From the Black Mountain to Waziristan: Being an account of the border countries and the more turbulent of the tribes controlled by the north-west frontier province, and of our military relations with them in the pastWylly, H. C. (Harold Carmichael)
History
From the Black Mountain to Waziristan: Being an account of the border countries and the more turbulent of the tribes controlled by the north-west frontier province, and of our military relations with them in the past
Chakdara signalled that it was successfully holding out, and the
reinforcements ordered by the military authorities were beginning to
arrive. A squadron 11th Bengal Lancers came in escorting ammunition, and
in the evening the 35th Sikhs and 38th Dogras reached Dargai, the
first-named regiment having lost twenty-one men from heat apoplexy on
its march from Nowshera.
Again, on the night of the 29th–30th, was the attack renewed, chiefly
against the flanks, but was everywhere repulsed with great loss, and the
same may be said of the following night, when the attack, though
repeated, seemed to have lost something of its energy and fire. On these
two nights our losses were one man killed and nineteen wounded. On the
31st reinforcements, amounting to over 700, reached the Malakand
position, and that night the usual attack was not delivered.
[Sidenote: Relief of Chakdara]
On the 1st August Colonel Meiklejohn made an attempt at the relief of
Chakdara, but the start was rather delayed, and the enemy showed
themselves in such strength that the orders had to be cancelled. On this
date Major-General Sir Bindon Blood, having been appointed to command a
newly organised Malakand Field Force, arrived in the position, and
approved of a strong force moving out at daybreak on the 2nd to effect
the relief of Chakdara. The relieving force, under Colonel Meiklejohn,
was stoutly opposed all the way, but the determination of the enemy only
made their losses the heavier, the cavalry getting among them with their
lances and the Sikhs with the bayonet. As the force drew near, the enemy
surrounding the fort began to withdraw, their retirement being hastened
by a vigorous _sortie_ by the garrison. The relieving column had five
men killed and twenty-eight wounded, while the casualties of the
Chakdara garrison only amounted to three killed and nine wounded during
their six days’ close investment, standing continually to their posts by
day and night.
That day the villages of Aladand and Thana were visited, no opposition
being met with, and Colonel Meiklejohn’s column marched to and remained
in camp at Amandara in preparation for the reconstitution of the field
force.
_Operations of the Malakand Field Force, 1897._—To punish all the
attacks above described, the Government of India sanctioned the despatch
of a force, to be known as the Malakand Field Force, to concentrate, the
First Brigade at Amandara, the Second at Khar and Malakand, the Reserve
at Rawal Pindi and Mardan.
FIRST BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General Meiklejohn, C.B., C.M.G.
1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment.
24th Punjab Infantry.
31st Punjab Infantry.
45th Sikhs.
SECOND BRIGADE.
Brigadier-General P. D. Jeffreys, C.B.
1st Battalion the Buffs.
35th Sikhs.
38th Dogras.
Guides Infantry.
DIVISIONAL TROOPS.
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