Affghanistan, 1839.—An expedition to place the ex-king Shah-Soojah, on the Afghan throne; led by Sir John Keane.
Afghanistan, 1878–80.—To avenge the murder of Sir L. Cavagnari, and to secure the passes overlooking the valley of the Punjab from being perpetually harassed, Lord Roberts, V.C., advanced on Cabul and fought a number of successful engagements.
Ahmad Khel.—During Sir D. Stewart’s march from Kandahar to Ghuznee and then on to join Lord Roberts, he encountered a force of Ghazis at Ahmad Khel and secured a victory over them.
Albuhera.—Probably the hardest fought battle of the Peninsular War. Marshal Beresford attempted to prevent Soult from advancing to the relief of besieged Badajoz. The Middlesex Regiment here earned its name of the “Diehards” and a desperate charge of the Royal Fusiliers turned the day, and “fifteen hundred unwounded men, the remnant of six thousand unconquerable British soldiers, stood triumphant on the fatal field.” (Napier).
Ali Masjid.—A fort attacked by a column under General Sir S. Browne, at the opening of the Afghan War, 1878.
Aliwal.—One of the battles of the first Sikh War.
Ally Ghur.—The first engagement in the Mahratta War. (September 4th, 1803).
Alma.—The first battle of the Crimean War. Here the British and French landed and successfully stormed the heights. R. Gibb’s famous picture, “Forward 42nd,” refers to this battle.
Almaraz.—A defeat for the English in Spain by Louis XIV. during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Amboyna.—An island in the Moluccas, where disputes with the native and English traders has led to a series of unfortunate differences with Holland, to whom it belongs.