0:16

Hello and welcome to the age of Victoria podcast.

0:21

My name's Chris Fernandez Ban. Let's get on with the show.

0:25

Hi, everyone. I'm recording this episode whilst trying

0:29

to sort out selling my house. And dealing

0:32

with the divorce, which is why it wasn't

0:34

out in June. But having that bit of

0:37

extra time means that this is now out on the

0:39

first of July, and Fingers crossed, that means I can now move

0:44

us back into the old cycle of releasing

0:47

episodes on the first of every month. In

0:50

difficult times like this, the podcast is a

0:53

great escape for me and and I truly

0:56

appreciate the support of the patrons to help

0:59

me through. I'm therefore delighted to welcome new

1:02

patron, Matt Anderson as a lovable Chimney sweep. Over the years,

1:07

I've been overhaul my scripts,

1:10

into fully footnote transcripts, that would meet academic research paper standards,

1:16

including citation requirements, I plan to convert them into Pdf

1:21

and put them on the website. To help

1:23

realize my dream an improved accessibility,

1:26

Working backwards, I have gone all the way back

1:30

episode 32. It has been slow going, and I'm still

1:34

committed to it. However, Apple podcasts.

1:38

Now automatically produce a transcript

1:41

for each episode. So all my episodes on

1:44

Apple podcasts now have a full transcript.

1:48

You can just read them at your leisure. They won't include the full citations or sources,

1:52

but from an accessibility point of view, and

1:55

they are brilliant. If you have ever missed something I said,

1:58

or wondered about a place name, it's right

2:01

there for you. I will. Nevertheless continue my

2:04

work on the fully cited scripts so that

2:07

they're available on the website. Today, We are continuing the episodes on the

2:14

invasion of Afghanistan. If you haven't listened to episodes 54,

2:19

55 and 56 yet. Please start with them before listening to this

2:24

or you will be completely lost. Still here.

2:28

Excellent. Have you ever looked at a map and

2:31

thought I'd like to visit there. You are

2:34

gripped with enthusiasm? And rush off to plan a trip. Only

2:38

there's times and dates, the best weather, the cost,

2:42

which bags to pack travel insurance,

2:46

guide books, comfortable shoes, airport land,

2:50

taxis, booking a kennel for the dog, telling the

2:53

Milk, your wife is away for 2 weeks. Before you know it, you are shaking your

2:58

head, and saying it is like planning and

3:01

invasion. Nick except of course, eu are just

3:03

a little busy. Scale it up to cover over 30000

3:07

men and twice that many ox and carts,

3:11

then try them get them through the mountains,

3:13

and you have a sense of the enormous

3:16

challenge facing the British when they invaded a Afghanistan

3:20

for the first time. If few packing lists

3:24

didn't even begin to cover it. If you

3:27

listen to the last episodes, you will of

3:29

course know why the British had decided to

3:32

send an army into difficult hostile terrain,

3:35

to fight an enemy, they didn't truly understand.

3:39

But if you didn't, you just need to

3:41

remember that the British didn't have a good reason, so we're coming

3:45

up with some bad ones. The first, Anglo afghan war is remembered, as

3:50

1 of the great military disasters in history,

3:53

it is also a master class

3:56

bad political decision making and poor planning It

4:00

is also a bit difficult to categorize

4:04

in the usual easy frameworks. The people in of view Victorian in history.

4:09

Typically, many people, including a longer historians

4:13

will be using easy labels like colonialism,

4:16

Or imperial or orient

4:19

or racism. The first anglo Afghan war didn't have just

4:23

1 of those or all of them it

4:26

had a mix depending on who you were and where you

4:30

sat at the time. Afghanistan

4:32

was never intended to be a province.

4:35

Or place the British settled. It was therefore

4:38

not next exercising colonialism, conquering it, was clearly violent and imperialist

4:46

in as much as it related to Empire, and there wasn't an

4:49

intention that the British would rule

4:52

via a client king. The main po political

4:55

goal was to install a friendly king. Create

4:58

a buffer zone, that protected the Indian borders,

5:02

unlike a client king, which didn't really care

5:05

what the new Afghan king actually did

5:08

as long as it was anti Russian, nor with Afghanistan

5:12

of much interest to the orient

5:15

who are much more focused on bringing what they perceived as

5:20

civilization to India or studying ancient Indian culture,

5:24

They assumed inherent superiority of the white man was a

5:28

given. But again, there was no desire to

5:32

create a white ruling class

5:34

over the native peoples in a Afghanistan

5:37

in the way that was being done in India. Nevertheless,

5:41

a former of orient. Is in incapable.

5:44

It can be a tricky word and concept

5:48

to define, and its most basic.

5:50

It comes from the old word of orient,

5:53

meaning lands of the east as opposed to

5:56

oc, meaning lands of the west.

5:59

Or the, means the interest in and study of cultures

6:04

in the orient region, so far, so neutral

6:08

except, In history terms, it can also mean the attitudes

6:13

towards the orient regions and a way of other

6:17

the entire of China, Japan,

6:21

India, the further stretches of the Middle East

6:24

and the Hindu C, In this form,

6:27

orient includes both racial and cultural claims of superiority

6:33

by the oc. It can be called

6:36

the western gaze on the Orient world.

