GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 41


A scarce ‘Mahsud 1919’ operations M.C. group of four awarded to Captain A. G. A. Barton, 34th Sikh Pioneers, late South Staffordshire Regiment


MILITARY CROSS, G.V.R., the reverse engraved ‘Captain A. G. A. Barton Waziristan 1920’; BRITISHWAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (Lieut. A. G. A. Barton); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20 (A-Captain A. G. A. Barton, 3-34 Prs.) edge nick to the second, otherwise good very fine (4)


£2000-2400


M.C. London Gazette 27 September 1920: ‘For distinguished service in the Field with the Waziristan Force, India - Capt. Aubrey George Albert Barton, 3/34th Sikh Pnrs., Ind. Army.’


‘For gallantry and skilful leading in Palosina on 19 December 1919, when, after the force had retired from Mandanna Hill, he led a volunteer party across the river in the face of enemy opposition and brought in two wounded combatants. Again, on 9 January 1920, he showed great determination and blew up two towers under heavy fire.’


In his article, Nothing Much - Just Some Sniping (Hayward’s Gazette, 1974), Robert Gould describes the advance of the Derajat Column up the valley of the Tank Zam River to Palosina Plateau, and its mixed fortunes in subsequent operations against Mahsud hill tribesmen, the whole incorporating a classic episode of combat on the North West Frontier. Throughout this harrowing period Captain Barton and the 34th Sikh Pioneers were continuously engaged, Gould making special reference to their fine work in constructing a defence post on a hill at Taraki on 21 December 1919, a task that was still in progress when the Mahsuds arrived:


‘Protected by infantry, the 3/34th Sikh Pioneers began constructing the post. The barbed wire entanglement was almost finished when large parties of Mahsuds were seen moving into the area. Shortly afterwards Taraki was subjected to heavy and, as always, accurate small arms fire. By 1.30 p.m. sniping at shortening ranges had increased and work on the post was at a standstill. This was followed by a sudden converging rush of heavily armed tribesmen from three directions. The troops covering the working parties on the right gave ground, this exposing a flank of the centre which followed suit. This in turn led to a retreat on the left. Fortunately the Sikh Pioneers manned the half finished post and then beat off four consecutive attacks. Bu this time the Pioneers had used all their grenades and were running short of rifle ammunition. As the Mahsuds gathered for the fifth assault, the garrison of the post withdrew in good order towards camp. The enemy on the ridge, about 800 strong, now offered an excellent artillery target. Gun and howitzer crews from the river bed made the most of this rare opportunity and succeeded in inflicting heavy casualties. The infantry rallied, were reinforced and counter- attacked but failed to recover the post in the face of accurate fire from well-concealed Mahsuds. As dusk was falling, the troops were withdrawn. Their casualties amounted to 66 killed or missing and 265 wounded. Enemy losses were later creditably reported to have exceeded 200 killed and 300 severely wounded.’


The following day the position was recaptured and christened “Pioneer Picquet” as a tribute to the bravery of the Sikhs, the fortifications having been completed by nightfall. With momentum all important in such operations, the Derajat Column continued on its way. Rarely left unmolested, and frequently pitched against well-defended posts, casualties amassed at a worrying rate. At Scrub’s Hill on 2 January 1920, Lieutenant Kenny won the Victoria Cross for his gallant stand in the rearguard of the retreating assault force. The Hill was taken a few days later and, on 7 January, the Sikh Pioneers found themselves embroiled in the attempt to seize the Ahnai Tangi, a difficult gorge through which flowed the Tank Zam River. Gould describes this natural fortress thus:


‘Although only 30 yards wide, the sides are formed of precipitous cliffs some 150 feet high, In addition, the ground on the downstream side is commanded from both banks by high, craggy cliffs. Upstream, all approaches are dominated by the Spin Chara Ridge which rises to a height of 700 feet above the valley floor. Between the steep slope of that ridge and the Tank Zam lies a small plateau interlaced by numerous steep ravines. This can only be crossed in a few places and then by troops moving in single file. They would have been even more thoughtful had they known that the Mahsud Lashkar massing at the defile now numbered between 3,000 and 2,500.’


