Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VIINorman, Charles Boswell
History
Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VII
Norman, Charles Boswell
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History
This battle honour, with a mural crown, is borne by the Somerset
Light Infantry, and commemorates their gallant defence of Jelalabad
in the winter of 1841-42. As a feat of arms the defence was not of
any striking value. The garrison suffered from want of food, and
they were exposed to attack on the part of the Afghan tribes; but
as a matter of fact they were left pretty much undisturbed, their
casualties during the six months' siege being but 4 men killed, 2
officers and 14 men wounded. On April 5 Sale made a sortie, driving
off the besiegers, and so relieving himself before the arrival
of the avenging army under Pollock. In this action the 13th lost
their gallant Colonel Dennie, a soldier whose loss would have
dimmed a far more glorious victory than that won under the walls of
Jelalabad; the losses on this day were, in addition to the Colonel,
8 men killed, 2 officers and 31 men wounded. As the native infantry
regiment which shared with the 13th the glories of the defence
of Jelalabad no longer exists, I have not given the casualties
incurred by any corps but the Somerset Light Infantry. The total
casualties of the 13th throughout the campaign amounted to 4
officers and 62 men killed, 19 officers and 238 non-commissioned
officers and men wounded.
KHELAT-I-GHILZAI.
This honour, with the word "Invicta," is borne by the 12th
Pioneers (the Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment). During our occupation
of Afghanistan certain strategic points had necessarily been held
in order to maintain our communications with India. Amongst these
were the forts of Ghuznee and Khelat-i-Ghilzai, between the capital
and Kandahar. The former was entrusted to a Colonel Palmer, of
the 27th Bengal Infantry; the latter to Captain Craigie, with
a regiment of infantry raised in Hindustan for the army of the
Shah Sujah. Unfortunately, the Ghuznee garrison was compelled
to surrender, but Craigie and his men weathered the storm, and
though besieged for four long months, and reduced to sore straits
for food, they repelled more than one assault. For its gallant
defence of Khelat-i-Ghilzai the Shah's regiment was brought on
the establishment of the Bengal army, and now remains with us as
the 12th Pioneers (the Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment). In addition
to the name "Khelat-i-Ghilzai," the regiment is allowed to carry
an honorary standard, and bears on its colours the proud motto
"Invicta."
CANDAHAR, 1842.
This battle honour was conferred on the troops which, advancing
from Kandahar under General Nott, aided in the release of the
captives in Kabul, and in the punishment of the Afghans for the
murder of our Envoy in 1841. The regiments still entitled to bear
this honour are the
South Lancashire.
Welsh.
1st Skinner's Horse.
34th Poona Horse.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Light Infantry.
12th Pioneers (Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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