6:40

Incidentally, the process works the other way too.

6:43

As we've seen throughout the podcast, there are no impartial observers

6:48

with an objective truth. Everything is done, through

6:51

the subjective gaze of the observer culture and life experiences

6:57

when we get to the opium war for instance, you will see the Chinese imperial worldview

7:03

was just as obsessed with its own perceived

7:06

racial superiority, over non Chinese peoples.

7:09

Orient often turns the orient

7:13

into the exotic the savage,

7:16

the wild, the dangerous, the inferior,

7:20

much of the Romans once viewed the germanic tribes,

7:24

as the barbaric outsider, who will wall I brave yet also

7:29

at the same time, un

7:32

and shaped by their environment, there were elements

7:36

of this kind of orient in the British view of Afghanistan

7:41

consider the comment of Scottish Envoy,

7:45

mount stark El stone from his 18 o

7:48

8 visit to Afghanistan, quote, to sum up the character the afghan

7:54

in a few words, their vice are revenge,

7:57

envy, average, capacity

8:00

and ob. On the other hand, they are fond of

8:04

liberty, faithful to their friends

8:07

climbed to their dependence hospitable,

8:10

brave, hardy, frugal,

8:13

labor, and prudent. They are less disposed

8:17

than the nations in their neighborhood to fa

8:20

in ent and d. Just after

8:25

the first pan war in 18 51,

8:29

so John K wrote 2 volume history of

8:32

the war, and said, quote, the physical character of the

8:36

country had stamped itself on the mall

8:40

confirmation of its inhabitants. Brave,

8:43

independent, but of a turbulent, predictive character.

8:47

That very existence seem to depend,

8:51

upon a succession of internal feud

8:53

end quote. Then compare those quotes to some quotes from Roman

8:58

rite tac about the Germans,

9:01

which I've cherry pitt from his longer piece

9:04

ko For B sake.

9:07

Quote, who would like have been likely

9:10

to leave Asia minor, North Africa

9:13

to go to Germany with its forbid landscapes an unpleasant climate

9:19

a country that is thank to ti and

9:21

dismal to behold for anyone who was not

9:24

born in bread there. The appearance of the

9:26

country, differs considerably in different parts, but in

9:30

general, it is covered either by b forest or

9:34

by bowel swamps. The peoples of Germany have never contaminated themselves

9:39

by inter marriage with foreigners, but remain a pure blood,

9:43

distinct and unlike any other nation. 1 result

9:47

of this is that their physical characteristics

9:50

in so insofar as 1 can generalize about such a large population. Are always the

9:55

same. Fierce looking blue eyes, reddish hair, and big frames,

10:01

which however, can exert their strength only by means of

10:04

a violent effort. No nation indulge more freely and feast and

10:09

entertaining the New Germans It is accounted as sin to turn away

10:13

a man from your door, many noble youths.

10:17

If the land of their birth is stag,

10:19

in a long period of peace and activity,

10:22

deliberately seek out other tribes, which have some war in hand

10:27

for the germans have no taste for peace.

10:30

Renown is more easily 1 among the pounds

10:33

and a large body of retainer

10:36

cannot be kept together, except by means of

10:39

violence and war. They always making demands on

10:42

the generosity of their chief asking for a

10:45

coveted war horse or spear stained with the

10:48

blood of a defeated enemy, their meals,

10:51

for which plentiful if home fair is provided,

10:54

counting in lieu of pay. The weather oil

10:57

for this open handed us comes from war

11:00

and p. A German is not so easily prevailed upon

11:05

to plow the land and weight patiently for

11:07

harvest as to challenge a foe and earn wounds

11:11

for his reward, he thinks it tame and

11:14

spirit to accumulate slowly by the sweat of his

11:17

brow what can be got quickly by the

11:20

loss of a blood. We're not engaged in

11:23

warfare. They spend a certain amount of time in

11:26

hunting but much more in idle on, thinking nothing

11:30

else that's sleeping and eating. For the bold and most war like men,

11:35

have no regular employment. The Cow house home and fields

11:40

being left to the women, old men and

11:43

weak of the family. In thus do away their time,

11:47

they show a strange inconsistency.

11:50

At 1 in the same time, loving ind

11:53

and hating peace quote.

11:56

Notice the similarities, the land is presented as wild,

12:01

it is beyond the bounds of civilization. It is less desirable

12:06

and produces hardy, war like people.

