Seistan Force facts for kids
The Seistan Force was a special group of soldiers from the British Indian Army. They were first called the East Persia Cordon. Their main job was to stop secret agents from Germany and the Ottoman Empire from sneaking into Afghanistan from Persia during World War I.
This force was set up to protect Britain's interests in Persia. They wanted to stop German agents, like a famous one named Wilhelm Wassmuss, from causing trouble. The Seistan Force also had to find and stop a group of Turkish and German explorers. This group was trying to reach Kabul to convince Afghanistan to join their side in the war. They also wanted Afghanistan to help with secret plans by Indian revolutionaries against British rule in British India.
Unit history
In August 1914, when World War I began, a small group of soldiers was already in Western Balochistan. Their job was to stop weapons from being smuggled. In July 1915, this group grew bigger and was named the East Persia Cordon. Its new purpose was to prevent enemy agents from entering Afghanistan from Persia.
A similar group, called the Russian Cordon, was also set up by Russia. It worked to stop agents from getting into north-west Afghanistan. From March 1916, the East Persia Cordon became the Seistan Force. It was now under the command of the main army leader in India.
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, a special group called the Malleson mission was sent to an area called Trans-Caspia. From September 1918, the Seistan Force helped this mission. They made sure supplies and messages could travel safely. When the mission left Trans-Caspia, the soldiers in Persia also started to leave. The last of them went home in November 1920.
Reports from the Commander
General Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, who was the Commander-in-Chief in India, wrote reports about the army's actions. Here is a part of his report from October 1917, talking about what happened between March 1916 and March 1917:
Working with the Russians, a small group of soldiers was kept in East Persia. Their job was to keep the area peaceful and stop German agents. Some tribes in Persian Baluchistan, especially the Damanis from Sarhad, attacked the supply routes of our soldiers.
To stop these attacks and control the Damanis, Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer moved some of his soldiers to Khwash in May 1916. In July, the Damanis became very unfriendly, so the soldiers had to take action. The Damanis were split into two main groups. General Dyer decided to move to Gusht to separate these groups and deal with each one.
From July 12th to July 29th, battles near Gusht took place. Our soldiers captured many animals from one Damani group and caused them big losses. They also managed to separate the two Damani groups. During this time, several small fights happened in difficult weather and land conditions. A main battle was at Kalag, near Gusht, on July 21st.
In August, General Dyer traveled through a large part of the other Damani group's land without any fighting. He returned to Khwash on August 24th.
On October 5th, 1916, Brigadier-General Dyer went back to India because he was sick. Brigadier-General C. O. O. Tanner took over command of the Seistan Force.
After these actions, agreements were made with the Damani chiefs. They promised to pay fines and not cause trouble again. They have paid all their fines. Because of this peace, some of the Seistan Force could be sent back to Quetta.
The soldiers keeping watch in Sistan fought with enemy groups three times. At Lirudik on April 13th, 1916, a group of 70 men from the Punjabis and some local helpers, led by Captain A. D. Bennett, fought a large enemy group of about 700 men. Our soldiers caused them many losses.
At Kalmas, on September 26th, a group of 23 Light Cavalry men and 36 local helpers, led by Second Lieutenant B. W. Wahl, stopped people smuggling guns. They captured many rifles, ammunition, and camels. Sadly, Second Lieutenant Wahl was killed during this fight.
Near Chorab, on March 24th, 1917, a group of 16 Light Cavalry men and 25 Punjabis, led by Captain J. A. C. Kreyer, attacked a group smuggling guns. They captured all 20 camels used for transport, along with 447 rifles and about 23,600 rounds of ammunition.
Commanding officers
- Lt Colonel J. M. Wikely, August 1915
- Brig-General Reginald Dyer, March 1916
- Brig-General C. O. O. Tanner, October 1916
- Lt Colonel (later Brig-General) G. A. Dale, May 1917
See also
