In the preface to his book AFGHANISTAN 1919, Lieutenant General G. N. Molesworth, adjutant of the 2nd Battalion Somerset Light Infantry during the war, admits that "in comparison to the fearful slaughter which took place in World War I ... this campaign was a sideshow..." He then qualifies this statement saying 'in normal times from the casualties alone it would have ranked as a major war."

By the scale of other operations on the Northwest Frontier, this last statement is not too inaccurate. Admittedly incomplete statistics show 1,751 casualties suffered by British and Indian troops, including over 500 dead from cholera.

Operations in the Third Afghan War ranged along much of the border area. Fighting occurred in Chitral, in the Khyber Pass, through the Kurram Valley, in the Tochi Valley, in Waziristan, and in Baluchistan. Although the scenes of fighting were not new, this was not simply a refight of earlier wars and frontier campaigns. Strategically, the Afghans and their Pathan allies took the offensive at the outset on each front except in Southern Baluchistan, where a pre-emptive British strike into Afghanistan forestalled any planned or potential Afghan incursions into India. The only other front on which the British conducted significant offensive operations was in the Khyber Pass, where British and Indian troops advanced into Afghanistan to seize the town of Dakka.

The Afghan Army

The Afghan army, on paper, posed a significant threat to the thinly spread Northwest Frontier Force in 1919. 50,000 troops were organized into 75 infantry battalions, 21 cavalry regiments, and roughly 70 batteries (280 guns). The purpose of the army was to provide a core of regular troops around which the tribal lashkars, possibly as many as 80,000 fighting men, could form.

In reality, the Afghan regular army was not ready for war. As in past years, the upper levels of the officer corps was riddled with political intrigue. General Molesworth gives the following evaluation of the Emir's army:

Probably the best of the Afghan units were those in the Kabul-Jellalabad area, most of which would see action in the Kurram Valley and in the Khyber Pass. These units included 7 cavalry regiments, 31 infantry battalions, 1 pioneer battalion, a few antique machine guns, and 92 artillery pieces of various calibers and ages. Probably the poorest quality front-line regulars were those sent against Chitral.

In support of the regulars, the Afghan command expected to call out the tribes, which could gather up to 20,000 or 30,000 fighters in the Khyber region alone. In stark contrast to the regulars, the tribal lashkars were well or "excellent fighting quality," well armed, and with plenty of ammunition.

The British Army

On the British side of the border, the Northwest Frontier Force could utilize, initially, two horse-mounted cavalry brigades, two infantry divisions, and three frontier brigades as well as a number of frontier militia and irregular corps. Technologically, British equipment was relatively up to date, although in short supply in some cases. Instead of the 9 batteries of 18-pdrs and single 4.7-inch battery with which Indian divisions had been equipped during World War One, the two divisions on the frontier each had only 8 18-pdrs, four 4.5-inch howitzers, and 8 2.75-inch mountain guns. The field and howitzer batteries were served by elements of the Royal Field Artillery while the mountain guns were manned by the Royal Garrison Artillery. The cavalry brigade-were each equipped with four 13-pdr guns served by the Royal Horse Artillery. Machine guns, at least on the Khyber front, were old .303 Maxims. The British gained a command and control advantage with their use of motor transport and wireless communications while armored cars and RAF detachments increased the Frontier Force's firepower and reach, the latter being demonstrated to the Afghans by a bombing raid on Kabul itself.

The great problem for the British was manpower. Although the manpower of the Indian army reached 750,000 during the Afghan war, only a fraction of this was on, or reached, the frontier. Many of those units on the frontier were under strength, a problem compounded in some areas where the frontier militia units proved unreliable and were disarmed and disbanded.

A further complication arose due to the Great War. Of the 61 British regular battalions and regiments stationed in India in 1914, all but two cavalry regiments and 8 infantry battalions were shipped to the killing fields of France, Palestine, and Mesopotamia. Replacing them on garrison duty in India were elements of the Territorial Army. Unhappy with garrison life, the Territorials were only interested in a quick return to civilian life. Only a direct appeal from the C-in-C India prevented potential trouble in some Territorial battalions.

