BACK TO CHAKDARA
Approximately one month ago, on the night of July 17th, 1890, Chakdara Outpost, overlooking the strategically vital bridge over the Swat River, was attacked and overwhelmed by a force Ghazi fanatics. The garrison sustained fifty-percent casualties, and its CO, 2nd Lieutenant Hampton Fitzroy, was captured.
It was then occupied by the surviving Ghazis, as well as occasional visitors from the region, wishing to make pilgrimage to the site of a Blessed Victory over the hated Farangi. One such pilgrim was KODAK EFFENDI, Turkey’s first itinerant photographer, who would one day reach the pinnacle of fame in his native Ottoman Empire — just before it collapsed…
Kodak Effendi took a series of photographs at Chakdara, immortalizing both the victorious Ghazis and the British dead. One such photo is seen here:
Since then, the number of Ghazis present on any particular date has varied, but tonight it was a large number, nearly 20…
When word arrived from a local goatherd of the long-awaited approach of more Farangi, the Ghazis were overjoyed at the pending opportunity for slaughter and possible martyrdom… until they saw for themselves at a distance the SIZE of the approaching force…
It was not a detachment or a wing or even a battalion — BUT A FULL BRIGADE — which they also noted with surprise was coming from the OPPOSITE DIRECTION they had expected.
The Ghazi leader, Muhammed al-Wahhab, decided that on this night discretion would be the better part of valor, and led his Faithful Warriors into the foothills of the nearby mountains, from whence they could observe and report the final disposition of the vast enemy force…
And so, as 1st Brigade Chitral Field Force’s ADVANCE PARTY of 2nd Gurkhas and 77th Bengal Lancers reached Chakdara Outpost…
They found it abandoned, and moved on.
The rest of the Brigade, under command of Brigadier-General McGuinness, marched past the Outpost and then crossed the bridge over the Swat River, en route to relieve Chitral Fort…
Advance Party 2nd Gurkhas crossing the Bridge over the Swat River…
Brigadier McGuinness assigns a Wing of the Guides Infantry (10 figs) under the command of Subedar-Major Raj Gul, to reoccupy Chakdara Outpost…
The Wing of Guides Infantry (10 figs) under command of Subedar-major Raj Gul secure Chakdara Outpost… which they will hold until relieved.
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Autor: Mad Guru / MAIWAND DAY
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