12:09

They are presented as simpler,

12:12

individualistic, hospital want guests

12:15

and brave, Yet, they are also un ent,

12:18

coming together not for the common good of

12:20

the civilized nation but to enjoy war, violence

12:25

and p. To live in the boundaries of Empire is

12:29

to be civilized on this view to work

12:32

and collective good of the nation to produce

12:34

honest citizens who grant the state the monopoly violence

12:39

and treasure equality before the law. That means

12:43

those outside are fully other

12:46

It is a process that has happened across a range of history, the Romans, the Chinese,

12:52

the persians, the Egyptians, the Us, the French, the Spanish

12:57

all had empires, and those outside,

13:01

were to be presented as the barbarian,

13:04

the heath, the savage, the frontier, it is also

13:09

part of a mindset that challenges

13:12

directly the post Christian post enlightenment world

13:16

that underpins most of western

13:20

civilization. The ideal motivation of the savage

13:24

is in sharp contrast to the idea

13:27

that rationality, a equality before the law and individual liberties

13:33

in a free society of the supreme virtue

13:36

the ideal realization or indeed existence of a

13:40

war like frontier society is not seen as

13:43

a aggression or a departure morality,

13:46

rather it makes this soc democratic claim that

13:49

violence itself is inherently virtuous,

13:52

but bravery, proficiency at war, taking a physical route to

13:57

evolve conflict is inherently more virtuous and more more than

14:02

talking or protecting the week, Is not a simplistic

14:06

I can ignore what his moral because I

14:08

am stronger claim. It is closer to the

14:11

idea that mercy and pity. Are inherently

14:15

immoral and at strength on a violent conquest

14:20

armor a clash of arms

14:23

bringing resolution after a face to face battle with

14:26

a bow. Here's a long tradition in human

14:29

history, across various cultures,

14:32

the at claimed to the mel

14:35

that right and wrong is only in questioned

14:38

between equal power on the strong, do what they can

14:43

and the weak suffer what they must.

14:46

Victorian were frequently torn

14:49

between ad admire the virtue of what was

14:52

considered the savage frontier, like the bravery, the

14:56

tough, the decisive aggression,

14:58

also understanding that these virtue were often linked

15:02

to law, oppression or instability.

15:07

They were torn in between ad admire what

15:10

we considered manly virtue, and dis despise

15:14

frontier cultures that they considered heath and primitive.

15:18

Many afghan chiefs would after all have found

15:22

debates throughout legality or whether the violence was wrong, rather laughable

15:27

and would have quite willingly fallen into

15:30

the decisive battle might making right camp. If

15:34

they could rob a trader Caravan,

15:37

raid into India, or intimidate the British into

15:40

paying tribute to pac the frontier, they would

15:43

cheerful do so and expect the same in

15:46

return, in places with no strong written legal code,

15:50

then the more captain Jak spa approach he

15:53

sway out here, There's only what a man

15:56

can do and what he can't do. As

15:59

victorian society became more structured,

16:02

legal and conform, the attraction of the frontier, the desert, the

16:08

mountains came stronger for many

16:11

adventurers, None of this matters

16:14

to the podcast host and listener, who can

16:17

rum over philosophy at leisure

16:19

and look at how it affected human behavior

16:22

in history, we have no skin in the game. The

16:25

Victorian in India did have skin in the game. Asking how

16:30

to judge a more conflict and honor based

16:32

society that is right on the border of your

16:36

doorstep. Is not just a philosophical

16:40

issue. It is a national security issue.

16:44

Victorian governor might need to understand why a society with

16:48

operating a certain way to help in plan, but then he had to take practical steps.

16:54

At the top of any list of practical

16:56

technicalities was the burning question,

16:59

should we invade them before they invade

17:03

us. Yeah. And, we're not going to be

17:06

able to invade India on the scale of

17:09

the mongols invading India or the hun

17:13

storming into the Roman Empire, any invasion they

17:16

made would be limited to the border regions,

17:19

and include a lot of robbing of caravan

17:22

vans and frontier villages.

17:24

What we might call today low intensity warfare.

17:29

Fears of a Russian invasion were in many

17:31

ways, not as great as a lot of popular

17:34

writing, on the so called great game would have

17:37

you believe. Even in the early nineteenth century,

17:41

intelligence officers were prone to exaggeration and paranoia.

17:47

Some have historians have argued the real fear the British had

17:51

of the Russians was a European war, which had loom ever

17:56

present since the Napoleonic wars. On that view,

17:59

the British feared war in Europe, diverting their attention, allowing Russian expansion into India

18:06

or an afghan border incur,

18:10

provoking a rebellion in India. It is always

18:13

hard asking what caused the war because it is typically

18:18

complicated, people like to point at a single person

18:22

or single reason, for instance, Hitler or Putin.

18:26

They don't like Well, there were a whole

18:28

lot of trends in historical forces

18:31

that pushed pre war Germany towards a receptive,

18:35

for becoming a fascist state or than allowed a corrupt, k

18:40

warm to seize control of the Russian state and

18:44

then try to rob Ukraine on a massive

18:47

scale that went catastrophic wrong for him, which bio into an increasingly

18:52

lengthy war of aggression. In general,

18:55

the whole first anglo afghan war can be

18:59

viewed as a piece of misguided real po

19:03

with war being used as a continuation of

19:06

policy by other means, almost napoleonic in a way. War is the

19:11

tool to bring out a political outcome. Seen

19:14

in that light, it becomes a highly political

19:18

but also highly personal war. 1, driven by

19:21

the Governor General of India and the chief

19:24

Be, combined with those elements of orient

19:28

and imperial, the idea to bring peace to the frontier

19:33

dispatch to pac the savages beyond,

19:37

to protect civilization from the Barbarian

19:41

invasion combined, with the view of stopping other imperial powers

19:45

from sweeping in yet run

19:48

by a semi independent governor general

19:51

using the vast resources of an Empire created

19:54

by a private trading company. Of course, if you happen to be 1

19:58

of those others, labeled on savage,

20:01

your view of all of this was very very different.

