for his courage on September 29th at the Nahakki Pass.
Who Were the Mohmands?
The Mohmands are a Pashtun hill tribe. They lived northwest of Peshawar, in an area that was then called the North-West Frontier Province of British India. Today, this area is known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
The Mohmands used to move across the border into Afghanistan every year to escape the hot summer weather. The border, called the Durand Line, was drawn in 1893 but was not always clear.
See also
- Category:British military personnel of the Second Mohmand Campaign
