Battle of Peiwar Kotal

Battle of Peiwar Kotal
Part of Second Anglo-Afghan War
"Storming the Peiwar Kotal," by Vereker Monteith Hamilton
Date 28–29 November 1878 Location Kurram Valley Result British Victory
Belligerents
British Empire India	Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Sir Frederick Roberts	Karim Khan
Strength
4,000 13 guns	4,000-5,000 25 guns
Casualties and losses
21 killed, 75 wounded	200 casualties (Estimate)

The Battle of Peiwar Kotal was fought on 28–29 November 1878 between British forces under Sir Frederick Roberts and Afghan forces under Karim Khan, during the opening stages of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The British were victorious, and seized the strategic Peiwar Kotal Pass leading into Afghanistan.

Order of battle

British Regiments

• 10th Hussars
• 8th King’s Regiment
• 72nd Highlanders

Indian Regiments

• 12th Bengal Cavalry
• 5th Punjab Cavalry
• 21st Bengal Native Infantry (Punjabis)
• 23rd Bengal Native Infantry (Punjab Pioneers)
• 29th Bengal Native Infantry (Punjabis)
• 2nd Punjab Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force
• 5th Punjab Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force (Vaughan’s Rifles)
• 5th Gurkha Rifles
• 21st (Kohat) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)
• 22nd (Derajat) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)

Aftermath

Captain John Cook was awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the battle. First Battalion the Fifth Gorkha Rifles was awarded its first battle honour.

References

• Richards, D.S. (1990). The Savage Frontier, A History of the Anglo-Afghan Wars. London: Pan MacMillan. ISBN 0-330-42052-6.
• Robson, Brian (2007). The Road to Kabul: The Second Afghan War 1878-1881. Stroud: Spellmount. ISBN 978-1-86227-416-7.