20:05

Neither the German tribes, nor the afghan,

20:08

thought of themselves as dangerous savages

20:11

who threatened the civilized land, Both might well have a lot of conflict

20:16

or tribal and warriors, but that didn't mean they didn't have a

20:21

civilization and culture of their own. As I

20:24

mentioned last episode, Afghanistan

20:27

has a very old culture.

20:30

1 had a long standing

20:33

international roots. And was well integrated

20:37

into the world of the Muslim Empires. The British

20:40

were of a strange group of alien invaders,

20:44

that the afghan cans were completely blindsided by and who were technologically superior. The

20:50

afghan knew about India, the British, the Russians,

20:54

the Ky part, and Christianity.

20:57

They had fortresses, musk, swords,

21:01

and J z, the infamous long bound musk.

21:05

As the international movie firearms

21:08

database says quote, At

21:11

is a type of long bowel, muzzle loading musk

21:15

made in Afghanistan. It is often

21:18

incorrectly used as a blanket term for the various muzzle

21:22

loading long guns from the Middle East,

21:26

North Africa, Asia and India. Since Ge ale

21:30

were made to order by the individual Craftsman,

21:34

They were not standardized, having either match lock or flint lock mechanisms

21:40

and often using brown bass, Flint lock musk lock work and

21:45

sometimes having rifle barrels,

21:48

but are typically identified by their

21:51

unusual horn shaped stock. They were similar

21:55

to American Frontier era hunting rifles

21:59

but were typically heavier and larger

22:02

with caliber in the 0.5

22:05

to 0.75 range, and we used in a similar role to

22:10

modern sniper rifles. They're heavyweight

22:13

and long bowel, led to a much greater effective range than

22:18

the standard infantry markets. They were used to fearsome some effect by

22:23

Afghan snipers during the anglo afghan wars

22:27

in the nineteenth century end, quote, the British

22:31

were about to be invading a territory where

22:33

the enemy was on very much,

22:36

more advantageous home terrain using weapons that range them

22:41

were more accurate, and were more suitable

22:44

for the mountain ranges and river valleys, Weapons

22:47

that are allowed for greater mobility and good act snipers

22:52

similar to the American rifle in the Us war of independence. If I

22:57

had to pick a bad match up for

22:59

the British Victorian army This would be high on the list. It

23:05

also helps put pay to the persistent myth

23:08

that the British only fought primitive armies,

23:11

and only 1 because of their technological

23:14

advantages. The only idea that all the enemies British

23:18

fought armed with spears

23:20

and mow down by machine guns is just

23:23

wrong. It did happen on their occasions, but

23:26

in the main, the British Victorian army

23:30

maintained its victories by better training,

23:33

sustained aggression, logistics

23:36

and more professional organization,

23:39

combined with the ability to pour in

23:42

immense imperial resources. During the Anglo Afghan outcome or, you will

23:47

sadly see that many of these elements

23:51

were completely lacking. Arthur w,

23:55

the Duke of Wellington had a very strong view about any british

24:00

invasion of Afghanistan. He immediately grasped the key problem about holding

24:04

the place, saying that any British invasion was foolish. He

24:09

predicted that the British would easily crush the

24:12

afghan army, that was made up of semi feudal tribal

24:16

levi, but would then be unable to hold

24:19

the country. He said the like of roads

24:22

and the difficulties of the mountains

24:24

would force the british out, and the Afghanistan

24:27

was only really a country of rocks

24:30

sand, deserts, mountains and snow. His words should have echoed

24:35

down the ages really to modern planners,

24:38

Still, the events we are about to cover

24:41

would probably have turned out very, very differently,

24:45

if cons master logistics like Wellington,

24:48

had been in charge. Instead, we are about to cover 1 of

24:53

the most app series

24:55

of military events in history

24:58

and not just British history. The first anglo Afghan war stands out as

25:03

a colossal military failure.

25:06

1 that was really self inflicted.

25:09

The strange thing is there is still immense

25:12

debate about whether the British government had even

25:15

authorized it. Or whether the responsibility

25:18

lay with the board of trade and the

25:20

Honorable East India company or the governor general

25:24

in India The governor general in question,

25:27

Lord Auckland was a curious mix of competent

25:31

indecisive, and badly misinformed.

25:34

He was a career politician who had little interest in or understanding

25:40

of Indian culture So William Mc norton, who was secretary to

25:44

the governor general, as well as spy master and War hawk

25:49

in chief, thought invasion would be easy.

