Battle of Saragarhi

Battle of Saragarhi
Part of the Tirah Campaign

Depiction of the Battle of Saragarhi of the Tirah Campaign
Date12 September 1897
Location
Tirah, North-West Frontier Province, British India
33°33′15″N 70°53′15″E / 33.55417°N 70.88750°E / 33.55417; 70.88750
Result Afghan victory[1][2]
Belligerents

British Empire British Empire

• British Raj India		 Afridi
Orakzai
Commanders and leaders
Ishar Singh † Gul Badshah
Strength
21[3] 10,000 to 12,000[4][5]
Casualties and losses
21 dead[3] 450 (estimate)
dead and wounded[6][7]
See Aftermath section

The Battle of Saragarhi was a last-stand battle fought before the Tirah Campaign between the British Indian Empire and Afghan tribesmen.[8] On 12 September 1897, an estimated 12,000 – 24,000 Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen were seen near Gogra, at Samana Suk, and around Saragarhi, cutting off Fort Gulistan from Fort Lockhart. The Afghans attacked the outpost of Saragarhi where thousands of them swarmed and surrounded the fort, preparing to assault it.[9] Led by Havildar Ishar Singh, the 21 soldiers in the fort—all of whom were Sikhs—refused to surrender and were wiped out in a last stand. The post was recaptured two days later by another British Indian contingent.

All of the 21 soldiers involved in the battle were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, which was the highest gallantry award that an Indian soldier could receive at the time. The Indian Army's 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment commemorates the battle every year on 12 September as Saragarhi Day.[10]

  1. ^ Kumar, MP Anil (8 July 2018). "Rezang La stands out". Indian Defence Review. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  2. ^ Jay Singh-Sohal. "The battle of Saragarhi: when 21 Sikh soldiers stood against 10,000 men". BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "No. 26937". The London Gazette. 11 February 1898. p. 863.
  4. ^ Tom Lansford (2017). Afghanistan at War: From the 18th-Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century. Abc-Clio. p. 408. ISBN 9781598847604. The Orakzais were joined by the Afridi swelling their numbers to more than 10000. Groups of tribesmen attacked Sangar on the night of September 11. The post was on a high ridge and well fortified. Although there were only 44 Sikh troops, the garrison repulsed the attack. The following morning, the natives attacked Saragarhi. The garrison numbered 21 Sikhs, led by Havildar Ishar Singh. Instead of withdrawing to one of the other posts, the Sikhs decided to remain in an effort to maintain communication between the two forts.
  5. ^ Sharma, Gautam (1990). Valour and Sacrifice: Famous Regiments of the Indian Army. Allied Publishers. p. 185. ISBN 978-8170231400. Retrieved 22 February 2019. A mass attack came on Saragarhi on September 12 and the 21 strong detachment fought one of the most unequal engagements in the history of warfare. There were fierce onslaughts by the 10,000 Orakzai and Afridi tribesmen. The outnumbered defenders returned the fire in a most determined manner. After a series of abortive attempts, the tribesmen managed to reach the wall of the post by using an ingenious method. Effecting a breach, they were face to face with the brave Sikhs, most of whom had been wounded.
  6. ^ Col Kanwaljit Singh, Maj H S Ahluwalia (1987). "Saragarhi (1897)". Saragarhi Battalion: Ashes to Glory. Lancer International. p. 20. ISBN 9788170620228. The gallant defence of Saragarhi by Havildar Ishar Singh and twenty other ranks and a follower is estimated to have lost the enemy about four hundred and fifty killed and wounded
  7. ^ Dennis Showalter (2013). Imperial Wars 1815–1914. Amber Books Ltd. ISBN 9781782741251. The Sikhs were wiped out after inflicting 450 casualties on their attackers.
  8. ^ Stewart, Jules (15 August 2011). On Afghanistan's Plains: The Story of Britain's Afghan Wars. I.B. Tauris.
  9. ^ Yate, Major A.C. (1900). "Life of Lieu. Col. John Haughton" (PDF). p. 126. When day broke on the 12th, the Orakzai-Afridi "lashkar" was seen to be in force near Gogra on the east, at the Samana Suk on the west, and round the Saragarhi post, thus severing Gulistan from Fort Lockhart. (Their total number has been variously estimated at from twelve to twenty thousand.)It was, therefore, no longer possible for Colonel Haughton to carry aid to Saragarhi or Guhstan, as he had done twice before. The enemy turned the brunt of their attack on the little post of Saragarhi.
  10. ^ Singh, Jaisal (13 September 2014). "The 21 Sikhs of Saragarhi". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.