Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880Brooke, Henry Francis
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Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880
Brooke, Henry Francis
Afghan Wars; Brooke, Henry Francis, 1836-1880
"We miss his counsels greatly, in another way he is a great loss, as
he knew every yard of the country round, and would have been the very
man to lead a turning column. If it were not for the loss of BROOKE, I
should feel quite jolly, but I can't get him out of my head."
* * * * *
From Mrs. P.
21st October, 1880.
Dear Mr. Brooke,
We had this morning letters from my brother Colonel H., at Kandahar,
and we think you would like to hear what he says of your Brother.
To my husband my brother writes:--Poor BROOKE, as gallant a fellow
as ever stepped, led the attack, and after doing gallant deeds was
recalled by the orders of General Primrose (from the walls of the
City), and in retiring and trying to save a brother officer's life
lost his own. The three columns, as is invariably the case, lost all
sight and touch of each other, and nobody knew where the others were;
in spite of it all, the effect on the enemy was very great, and the
siege to all intents and purposes ended.
Poor BROOKE was full of zeal and energy, and died a soldier's death in
being the last to leave the village, and in attempting to carry poor
Cruikshank, who had been fatally wounded, out of action. It may be a
satisfaction to Mrs. Brooke to know that he behaved so gallantly and
was spared all suffering while carrying his brother officer under a
most murderous fire. 24 were killed round about him, and the heaviest
loss occurred where he fell; he did not retire of his own accord, and
was greatly surprised to get the order which was sent him by General
Primrose; on receiving it he sent orders for the several parties
to retire, and fell back himself last of all with a few men. Being
ordered to retire, he had no opportunity to carry out his plan to the
end; it might have been a grand success or a heavy loss, but his loss
was very heavily felt by the Force.
In the Battle of Pir Paimal we formed, with one of Roberts' Brigades,
the Reserve, while two Brigades attacked. Our Reserve had a grand
chance of distinguishing themselves, and had BROOKE been alive, I
believe it would have been done.
* * * * *
Extract from another Brother's Letter.
August 27th, 1880.
The day before yesterday we got the news of the sortie of the Garrison
(Kandahar) on the 16th: it has had good results, and was successful;
yet the heavy loss in Senior Officers does not read well. General
BROOKE is amongst the killed, and I am very sorry at this, for, no
doubt, he was one of the best men in the Garrison, and is sure to have
been always plucky and cheery.
* * * * *
From Col.
Kandahar, September, 1880.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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