25:52

So the dismay of most informed officers,

25:56

diplomats and spies, mc Norton was prepared to overthrow, a highly

26:01

admired king Dos mohammed in favor of

26:05

opportunistic coward and former king,

26:09

Shah, Sc, and he expected the afghan outgoing people to

26:13

be happy about it. Mc Norton was Happy

26:16

town, Auckland, the Dos Mohammed was unpopular king,

26:21

ignoring the boar. From intelligence agent, Alexander burns

26:25

to the country. That's agent tableau burns from

26:28

last episode. Mc norton from also failed brief

26:32

Auckland that the Seek King land ut singh and

26:36

recently conquered Pe from Afghanistan

26:40

So Dos Mohammed did have good reasons for

26:43

currently demanding it back. Auckland

26:46

was kept ignorant of this. Although it wouldn't

26:48

have taken too much for him to check

26:51

nor Was Norton, the only intelligence officer,

26:55

pushing his own angle to Auckland

26:58

as with any great political or military disaster,

27:02

failures by the intelligence community, or them pursuing

27:05

their an agenda, are usually a huge part.

27:09

Dear the soldiers having to do the marching,

27:12

it was at least straightforward. March,

27:15

then fight or die. Politics was for officers

27:19

and their lords ships far away. They had taken the queen shelling.

27:24

And if the queen want them to fight

27:26

up a mountain in Afghanistan, then that's what they did. Or alternatively,

27:31

they've taken john companies pay are now needed

27:35

to deliver. Or for many of the native

27:38

Indian troops they'd had sworn oats on their salt and

27:41

their blades, and so would fight for their honor. Our

27:44

old friend, Sub Sit ram, was amongst the

27:48

native troops on the March, and he had

27:50

a thoroughly miserable time of it. For the officers, it was going to be

27:55

a huge amount of work It was what

27:57

they had supposedly signed up for, an ambitious

28:01

officer wants and needs of war to serve their

28:04

country. And to make good use of their

28:07

talents for the impoverished gentlemen who who'd gone to

28:10

India to live on the cheap because they

28:13

couldn't afford a commission in a fashionable regiment.

28:15

It was just a path of the course. Enormous planning

28:20

was needed for an invasion, deposed former king S Su.

28:25

Now the would be king of Afghanistan

28:28

was bringing 6000 irregular soldiers

28:31

to help the British put him on the throne. When we talk about irregular in this

28:36

period It means any fighting force raised outside normal

28:40

military structures. It doesn't

28:43

necessarily mean bad. But in general,

28:47

it mount anyone who fan a bit of raven and

28:50

privilege in a big mob without much discipline.

28:54

Some irregular units were excellent, of course. And

28:58

supplies armies have often recruited scouts,

29:01

shock troops, and cavalry,

29:03

on the wild lands outside their empires.

29:06

In general though, it was un wise to

29:10

rely on irregular troops in India

29:13

and especially in Afghanistan. Many, if that most, were transparent

29:19

only there for money all opportunities to rape and pill,

29:23

and we're pretty open about their willingness to

29:26

switch sides to the highest bidder

29:28

Cha Troops were all armed by the British and

29:33

British officers were put in charge. I can't

29:36

imagine the difficulties. Of leading this kind of troop into battle.

29:41

Constantly unsure if your men were following you or

29:45

about to dessert or shoot in the back and go over

29:48

to the side. The difficulties

29:51

are relying on translators to relay orders

29:54

were large enough just on their own. The

29:57

British didn't get many of the excellent seek troops

30:00

or bandit sing so would rely on the

30:03

company armies supported by a very limited number of Queen's

30:08

regiments. As Kip might have said,

30:11

It was going to be down to pour

30:13

bloody Tommy Atkins in red coat and musk

30:17

to do the marching and the dying. Or blue coats or black or dark rifle

30:22

green depending on the order of battle at the

30:25

time. The Victorian army was a riot of

30:28

color. And not all of it was read.

30:31

The invasion was initially planned for 10000

30:35

british petition Indian troops supported by 30000

30:38

camels, plus oxen, horses,

30:42

how says, mortar, horse artillery, pioneers,

30:46

miners and sap, foot artillery, siege artillery, and camel artillery, plus

30:52

black carts, and even barges for river travel,

30:56

can you imagine trying to plan how to get that locked

31:01

to go down a road or cross a

31:03

bridge? Just finding night the camels

31:06

was a nightmare, and Bombay comm

31:10

division, particularly struggled, trying to produce 3000

31:14

odd camels at short notice, a captain Hugh

31:18

wrote in his account of the initial difficulties,

31:21

The deputy comm general had represented that it

31:24

was necessary to remain at She for about

31:26

20 days to enable the comm area to

31:29

obtain the greatest possible quantity of supplies for

31:32

all the troops. While halting at this place,

31:35

the troops would not consume their stock of

31:37

supplies, but procure their grain, etcetera, from the

31:40

city, where a large quantity had been collected,

31:42

and more was procure for the rear columns,

31:45

bombay troops, etcetera. On the arrival of an

31:47

expected con with wheat graham, etcetera, coming from

31:51

malta, etcetera. The Bengal comm

31:54

were to supply the bombay troops, not only

31:56

with grain, but with camels, Before the resolution to move on immediately was

32:01

known. The deputy comm general had detached 4000

32:04

camels to bring up from the rear grain, etcetera.

32:07

He was also led to expect 10 days

32:10

supplies would be ready at data, 10 marches

32:12

in advance, and 20 days supplies at Ke,

32:15

18 marches in advance. While Can was 32 marches is distant from

32:19

She poor, so that including halt etcetera.

