The story goes that after being honoured by royalty, Bobbie apparently became a bit above himself and refused to fraternise with local dogs. My God-Maiwand by Maxwell: an exhaustive authoritative account of the battle by a Gunner Officer. HRH The Princess Royal will unveil the sculpture, by artist David Backhouse. Survivor of slaughter honoured on sculpture, Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news. An’ a company-commander up an’ ‘it us with a sword, During the disorganized retreat, the pursuing Afghans were held off by a squadron of the Scinde Horse, the RHA battery and the infantry from the baggage guard, although many stragglers were caught and killed, particularly the wounded. Casualties at the Battle of Maiwand: The British and Indian force lost 21 officers and 948 soldiers killed. Visit our dedicated Podcast page or visit Podbean below. Primrose appointed Brigadier General Burrows commander of the field brigade, with Brigadier General Nuttall commanding the cavalry. If Burrows had moved on hearing the news, he might have reached Maiwand before Ayub. E/B Battery, Royal Horse Artillery: 14 dead and 13 wounded In 1878, the regiments were beginning to adopt khaki for field operations. The battery commander of the smooth bore battery, Captain Slade of the Royal Horse Artillery, received the CB for his conduct in the battle. Size of the armies at the Battle of Maiwand: 2,500 British and Indian troops with 6 RHA guns and 6 smooth bore guns against 3,000 Afghan cavalry and 9,000 infantry with 6 batteries of artillery (36 guns). The British artillery, using a variety of guns, many smooth bored muzzle loaders, was not as effective as it could have been, if the authorities had equipped it with the breech loading steel guns being produced for European armies. Or seen what I seed that day! ‘The Eleven’, the last stand of the 66th Regiment with Bobbie the dog at the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War. Colonel James Galbraith, Regimental Colour in hand, alongside Bobbie the regimental dog and some of the other "Last Eleven" survivors of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment, making their last stand in one of the walled gardens just South of Khig village, a few miles West of the Afghan town of Maiwand. The first phase of the battle comprised an artillery duel; the Afghans out-shooting the British, having a greater number of more modern and heavier guns, including six state-of-the-art Armstrong guns. But Bobbie survived the slaughter, commemorated by the Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens, having barked defiantly at the head of the gallant troops during the engagement. Above is a pic of Lt. The Mutiny of 1857 had brought great change to the Indian Army. The few remaining survivors that managed to reach the safety of the British Garrison awarded Medal of Queen Victoria on return to their contrary. Royal Horse Artillery on exercise in England: Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: picture by Orlando Norie, British and Indian Regiments at the Battle of Maiwand:  The Maiwand Lion, Forbury Gardens, Reading The regiment was deployed to Afghanistan in early 1880 and took part in the Battle of Maiwand in July 1880 where the British forces were routed and most of the regiment was caught up in the rout. The Indian troops that fought all the successful battles of the Second Afghan War in the north of the country were from the Bengal Army. An Iron Lion statue in the memories of the men of 66th Regiment of foot who died at Maiwand build in Forbury Garden, Reading in Berkshire England. All the horse, field and siege batteries were, from 1859, found by the British Royal Artillery. At Maiwand the Afghans had an overwhelming advantage in gun numbers and quality and in Jacob’s Rifles, one third of his infantry strength, Burrows had a seriously inadequate unit, insufficiently officered and with many of the men almost untrained recruits. The technique for dying uniforms varied widely, producing a range of shades of khaki, from bottle green to a light brown drab. We was ‘idin’ under bedsteads more than ‘arf a march away; There was thirty dead an’ wounded on the ground we wouldn’t keep — Ayub Khan advanced from Herat with a force of 25,000. 30th Bombay Native Infantry (Jacob’s Rifles) ‘Last request’: Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: picture by Harry Payne. Jilly Cooper said: "Thanks to the huge generosity of many individuals, charities and corporate sponsors we have raised nearly £1,000,000, but we still need a further £450,000 as costs have soared since we started the project six years ago. Or seen what I seed that day! Account of the Battle of Maiwand:  The system was not yet universally applied, so that some regiments in Afghanistan were short service and others still manned by long service soldiers. Two senior officers from Burrows’ force were tried by court martial, but acquitted. The advance across the open plain exposed the British/Indian left flank; the threat from the enveloping Afghan cavalry causing Burrows to move two companies of Jacob’s Rifles to this flank and bolstering them with two of the smooth bore guns on their left, between Jacob’s Rifles and the troops of the baggage guard. 