Thus opposed, British and Indian troops faced a three day onslaught, and 170 officers and men became casualties in the last 48 hours. On 9 January Barton distinguished himself in pulling out his company from a difficult position, presumably as a result of these operations. Finally, as a result of of a hazardous but well planned night march and assault, both banks were consolidated and on 14 January the defile was traversed by the entire Striking Force.


Thereafter, the Column had to fight its way through another series of natural obstacles against an enemy whose numbers had swollen to nearer 4,000. One such obstacle was “Flathead Left” which cost the Gurkhas some 450 casualties, close quarter fighting often involving the bayonet, knives and even stones. At length, however, the Derajat Column got through, having been four months at the mercy of a ruthless and cunning enemy whose tactical appreciation of the terrain and marksmanship had resulted in a total of 2,286 killed, missing, or wounded, including 69 British officers. As Kipling would be quick to observe, those men posted “missing” most likely faced death by mutilation.


www.dnw.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178  |  Page 179  |  Page 180  |  Page 181  |  Page 182  |  Page 183  |  Page 184  |  Page 185  |  Page 186  |  Page 187  |  Page 188  |  Page 189  |  Page 190  |  Page 191  |  Page 192  |  Page 193  |  Page 194  |  Page 195  |  Page 196  |  Page 197  |  Page 198  |  Page 199  |  Page 200  |  Page 201  |  Page 202  |  Page 203  |  Page 204  |  Page 205  |  Page 206  |  Page 207  |  Page 208  |  Page 209  |  Page 210  |  Page 211  |  Page 212  |  Page 213  |  Page 214  |  Page 215  |  Page 216  |  Page 217  |  Page 218  |  Page 219  |  Page 220  |  Page 221  |  Page 222  |  Page 223  |  Page 224  |  Page 225  |  Page 226  |  Page 227  |  Page 228  |  Page 229  |  Page 230  |  Page 231  |  Page 232  |  Page 233  |  Page 234  |  Page 235  |  Page 236  |  Page 237  |  Page 238  |  Page 239  |  Page 240  |  Page 241  |  Page 242  |  Page 243  |  Page 244  |  Page 245  |  Page 246  |  Page 247  |  Page 248  |  Page 249  |  Page 250  |  Page 251  |  Page 252  |  Page 253  |  Page 254  |  Page 255  |  Page 256  |  Page 257  |  Page 258  |  Page 259  |  Page 260  |  Page 261  |  Page 262  |  Page 263  |  Page 264  |  Page 265  |  Page 266  |  Page 267  |  Page 268  |  Page 269  |  Page 270  |  Page 271  |  Page 272  |  Page 273  |  Page 274  |  Page 275  |  Page 276  |  Page 277  |  Page 278  |  Page 279  |  Page 280  |  Page 281  |  Page 282  |  Page 283  |  Page 284  |  Page 285  |  Page 286  |  Page 287  |  Page 288  |  Page 289  |  Page 290  |  Page 291  |  Page 292  |  Page 293  |  Page 294  |  Page 295  |  Page 296  |  Page 297  |  Page 298  |  Page 299  |  Page 300  |  Page 301  |  Page 302  |  Page 303  |  Page 304  |  Page 305  |  Page 306  |  Page 307  |  Page 308  |  Page 309  |  Page 310  |  Page 311  |  Page 312  |  Page 313  |  Page 314  |  Page 315  |  Page 316  |  Page 317  |  Page 318  |  Page 319  |  Page 320  |  Page 321  |  Page 322  |  Page 323  |  Page 324  |  Page 325  |  Page 326  |  Page 327  |  Page 328  |  Page 329  |  Page 330  |  Page 331  |  Page 332  |  Page 333  |  Page 334  |  Page 335