Chitral Expedition

Chitral Expedition
Date 1895 Location Chitral, British India Result British victory
Belligerents
British Empire and Pro-British Chitralis	Chitralis Pashtun Bajouri and Afghan Tribesmen
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Gen. Sir R. Low, K.C.B Colonel James Graves Kelly Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend
Strength
15,249 (Low Force) 1,400 (Fort & Gilgit force)
Casualties and losses
21 killed, 101 wounded (Low force) 165 killed, 88 wounded (Fort & Kelly force)

The Chitral Expedition was a military expedition in 1895 sent by the British authorities to relieve the fort at Chitral which was under siege after a local coup.

Background to the conflict

Chitral was at the extreme north west of British India. An independent state in 1876, the Chitralis had come under the protection of the Maharaja of Kashmir and so into the British sphere of influence. In 1892 the Mehtar (ruler) of Chitral died which unleashed a series of killings as his relatives scrambled for the throne.^[1]

Umra Khan, a tribal leader from Bajour entered Chitral to challenge one of the claimants to the throne Amir-Ul-Mulk. The British authorities ordered Khan to leave and sent the political agent at nearby Gilgit, Surgeon Major George Robertson to report on the situation. Robertson entered Chitral Fort. Meanwhile another claimant to the throne Sher Afzal made his presence known and joined forces with Umra Khan. Mehtar Amir-Ul-Mulk moved towards a settlement with Khan and was immediately placed in custody by Robertson at Chitral Fort. Robertson declared his younger brother Shuja-Al-Mulk as provisional mehtar.^[1]

Meanwhile Sher Afzal moved his forces to Chitral Fort. A sharp engagement occurred which killed 15 Indian troops and one of their British officers killed with another wounded. Regimental Surgeon Harry Frederick Whitchurch was to receive the Victoria Cross for his heroism in assisting the deceased officer in a fighting retreat back to fort. The Siege of Chitral began the next day—15 March 1895.^[1]

Siege of Chitral

The fort at Chitral was under the command of Captain Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend, an officer of the Indian Staff Corps. The fort itself was built of timber, stone and mud and formed a square with a covered way to the river, the fort's only water source. The fort held 543 people of whom 343 were combatants. The units were the 14th Sikhs and a greater detachment from the Kashmir Infantry. Artillery support was 2 seven-pounders without sights and 80 rounds of ammunition.

Relief

India Medal with Relief of Chitral clasp

Relief forces were dispatched by the Government of India commanded by Major General Sir Robert Cunliffe Low, KCB with another detachment sent from Gilgit commanded by Colonel James Kelly. Kelly's troops after an arduous mountainous journey reached the fort. Low's force travelling from the south broke the resistance of the main body of the enemy.

See also

• Category:British military personnel of the Chitral Expedition

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Queens Victoria's Little Wars"

• "The Relief of Chitral" by Capt G.J.Younghusband, Macmillen & Co (1896)
• "With Kelly to Chitral" by Capt Beynon
• "Campaigns on the North West Frontier" by Captain H L Nevill, Naval & Military Press
• "Chitral - the Story of a Minor Siege" by Sir George Robertson, KCSI. (1898)
• "Townshend of Chitral and Kut" by Erroll Sherson John (1928)
• Much Sounding of Bugles: The Siege of Chitral, 1895, John Harris, Hutchinson (1975)

External links

• Official dispatch of the affair: London Gazette
• http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/1800_1899/dailylife_drawings/ilnviews/ilnviews.html
• http://www.antiquesatoz.com/stephenherold/nwfrontc.htm
• http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/charlie/chitral1895.htm

Coordinates: 35°53′N 71°48′E / 35.883°N 71.8°E / 35.883; 71.8