1st Grenadiers 366 dead and 61 wounded Burrows force joined the Wali’s troops at Girishk, only for the Wali’s men to mutiny, many joining Ayub Khan’s army. 2nd Company Bombay Sappers and Miners 16 dead and 6 wounded. It is a memorial for the nearly 300 soldiers from the 66th Berkshire Regiment killed in the disastrous Battle of Maiwand in Afghanistan on July 27, 1880. HM 66th Regiment (less 2 companies), from 1882 Royal Berkshire Regiment and now the Rifles. No less useful were the numerous railway dogs of the late 19th century. As regulation uniforms were unsatisfactory for field conditions in Afghanistan, the officers in most regiments improvised more serviceable forms of clothing. The action appealed to the mood of nationalism which was prevalent in Victorian England at the time and inspired a poem to be written. Heathrow Airport: TUI, Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet updates on summer 2021 holidays, International travel could return later in the eyar, LVS Ascot pupils sent home within minutes of arriving after positive Covid test, The Licensed Victuallers School in London Road has sent pupils home to self-isolate, Ministry of Justice keeping tight-lipped on Banksy Reading Prison artwork, As the owner of Reading Prison, the government department could have the painting removed, Met Office Reading weather warning as strong winds may cause power cuts, The weather is due to take a turn for the worse as heavy winds and rain are forecast. Above is a pic of Lt. Four months before the 130th anniversary of the battle of Maiwand, Ethan Reiff decided he would recreate the most famous battle of the Second Anglo-Afghan War as a table-top wargame. Center Parcs reoepning: Can you book a Center Parcs holiday and when does it reopen? The amount you receive will reduce once it ends. ‘Bobbie’ received the Afghan Medal from Queen Victoria in 1881; he died the year after, run down by a horse cab! He very kindly consented to an interview to explain the background to the project, his research, and the process. The 66th, broken up by the collapse of the two Indian regiments, fell back in small fighting groups. As the British/Indian brigade approached Maiwand, Ayub’s army could be seen marching across its front, in the swirling dust storms that swept the semi-desert area. An’ some one shouted “‘Ook it!” an’ it come to sove-ki-poo, The amazing story of Bobbie, the bravest dog of war, as told in a British soldier's diary of a bloody battle in Afghanistan 130 years ago. RML 9-pounder With Gunners The British artillery had six 9-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns manned by well trained cannoneers of E-B Royal Horse Artillery under Major Blackwood (who would die with the last stand of the 66th Foot). … An’ the colonel broke ‘is sword acrost, an’ cried. An’ that was all we gained by doin’ so. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. An’ the major cursed ‘is Maker ’cause ‘e lived to see that day, But, Christ! An’ I thought I knew the voice an’ — it was me! Seeing the guns go, the remainder of Jacob’s Rifles dissolved into the left wing of the 66th, throwing the right of the line into confusion. ‘Bobbie the Dog’ of the 66th Regiment, wearing his Afghan campaign medal ribbon: Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War. The only Indian artillery units allowed to exist after the Mutiny were the mountain batteries. At Ahmed Khel, General Stewart came close to disaster at the hands of an Afghan army with no guns. Who would have thought an iconic band like that could start here in Berkshire? The Afghan artillery’s effectiveness significantly influenced the battle, constantly pushing forward to the line of British infantry. On the British/Indian right flank, the Afghans continued to pass down the subsidiary ravine. The £1.5 million monument will be dedicated to the millions of animals that served alongside the British and Commonwealth forces in conflicts of the 20th Century, and will feature life size. ), legendary 19th century Scottish dog Behind them will be a scene carved into a Portland stone wall featuring all the different species of animal used in 20th Century conflicts. The survivors of the brigade struggled on towards Kandahar, until they were met by a small relieving force and the Afghan cavalry withdrew. Uniforms, arms and equipment at the Battle of Maiwand: A British force of 2,700 sent to help put down a rebellion by Ayub Khan were overwhelmed at the battle by an army of 35,000 warriors. 3rd Scinde Horse (Bombay Army) 15 dead and 1 wounded There was no operational training for staff officers. According to local sources, this was also supposed to be her wedding day and as one flag bearer fell wounded, Malalai raised the flag during the battle. On the outbreak of war, brigade and divisional staffs had to be formed and learn by experience. And what a brave dog he was. The Battle of Maiwand took place in the second Afghan war and pits the British and Indians against the tribal irregulars and Afghan forces. It were just a bloomin’ knock-out — an’ our fault! Survivors of the 66th at the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: picture by Harry Payne. Now there ain’t no chorus ‘ere to give, When in March 1879 Lieutenant General Sir Donald Stewart marched north to Kabul with his division of Bengal Army and British regiments, Kandahar was left to the Wali, its Afghan ruler, and a replacement garrison of Bombay and British troops under Major General Primrose. This mini-game is taken from FGUs Wargame magazine #3. The lion should equally be considered a memorial to the soldiers of the Royal Horse Artillery, the 3rd Bombay Cavalry, the 3rd Scinde Horse, the 1st Grenadiers, the 30th Bombay NI, Jacob’s Rifles, and the Bombay Sappers and Miners who died in the service of the British Crown at the Battle of Maiwand. • Greyfriars Bobby (1855–1??? The guns advanced considerably further than Burrows intended, the rest of his force hurrying up in support; the infantry in a line, with the 66th on the right, Jacob’s Rifles in the centre and the 1st Grenadiers on the left. Something went wrong, please try again later. In the early afternoon, the two