32:22

45 or 50 days supplies were required for

32:25

the troops up, to Ka. And as we marched with carriage 4 and

32:29

with only a mouth supplies from Fe poor,

32:32

more carriage was required to than could be

32:34

procured at the time, both for the Bengal and Bombay columns, as well as for the

32:38

sc force. With such huge challenges ahead. You

32:42

would think that the early Victorian army would

32:45

assemble its a team, Or at least up and coming officers and

32:49

channels, who would later become legends,

32:52

you would think wrong, gentle listener.

32:55

A previous invasion to help defend the city

33:00

hu against persons was abandoned when the siege ended early.

33:05

Embarrassing need for the governor general, the successful

33:08

defense. Was in large part due to a

33:11

British, turned adventure spy El Pot.

33:16

The royal navy had done its part by applying pressure on

33:20

the persians, and the up coming star lord Palmer

33:24

was twisting the arms and Russian diplomats,

33:27

Russian invasion invasion plant was suddenly gone.

33:30

The large British fourth being assembled was stood

33:33

down. And reduced to a much smaller

33:36

expedition force, the nominated commander over of the

33:40

invasion force Su Harry Fe,

33:42

commander of armed forces in India, refused to

33:46

take further part in the venture, arguing,

33:48

that with the Russian backed person siege of

33:51

her over, there was no longer a

33:54

justification for any invasion of a Afghanistan,

33:57

and besides he was much too senior to

34:00

lead a much smaller force, thereby leaving the command to other more junior

34:04

men. At this point, any illegitimate

34:08

justification for the invasion had really been blown

34:11

out of the water. The Russian backed person

34:14

invasion had been turned back, and thanks to

34:17

Lord Palmer. The Russians would not likely. To be able

34:20

to produce an invasion force of their own

34:23

anytime soon. Any raids by afghan

34:27

could probably simply be paid off or turned

34:29

back. From this point on, it was an

34:33

entirely un enforced political disaster

34:36

that triggered an even worse military 1. The

34:39

British were about to mount an unnecessary invasion

34:43

with little, political payoff in the off and bum the

34:48

technicalities extremely badly.

34:51

The 2 generals, willing to take command of them reduced invasion

34:55

force were absolute c tier. Fine,

34:59

but not in the list of all time greats.

35:02

The first, Napoleonic war veteran are John Keen was at

35:07

least competent if rather long in tooth. The second,

35:11

general sir willoughby be cotton was a general

35:14

who didn't believe in reconnaissance patrols,

35:18

Keane was in command of the main force

35:20

from Bombay with cotton commanding the Bang

35:23

contingent. Yet the whole expedition.

35:27

Effectively fell on the overall command of William

35:30

Mc norton, a natural desk jo, Mc norton

35:34

had never visited our Afghanistan and was more focused on politics,

35:39

the military technicalities, the Junior officers were not in the right

35:43

mindset either in the main, They acted, like they were going on a

35:47

gentleman's campaign against the seventeenth century French,

35:51

most traveled with the elaborate grooming kits.

35:55

Including soaps, perfume, and silver hair brushes. At least 2 camels

36:00

were used for nothing more, and home regiment

36:04

cigar supplies, a lancer of regiment,

36:07

even brought their fox sounds for hunting

36:10

not that you can blame officers for wanting

36:12

some comfort, especially when you read a contemporary account from

36:16

a junior officer, from 18 40 about the campaign,

36:20

quote. The European troops of our army had

36:23

no rum from the time we left Ka till a supply came from India after the

36:27

campaign. Owing to eating the fat humber mutton, which

36:30

is rich and drinking the water of the country possessing an period quality, they suffered much

36:35

from bowel complaints. Whatever may be the opinion

36:38

of the abs societies, all sound medical men declare the sudden deprivation

36:42

of spirits to be furious. End quote.

36:45

That's right. The soldiers old friend

36:48

dysentery was going to be coming along for

36:50

the ride, plus l and fleas,

36:53

which were have quickly infested the uniforms and

36:56

bedding, add in a heavy load,

36:59

musk kits, tight stocks around the neck, and

37:02

poor quality boots and you can see why this was going

37:06

to be a rough campaign, especially as the booze ran out. Jokes about

37:11

where's the rum on side the men usually expected to be issued beer

37:17

and preferably rum. Not having rum or beer

37:20

was potentially dangerous. Since it meant more reliance on local water

37:25

supplies, regiment surgeons and senior officers,

37:29

did their best to obtain un contaminated water,

37:32

but it was still hard. Vinegar could be

37:35

used as a disinfectant, and the habit of boiling water for tea

37:39

helped a lot, still, lack of alcohol meant more sickness from

37:44

water but fewer injuries from drinking heavily.

