Battle of Ahmed Khel

Battle of Ahmed Khel Part of Second Anglo-Afghan War Map of the battlefield Date 19 April 1880 Location Ahmed Khel, Afghanistan Result British Victory Belligerents British Empire United Kingdom British India Afghanistan Commanders and leaders Sir Donald Martin Stewart Unknown Strength 7,200 Anglo-Indian troops 15,000 tribal warriors Casualties and losses 17 dead 124 wounded [1] Around 1,700

The Battle of Ahmed Khel was fought between the British Empire with its British and Indian armies and the Afghans on the road between Kandahar and Kabul on 19 April 1880 in what now is the country of Afghanistan.^[2] The battle ended in a British victory. This battle occurred during General Donald Stewart's march from Kandahar to Ghazni, then on to Kabul.^[2]

The British forces, consisting of 7,200 British and Indian troops, were commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Donald Stewart. On the opposite side were 15,000 tribesmen mounted and on foot of the Andarees, Tarkees, Suleiman Khels and other Afghan tribes, led by unknown tribal leaders.

The Indian regiments were commanded by British officers, but these were not present in sufficient numbers to command such inexperienced military units as the Indian forces. The proportion was 7 British officers to 650 Indian infantry soldiers, which wasn't enough since all tactical decisions on the battlefield were made by the British.

For weaponry the British infantry carried a single-shot Martini–Henry rifle, while the Indian infantry had a similar single-shot rifle, but one of older model. In addition to these rifles the British-Indian cavalry forces were armed with sword, lance and carbines.

During times of peace the Indian army had no commanding structure of officers other than those placed in garrisons in cities or forts. The Indian army officers had to be appointed when war started, and trained through experience.^[2]

Order of battle

• Royal Horse Artillery
• Royal Artillery
• 19th Bengal Cavalry (Fane’s Lancers)
• 1st Punjab Cavalry
• 2nd Punjab Cavalry
• 59th Foot
• 2nd/60th Rifles
• 15th Bengal Native Infantry (Ludhiana Sikhs)
• 19th Bengal Native Infantry (Punjabis)
• 25th Bengal Native Infantry (Punjabis)
• 3rd Gurkha Rifles
• 2nd Sikh Infantry

References

1. MacGregor, Sir Charles Metcalfe (1908). The second Afghan war, 1878-80: official account. J. Murray. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
2. "The Battle of Ahmed Khel". BritishBattles.com. Retrieved 4 April 2013.