Precursor to Saragarhi – Defence of British Residency, Kabul 1879

There have been numerous campaigns fought by brave soldiers of the Indian Army during which they have faced numerically superior foes, have fought with indomitable spirit till the last man and have fulfilled their commitment to duty with honour. The following article contains information on the bravery of Indian solders led by Jemadar Jewand Singh, who was an officer of the Guides Cavalry (10th Queen Victoria’s own Frontier Force). He along with his soldiers bravely defended the British Residency at Kabul against an enemy numbering in thousands for 12 hours and eventually killed 600 assailants.

The Second Afghan War was concluded when the Amir of Afghanistan signed the treaty of Gandamak in 1879 and agreed to have British Envoy stationed in Kabul. Sir Louis Cavigneri was appointed the Envoy at the court of Kabul. He proceeded to his mission with an escort of one officer and 76 men from Guides Cavalry and was based in British Residency in the Bala Hissar Fort, Kabul.

There was unrest in the Afghan capital as a result of the war and other internal contentions. The Afghan soldiers resented the British presence on their land and attacked the Residency. During the ensuing conflict, all of the British officers were killed. The Guides fought the Afghans, they charged out of the building to bayonet the crews of Artillery brought out against them. The Guides were outnumbered, however they resisted the attackers. During the conflict, the Afghans managed to set the Residency on fire; after a short while it started to collapse.

The Afghans offered the Guides to surrender, promising to spare their lives. The Guides rejected the offer and fought tirelessly for twelve hours until all of them perished. The men were led by Sikh Jemadar, Jewand Singh, who along with a few remaining soldiers fixed bayonets charged against the enemy to achieve martyrdom. The Indian soldiers were able to annihilate about 600 enemy soldiers during this brave stand.

The sacrifice of the Guides was commemorated at the Mardan Memorial with the following words:

“The annals of no army and no regiment can show a brighter record of devoted bravery that has been achieved by this small band of Guides. By their deeds, they have conferred undying honour not only on the regiment to which they belonged, but on the whole British Army”

Jemadar Jewand Singh was son of Lal Singh, a Jat Sikh, was 57 years old and was 5’11”. He was from village Ghavind, Lahore. He took part in siege and capture of Delhi, Narnaul in 1857 and Umbeyla in 1863. He carried a letter from Delhi to Cawnpore during the mutiny disguised as a Fakir. He also took part in the Afghan war, taking of Ali Masjid and action at Fattehabad where he was wounded. He is mentioned at the Mardan memorial.

Source:

Sikh Soldier Forgotten Regiments by Narinder Singh Dhesi

Indian Order of Merit by Rana Chhina and Cliff Parrett