37:48

Disease has historically always been the biggest killer

37:51

on campaign, and the victorian paid increasing

37:55

attention to keeping troops healthy

37:57

as the decades passed. There were no airways waste, support this campaign

38:02

though. So it was a classic, old school,

38:06

march hard, fight hard, March again campaign to

38:10

when small ski in kiln on route, which

38:13

in turn, meant supply routes were long, thin

38:16

and vulnerable. Suddenly, the officer's obsession with soap makes a

38:21

lot more sense. 1 of the most vital things are soldier

38:24

can do, is care for his feet and being able

38:28

to wash them with soap and wear clean

38:30

socks is as important as keeping his weapon clean,

38:34

the weapon lets him fight with the feet

38:37

get him to the battle. So John Keane

38:40

was a veteran soldier of the Napoleonic wars, had commanded a

38:44

brigade at the battle of New Orleans in the Usa, and then being made Governor

38:50

Jamaica, he was physically brave a keen sports,

38:54

friend of the Duke of Wellington and eventually promoted to commander in chief. Of

38:59

the army of Bombay. He was known to be bad tempered,

39:03

and the common soldiers mostly disliked him he knew that the enemy

39:07

would expect him to try to force the tribe pass.

39:10

That would require permission to cross the seek

39:13

kingdom around its sing And was happy to cheer

39:17

the British from the sidelines, but no way in hell would he allow

39:21

a full size, honorable East India company to march through. So

39:27

the invasion had to take a long swing

39:29

round through the desert route

39:31

instead, longer marches, but it needs be limp river barges could

39:36

be used for some sections, and it might

39:39

surprise the enemy a little, In total, the troops would need to cover

39:43

more than 1200 kilometers on foot, carrying 60 pound packs,

39:49

ammunition, and musk kits, plus great coats for winter

39:53

in the mountains, stocks for their necks and

39:56

rough red coats or blue coats, with surge,

39:59

trousers, clearly the dangers of exhaustion and heat stroke

40:03

in the desert were high. It is astonishing

40:06

to think the bulk of soldiers would have been paid less, the many farmers,

40:11

shepherd, or un laborers.

40:13

The common ranks or for the desperate

40:16

the hopeless, those fleeing from worse or those ambitious few

40:21

who wanted to become a sergeant or even the Gi height to company sergeant

40:26

major or perhaps climb to the legendary position

40:30

of regiment sergeant major. Since Afghanistan

40:34

was really dominated by mountains, valleys and rivers

40:38

were the key and would shape the military

40:42

approaches Additional reserves were set on the borders, and

40:45

the total effort involved at least 40000

40:49

men across various roles. That's roughly equal to 2 French call in

40:55

the Napoleonic wars, and the fighting strength was

40:58

far less. In the end, There were only 1000 European fighting troops

41:04

back by 14000 Indian sea boy troops,

41:08

employed by the honorable East India company. The

41:12

invasion planning and command might have been British, but the fighting force,

41:16

was Indian. The army was too un wield

41:19

to move as 1 after a sham attempt

41:22

to assemble the army in November 18 38

41:26

the beijing kicked off in December 18 38.

41:30

The keane moving off first. General Cotton set out with a smaller force,

41:35

and was acquired to travel along the river

41:37

during January 18 39

41:40

through the unfriendly border of Cindy

41:43

and then link up with keen agent top burns,

41:46

it made desperate efforts to get to send here me,

41:50

to agree to grant safe passage cotton oath

41:54

that the territory became even more unfriendly.

41:57

When cotton decided to mount an illegal invasion of the

42:02

Cindy Capital, which was in the opposite direction from Afghanistan,

42:06

Mc norton wrote increasingly desperate orders to try to get

42:10

cotton back into line just in the nick

42:13

of time, some of the more junior generals, and B

42:17

were either abrasive to their generals,

42:20

des, or deeply worried about the lack of military

42:24

discipline and disorder. Mc norton and cotton soon came

42:29

to lower each other. That that was nothing

42:31

compared to the utter hatred, but Norton had

42:34

for double burns. This crucial split between the head of political

42:39

coin intelligence and the leading field agent was a disaster

42:43

in its own right and only got worse

42:46

when burns received a knight

42:49

which sparked Mc norton to new heights of

42:52

jealousy. Top burns trying to warn Mc norton that no 1

42:57

wanted the S su bank on the throne.

43:00

He wasn't seen as the loan for once

43:03

and future king over the water

43:05

and that the Afghan were not happy to see said disposed

43:10

ex king back with an army of In

43:13

downs during his fighting against. Faithful, Mc norton

43:16

either brushed it off or patron

43:19

double burns rather than heed his warnings,

43:23

at least the expedition contained some more junior officers who would serve

43:28

well, and a couple who would indeed become

43:31

legends. Perhaps most notable

43:33

was General Cotton aid the camp, Henry h,

43:37

a man who would become an absolute legend

43:39

to the Victorian. Famous for his exploits, and even a notable

43:44

presence in Harry Fl books. He still has

43:47

his statue trafalgar Square, and not many generals get to

43:52

keep a p in a plumb spot like

43:54

that 1. It is interesting to think that

43:57

in an army there was very march an

43:59

old school waterloo style fighting force, the modern

44:03

Victorian officers, were learning their trade,

44:06

and we transform it, hair flock, was already

44:09

a veteran of the Anglo Be Wars

44:11

and had experienced his religious awakening

44:15

that would be so characteristic over the many Victorian religious preceding officers.