smoothbore guns ran out of ammunition and withdrew, a move which severely unsettled the two companies of Jacobs Rifles on the left flank, already suffering from the artillery fire and the heat. Burrows force passed the village of Mundabad and found it had reached a substantial ravine twenty-five feet deep, running along its front. Prior to the Mutiny, each Presidency army had a full quota of field and horse artillery batteries. The Indian Government directed General Primrose to send a brigade to Girishk and to bring regiments up from the reserve division as replacements. ABOUT THE BOBBIE FIGURE Bobbie actually joined in the battles, fearlessly attacking any enemy soldier. Late on 26th July 1880, Burrows received intelligence that Ayub’s force was moving through the Malmund Pass and would reach the village of Maiwand the next day, poised to march on Ghuznee. Following the artillery exchange, the Afghan infantry massed in front of the British/Indian line for an assault. Burrows, the British commander, made his way through Khig, giving up his horse to a wounded officer and being rescued by a warrant officer of the Scinde Horse, unaware that the remnant of his infantry right wing was fighting to the death behind him. Instead the brigade marched in the early hours of the next day, after a particularly trying time assembling its baggage. The Afghans on foot were distracted by the resistance in Khig and by the Grenadiers and the opportunity to loot the British and Indian baggage. The Battle of Maiwand on 27 July 1880 was one of the principal battles of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Maiwand, Afghanistan – the last stand of the 66th; the dog in the painting is Bobbie, the mascot of the British 2nd Battalion, of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, the only survivor of the battle of Maiwand in 1880, during the British 2nd Afghan War. The papers ‘id it ‘andsome, but you know the Army knows; The remnant of the army was enabled to leave the field, the right wing of the Afghan army held off by the surviving companies of the Grenadiers, fighting until their ammunition was exhausted and then overwhelmed. The 5 villages in Berkshire that everyone is desperate to move to. Our. There followed one of the worst defeats ever suffered by the British army in India. It got beyond all orders an’ it got beyond all ‘ope; Saving the guns: E/B Battery Royal Horse Artillery at the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: picture by Richard Caton Woodville. In the early afternoon, the guns ceased firing and a mass of Afghan tribesman charged the British/Indian infantry line. 2nd Company Bombay Sappers and Miners (half company), Map of the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: map by John Fawkes. Scinde Horse of the Bombay Army: Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War. Maiwand illustrated the knife-edged nature of the battles in Afghanistan: heavily outnumbered British and Indian forces winning against much larger forces of Afghans, provided they were experienced troops led by competent commanders. Maiwand: The Last Stand of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment in Afghanistan, 1880 – A history by Richard J Stackpoole-Ryding The British seized their six antiquated smooth bore guns and formed a makeshift battery, manned by soldiers from the 66th Regiment with Royal Horse Artillery officers under Captain Slade. Another Baden–Powell anecdote of the battle was of the Roman Catholic chaplain of the 66. She was there to help tend to the wounded and provide water and spare weapons. Ayub brought two of his guns down the subsidiary ravine and commenced firing at short range, probably as short as three hundred metres, into the 1st Grenadiers. At the end of the Battle of Maiwand in 1880, Bobbie was the sole survivor amongst the British. 8 officers and 169 men were wounded. The escaping British and Indian troops and camp followers streamed up the road towards Kandahar, pursued by the Afghan cavalry. Graves of soldiers of the 66th Regiment after the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War. The battle was fought on an exposed, dusty, dry plain in excessive heat. So we had to pay for teachin’ — an’ we paid! Burrows’ force was now seriously strung out, in a horse shoe formation, exposed by the abortive advance of the infantry line, with the Afghan cavalry massing on the left flank and Afghan tribesmen, infantry and guns infiltrating down the right flank, by way of the subsidiary ravine. Saving the guns at the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War. 18 déc. The 66th and the Grenadiers, pursued by large numbers of Afghans, crossed the ravine into Khig, where around a hundred officers and men made a stand in a garden on the edge of the village. 30th Bombay NI (Jacob’s Rifles) 241 dead and 32 wounded The Grenadiers lost 64% of their strength and the 66th lost 62%, including 12 officers. Prior to the Mutiny, the old regiments of the presidencies were recruited from the higher caste Brahmins, Hindus and Muslims of the provinces of central and eastern India, principally Oudh. Donations can be sent to the Animals in War Memorial Fund, 72 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE. 66th Regiment and E/B Battery Royal Horse Artillery at the beginning of the Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: picture by Richard Caton Woodville. (the poem Kipling wrote to commemorate the experience of the 66th Regiment at the Battle of Maiwand). 1st Grenadiers (Bombay Army) The Road to Kabul; the Second Afghan War 1878 to 1881 by Brian Robson. Bombay Grenadiers: Battle of Maiwand on 26th July 1880 in the Second Afghan War: picture by A.C. Lovett.