The Relief of ChitralYounghusband, G. J. (George John)
History
The Relief of Chitral
Younghusband, G. J. (George John)
India -- History -- Chitral Campaign, 1895
Concealed amongst the rocks, boulders, and bushes, the enemy formed
a most difficult mark to hit; whilst the same causes, combined with
the steepness of the ground, saved our troops from severer loss. The
admirable control under which our infantry fire was kept may be gauged
by the fact that the average expenditure of ammunition was under seven
rounds per man throughout the day.
Of the enemy's bravery it is difficult to speak too highly, and
individual cases were conspicuous. One leader, carrying a large red
and white banner, called on his men to charge the Scottish Borderers
when they were half way up the hill. The charge was made, but all
his followers gradually fell, till the leader alone was left. Nothing
daunted he held steadily on, now and again falling, heavily hit, but
up and on again without a moment's delay, till at last he was shot
dead close to the British line. More desperate courage than this is
difficult to imagine. Again, one of the enemy's drummers, not content
with taking his fair share of risks, persisted in mounting on to the
roof of a hut, where he showed up clear and conspicuous against the sky
line, and thence cheered on his comrades. Every now and again a bullet
would find him out, and he would drop to dress his wounds, and then
again mounting recommenced beating his drum. At last a bullet got him
through the heart, and he fell headlong a hundred yards down the cliff,
and there lay stark dead, but with his drum round his neck, and his
arms ready raised to strike it. No doubt the great Mahomed will find a
place for him in the ranks of the Mussulman Paradise.
On the night after the battle, the crest of the pass was held by
the 1st Brigade, with two regiments pushed down as far as Khar,
whilst the 2nd Brigade bivouacked at the south entrance of the pass.
On the following morning commenced the stupendous task of pushing
over the pass the ammunition, baggage, and supplies of the advanced
brigades. The only available path was a single track very steep and
much encumbered with boulders, which had been hastily improved by
working parties of Sappers and Pioneers. Up this, from dawn to dusk,
toiled batch after batch of laden mules, and yet at the end of the
day small progress had been made. At this highly opportune moment
it was discovered that the old Buddhist road, hit off by the 60th
Rifles during the assault, led down by a good gradient to the plains.
Every available man was immediately employed in improving this relic
of a civilisation 2,000 years old, with the result that in another
twenty-four hours the brigades were ready to move. Had it not been for
this Buddhist road, the very existence of which appeared to have been
forgotten by the present inhabitants, it would have taken many days to
get the division across the Malakand Pass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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