44:21

He was frequently ignored and passed over

44:24

despite his obvious talents including his gift for languages

44:28

including persian and Hindu

44:31

as it was called, but was is actually

44:34

a hindu dialect, from the Northern regions. He

44:37

was left a junior lieutenant for years.

44:40

Tell in a stroke of luck, a senior

44:43

officer who knew him with appointed commander chief

44:46

as Colonel sale. He was considered exe.

44:50

He finally made Captain at the old age of 43,

44:55

not exactly the military career dreams are made

44:58

of, being a butter bar as the Americans

45:01

call it for over 13 years,

45:03

and then a lieutenant for another 3 and

45:06

a half was slow even by the Honorable

45:09

East India company standards but not unheard of.

45:13

Luckily, he was plucked from further obscurity by

45:16

General Cotton for the aid to camp post,

45:19

on the way to Afghanistan. The crossing of the river

45:23

after getting the army moving was hard work

45:25

for the military engineers and already put pressure on supplies. Once over,

45:31

reality dawned, there was a huge salt marsh and desert

45:36

cross Lots of unfriendly

45:38

or downright hostile locals

45:41

and very inadequate supplies. It was gh for

45:45

the troops, and worst for the baggage animals.

45:48

At the other side of the Hell mark

45:51

the desert, cotton swung force

45:54

towards the first big objective, the Bull pass

45:57

in March 18 39, going had been

46:02

incredibly slow. This was the other great

46:05

strategic gateway into and out of our afghanistan

46:09

it was and remains a formidable piece of terrain.

46:14

A british officer visiting again in 18 41,

46:18

described it vividly, quote.

46:22

The road through this past leads with few

46:24

and rare exceptions. Along what is the bed of a mountain

46:27

in torrent. When filled by the melting of

46:30

the snows or heavy rains and is composed

46:32

of loose shin gravel, that rec resides from

46:35

under your feet and is very difficult for

46:37

draft. Camels get on well. It is infested

46:40

by the cock who live by Robbery, and

46:42

the hills sometimes close in upon the road,

46:45

which is filled up by the bed of the stream running through Rocky chasm,

46:49

upwards of a hundred feet high from the top of which the robbers are sail the

46:52

travelers with stones. And were they as bold as they are

46:56

cruel and p, they might hold the place against all come.

46:59

Many spots were pointed out to me by the guides I had with me as signaled

47:03

by acts of violence, several European officers having

47:06

lost their baggage during our occupation of the

47:08

country. Should there be rain in the higher

47:11

parts of the mountains, the stream at times

47:13

comes down in an almost perpendicular volume without

47:16

warning and sweeping all before it. As a

47:18

friend of mine experienced, when he saw a

47:20

party of men, horses and camels, and all

47:23

his property borne down by it when himself

47:26

and some few men with him escaped by climbing up the nearly perpendicular side of the

47:30

hill. About 37 men were washed away upon

47:33

that occasion. End quote. The phrase the army would have

47:37

used was to force the pass, but that

47:39

makes it sound easy. What it

47:42

actually meant as men having a long running battle

47:47

on difficult to terrain. The past is over

47:50

5800 feet of sea level

47:53

So already troops for climbing a lot. It

47:56

is an absolutely desolate place. It was over

47:59

70 miles long, and so narrow in places

48:03

that it was single farm only. Temperatures

48:06

soared in heated rock walls to a hundred and 19 degrees fahrenheit,

48:11

or 48 degrees cent grade.

48:14

Animals died like flies

48:17

and many troops died of heated Exhaustion.

48:19

Rather than being a single battle,

48:22

the battle of Bo pass with actually a number of small actions as

48:27

Cotton and his men held running ski,

48:30

then Marches broke bushes,

48:33

and then marched again. Sub c and Ram

48:37

simply described it as absolute hell.

48:40

Cotton and his army reached Quarter, where his

48:43

orders would to wait for Kings force to

48:46

arrive. Unfortunately, things fray further

48:50

as the 2 armies try to link up

48:52

with food supplies for baggage, animals,

48:55

running out. The morris astute officers

48:58

realized that they had wasted months getting here. So the heat was rising

49:04

and they would be doing the fiercest fighting

49:06

in the sear summer sun. In the meantime,

49:10

food supplies ran low. Rations were cut in

49:13

half, then in a quarter, a month later,

49:16

keen find arrived and immediately realized

49:20

that a good part of his army was starving to death, he gave immediate orders to

49:26

march the next day, hoping If they could

49:29

push on deeper into Afghanistan,

49:31

they might find more food. They still had a hundred and 47

49:36

miles to go, to each can

49:39

and cotton had baffling

49:41

failed to send any scouts out during the

49:44

whole month he that still, so no 1 had

49:48

the nearby passes or terrain, which meant pushing

49:52

on blind. Next time, we will follow the army into

49:56

our afghanistan copper as it writes its first

49:59

battles and tries to turn things around.

50:02

So it could put the unwanted shower su

50:05

on the phone. Okay. Thanks for listening everyone. If you want

50:09

to get in touch. I'd love to hear from you. You can

50:13

email me at eighth victoria podcast

50:16

at gmail dot com follow me on Twitter

50:19

at age of Victoria, visit website at WWW

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50:27

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50:32

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