Among the Indian units, many of the premier regiments and battalions were still abroad, their places having been taken by second or third line reserve battalions. Of those regiments and battalions which had returned to India, the ranks of many were filled with many recent recruits.

Campaign Dispositions

The two campaigns which I find most interesting were the Upper Kurram and Chitral fronts as much of the fighting was done by reliable, well-led militia units supported by small numbers of regulars.

In the Upper Kurram, the British, initially, were deployed as follows: 500 Kurram Militia and regular infantry in the Peiwar Kotal area; 200 Kurram Militia at Karlachi; 200 militia and 80 mounted infantry at Lakka Tigga; 230 militia in 7 smaller posts; Headquarters 60th Infantry Brigade, 37th Lancers (1 squadron), No. 28 Mountain Battery (2 sections), No. 22 Motor Machine Gun Battery, 57th Rifles (less one company), 3/Guides Infantry, and 400 Kurram Militia in reserve at Parachinar. Opposing this force were 2500 Afghan regular infantry, 7 mountain guns (mixed quality), 2 obsolete machine guns, and about 3500 Pathan tribesmen.

In Chitral, regular units consisted of 1/11th Rajputs (450 rifles), one section of No. 23 Mountain Battery and one section of 2/Sappers and Miners. Locally raised troops included the Chitral Scouts (1,000 rifles) and the Mehtar's Bodyguard. The Scouts were an organized local infantry battalion commanded by British officers and lacked both artillery and mounted units. The Mehtar's Bodyguard was primarily armed with muskets and matchlocks, although some men had Martini-Henrys. The Bodyguard also had a Russian machine gun, which had been hauled through the passes by a refugee fleeing the Bolsheviks. Molesworth doubts the weapon had any ammunition.

Opposing this British/Chitrali force were 3 infantry battalions, 8 mountain guns, and 4 machine guns at Birkot on the frontier about 40 miles south of Chitral City. There were another 3 battalions and 4 mountain guns further south at Asmar. The Afghan high command may have also ordered 5 more battalions into the area from Jellalabad. After an initial invasion of Chitral was repulsed, both sides received reinforcements. Kafir and Kunar tribesmen, in addition to Chitrali tribesmen joined the Mehtar's forces. By June 1, 3 more Afghan battalions had moved into the area and about 6, 000 Dir tribesmen gathered in the hills on the British side of the frontier ready to descend into Chitral. Although the armistice ending the fighting elsewhere was signed on June 3, 5-6 battalions had moved from Badakshan and Wakhan toward the Baroghil and Manjan Passes northwest of Chitral City. South, near Asmar, were concentrated another 7 battalions, along with Mohmand and Bajaur tribesmen. On July 28, 100 Afghan cavalry and a battalion of infantry moved toward the northwest passes into Chitral.

WARGAMING THE THIRD AFGHAN WAR

Minifigs makes a nice collection of suitable figures in 1 5mm. For the British, infantry, command, armored cars, and machine guns can be obtained from the World War I series while Bengal cavalry/lancers and Sikh mountain gun crews may be found in Minifigs, Colonial range. I'm not sure about the Afghan army uniforms, but as the Turks supplied equipment and training cadres, I've decided to use Turks in sun helmets from the World War I range as Afghan regulars. Pathan figures from the Colonial range are suitable, although I'd limit the number of jezails except among the Chitralis.

The one big shortage is artillery. Minifigs makes British 1 8-pdr field guns but none of the others needed, although the mountain guns from the Colonial series would be suitable for the older Afghan mountain guns. The other shortage is British artillery crews, as those in the World War One range are Western Front gunners.

In 25mm, Frontier makes British and Turkish infantry and British machine gunners with sun helmet options and the Sikhs and lancers from the Boxer Rebellion range would be 'OK. No gunners or artillery however. Throw in some Frontier and Ral Partha Pathans with rifles and you've got figures for some skirmish actions.

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© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum

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