The Story of the Malakand Field Force
In his first book, the renowned statesman and historian chronicles an 1897 British military campaign on the Northwest Frontier, in the vicinity of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Churchill served as a correspondent and cavalry officer in the conflict, and his incisive reportage reflects the energy and vision that re-emerged in his leadership during World War II.\ At the time of the clash, Churchill was serving as a subaltern in the 4th Hussars. Weary of regimental life, the young soldier...
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On general grounds I deprecate prefaces. I have always thought that if an author cannot make friends with the reader and explain his objects in two or three hundred pages he is not likely to do so in fifty lines. And yet the temptation of speaking a few words behind the scenes as it were is so strong that few writers are able to resist it. I shall not try.
I The Theatre of War 1\ The Scenery\ The Flora and Fauna\ The People\ Their Weapons\ Their Disposition\ The Ambitious Pathan\ Quarrels with the British\ Their Honour\ A Redeeming Feature\ The Darker Side\ The Other Point of View\ The Scale of the Work\ Its Scope\ Its Objects\ II The Malakand Camps 11\ Nowshera\ The Road to the Malakand\ At the Top of the Pass\ The Camp\ Life on the Frontier\ The Swat Valley\ The Chitral Road\ The Retention of Chitral\ III The Outbreak 26\ The Causes\ Prosperity\ The Undercurrent\ The Means\ The Miracles\ Rumours of War\ Preparations\ The Movable Column\ The Storm Bursts\ IV The Attack on the Malakand 35\ The Surprise\ The Defence of the Defile\ “Rattray's Sikhs”\ The Central Position\ The Fight for the Quarter Guard\ Lieutenant Costello, V.C.\ Repulse of the Enemy\ Casualties\ Evacuation of the North Camp\ Approach of Reinforcements\ The Night of the 27th\ The Serai\ Lieutenant Climo's Counter Attack\ Merciful Courage\ The Night of the 29th\ The Repulse of the Enemy\ Casualties\ V The Relief of Chakdara 57\ The Force of Circumstances\ Formation of the Malakand Field Force\ Sir Bindon Blood\ Chakdara in Danger\ First Attempt to Relieve Chakdara\ Arrival of the General\ His Dispositions\ The Key of the Position\ The Morning of the 2nd of August\ Rout of the Enemy\ The Cavalry Pursuit\ Vengeance\ Chakdara Relieved\ Casualties\ VI The Defence of Chakdara 69\ The Fort\ The Warning\ A Gallop Home\ The First Attack\ The Cavalry Dash\ Continued Assaults\ The Signal Tower\ Exhaustion of the Defenders\ Sepoy Prem Singh\ Critical Situation\ The Urgent Appeal\ The Final Attack\ The Cavalry to the Rescue\ A Finish in Style\ The Casualties\ VII The Gate of Swat 82\ Formation of the 3rd Brigade\ The Marks of War\ Submission of the Lower Swatis\ The Special Force\ The Action of Landakai\ The Artillery Preparation\ The Flank Attack\ Capture of the Ridge\ Pursuit\ A Disastrous Incident\ A Gallant Feat of Arms\ The Victoria Cross\ Knights of the Sword and Pen\ Buddhist Remains\ The Light of Other Days\ Buner\ Return of the Troops\ VIII The Advance against the Mohmands 97\ Causes of the Expedition\ Summary of the Action of Shabkadr\ The Forces Employed\ General Plan of the Operations\ Advance of the Malakand Field Force\ The Passage of the Panjkora\ Political Aspect of the Country\ IX Reconnaissance 112\ The Jandul Valley\ The Seven Khans\ Frontier Diplomacy\ Bàrwa\ An Afghan Napoleon\ Unpractical Reflections\ Under the Chenars\ The Arms Question\ Its Significance\ The Utman Khel Passes\ A Virgin Valley\ A Successful “Bluff”\ The Camp at Night\ X The March to Nàwagai 124\ March to Shumshuk\ The First Shot\ The Koh-i-Mohr\ The Rambat Pass\ The Watelai Valley\ Night of the 14th of September\ The Camp at Inàyat Kila\ XI The Action of the Màmund Valley, 16th September 138\ The Cavalry Skirmish\ The Advance on Shahi-Tangi\ The Counter Attack\ Retirement down the Spur\ Repulse of the Enemy\ Second Attack and Capture of Shahi-Tangi\ Darkness\ The Guides to the Rescue\ The Rearguard\ The Night\ XII At Inàyat Kila 153\ The Relief of Bilot\ The Story of the Night\ Rest and Recuperation\ Domodoloh\ Zagai\ Negotiations for Peace\ The Situation\ XIII Nàwagai 170\ “The Light of Asia”\ The Strategic Situation\ Decision of the General\ Rival Inducements\ Alarums and Excursions\ The Night Attack\ The Casualties\ Dismay of the Tribes\ The Mohmand Field Force\ Sir Pertab Singh\ Polo as an Imperial Factor\ Departure of the 3rd Brigade\ XIV Back to the Màmund Valley 181\ Dulce Domum\ Reorganisation\ The Peace Negotiations\ Renewal of Hostilities\ Destruction\ Some Misconceptions\ The Attack upon Agrah\ The Royal West Kent\ A Soldier's Fate\ The Artillery\ The Casualties\ Reinforcements\ Affair of 3rd October\ The 10th Field Battery\ The Compensations of War\ XV The Work of the Cavalry 197\ Progress of the Negotiations\ Cavalry Skirmish, 6th October\ General Résumé of Cavalry Work throughout the Campaign\ The Neglect of British Cavalry\ Departure of the R.W.K.\ Health of British Infantry\ Jàr, 9th October\ “Sniping”\ A Typical Night\ Across the Panjkora\ XVI Submission 208\ Negotiations with the Màmunds\ Surrender of Rifles\ The Durbar\ The Political Officers\ The Last of Inàyat Kila\ Matashah\ Submission of the Salarzais\ The Sikh and the Pathan: A Comparison\ The Return to Malakand.\ XVII Military Observations 219\ Transport\ Camps\ Attacks\ Retirements\ Employment of Artillery\ Signalling\ The Dum-Dum Bullet\ The Military Problem\ The Young Soldier\ Short Service\ The Courage of the Soldier\ XVIII And Last … The Riddle of the Frontier 234\ The Question\ The “Forward Policy”\ Its Present Results\ What might have been\ Actuality\ The Responsibility\ At Sea\ The Course\ Silver v. Steel\ Looking Backward\ The End\ Appendix. Extracts from Official Despatches 245
