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Afghanistan, 1878-1880.
This battle honour was granted to all regiments which took part in any of the operations during the course of the war in Afghanistan between the years 1878 and 1880. In the two campaigns there were no less than thirty-one regiments of cavalry and eighty battalions employed, and though few of these were actually under fire, yet all were accorded the distinction. It is borne on the colours of the following regiments:
Carabiniers.
8th Hussars.
9th Lancers.
10th Hussars.
11th Hussars.
15th Hussars.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
King's Liverpool.
Norfolks.
Devons.
Suffolks.
West Yorkshire.
East Yorkshire.
Leicesters.
Royal Irish.
K.O. Scottish Borderers.
East Lancashire.
East Surrey.
Hampshire.
North Lancashire.
Berkshire.
K.O. Yorkshire L.I.
Shropshire L.I.
King's Royal Rifles.
Manchester.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
1st Skinner's Horse.
3rd Skinner's Horse.
4th Cavalry.
5th Cavalry.
8th Cavalry.
10th Hodson's Horse.
11th Probyn's Lancers.
12th Cavalry.
13th Watson's Horse.
14th Murray's Lancers.
15th Cureton's Lancers.
17th Cavalry.
18th Tiwana Lancers.
19th Fane's Lancers.
21st Daly's Horse.
22nd Sam Browne's Horse.
23rd Cavalry.
25th Cavalry.
26th Light Cavalry.
32nd Lancers.
33rd Light Cavalry.
34th Poona Horse.
35th Scinde Horse.
36th Jacob's Horse.
38th Central India Horse.
39th Central India Horse.
Q.O. Corps of Guides.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
2nd Q.O. Light Infantry.
3rd Brahmins.
4th Rajputs.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Light Infantry.
8th Rajputs.
9th Bhopal Infantry.
11th Rajputs.
12th Pioneers.
13th Rajputs.
14th Sikhs.
15th Sikhs.
16th Rajputs.
17th Loyal Regiment.
19th Punjabis.
20th Brownlow's Punjabis.
21st Punjabis.
22nd Punjabis.
23rd Pioneers.
24th Punjabis.
25th Punjabis.
26th Punjabis.
27th Punjabis.
28th Punjabis.
29th Punjabis.
30th Punjabis.
31st Punjabis.
32nd Pioneers.
42nd Deoli Infantry.
44th Merwara Infantry.
45th Sikhs.
51st Sikhs.
52nd Sikhs.
53rd Sikhs.
55th Coke's Rifles.
56th Punjab Rifles.
57th Wilde's Rifles.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
61st Pioneers.
64th Pioneers.
75th Carnatic Infantry.
81st Pioneers.
90th Punjabis.
101st Grenadiers.
104th Wellesley's Rifles.
105th Mahratta L.I.
108th Infantry.
109th Infantry.
110th Mahratta L.I.
113th Infantry.
115th Mahrattas.
119th Multan.
124th Baluchistan.
127th Baluch L.I.
128th Pioneers.
130th Baluchis.
1st Gurkhas.
2nd Sirmoor Rifles.
3rd Gurkhas.
4th Gurkhas.
5th Gurkhas.
A very large number of these regiments were employed in keeping open the three lines of communication with Afghanistan—viz., by the Khyber, the Kuram, and the Bolan Passes. Though they did not participate in any of the actions which appear on the colours of certain more fortunate regiments, they were nevertheless exposed to continuous hardship, and some to constant attack by the fanatical tribes who inhabit the borderland between Hindustan and the territories of the Amir. Some, indeed, suffered more heavily in these long-forgotten skirmishes than did many of the regiments which added two or three names to their list of battle honours.
In consequence of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, our relations with Russia became very strained, and owing to what the Sultan of Turkey considered our neglect to afford him material support against Russia, the long-standing friendship between England and Turkey was imperilled. Both nations turned towards the Amir of Afghanistan as the one potentate who could assist them to indulge in the policy of pinpricks towards England, and both nations despatched Missions to Kabul with this end in view. The Afghan Amir soon showed a change in his policy towards us. In accepting a Russian Mission at Kabul he defied treaty rights, and in refusing to accept an English Mission he inflicted on us a deliberate insult. The English Cabinet in the month of October, 1878, presented an ultimatum, and on November 21 our armies crossed the frontier.
The plan of campaign was simple. Afghanistan was to be invaded by three columns, operating respectively by the Khyber route from Peshawar, by the Kuram route from Kohat, and by the Bolan Pass on Kandahar. The detail of the northern force was as under:
Peshawar Valley Field Force.
Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Browne, V.C., K.C.S.I., C.B., commanding.