A Collection of Medals for the Second Afghan War 1878-80


On the evening of the 26th July 1880, however, information was received that a few ghazis and some cavalry of Ayub Khan’s advanced guard had occupied the village of Maiwand, distant about eleven miles east of Khushk-i-Nakhud at the entrance of the Maiwand Pass; and during the night orders were issued for our brigade to march on Maiwand the next morning (27th July) at 6:30 a.m. The position occupied by Ayub Khan’s army at this time was unknown though it must have been within fifteen miles of us. Owing to the large quantity of ordnance and commissariat stores which had been stowed away within walled enclosures at Khushk-i- Nakhud, and the loading of which took a considerable time, the force did not start punctually, and the sun was well up. and the heat considerable before we were all off the ground. The force advanced with cavalry and two guns of E-B, Royal Horse Artillery, in advance; the infantry in line of columns at deploying distance; baggage on the right flank; and the whole brought up by a rear-guard of two guns and some cavalry, each regiment of infantry giving one company as baggage guards, in addition to which there were guards over ordnance and commissariat stores and treasure. The march proceeded in this way until a village was reached about 9:00 a.m., when the halt was sounded. On the advance being sounded, the infantry, instead of being pushed through the village, was formed into mass of quarter columns and skirted it, re-forming line of column after passing it. Shortly after this another halt was ordered and it soon became evident that touch of an enemy had been obtained. At this moment, to the best of my belief, not a soul in the whole force was aware that an Afghan army of upwards of 20,000 men and 36 guns were within a mile of us; but now this became apparent, for, with good field glasses, huge black moving masses, mistaken by many for trees, could be distinguished on our left front, and all haste was then made to prepare our force for battle. A broad and deep ravine crossed the ground between our brigade and the enemy, and we were pushed across this; and on our artillery opening fire, it was speedily replied to by that of the enemy, who at once got our range. It was about 10:00 a.m., and the troops had had neither food nor water since the previous day. The sketch of the action of Maiwand, drawn by Lieutenant the Hon. M. G. Talbot, R.E. when the field was re-visited in September 1880, gives a good idea of the relative positions of our brigade and the enemy, and from it it will be seen that while the 66th Foot and four companies of Jacob's Rifles were fairly placed under shelter in a small ravine, the 1st Bombay Grenadiers and two other companies of Jacob's Rifles were in the open, and subjected to a terrific fire from both guns and small arms throughout the battle. Notwithstanding this, and the heavy loss my regiment sustained (fully 150 in the fighting line alone), they stood their ground with perfect coolness for four and a half hours, without firing a shot for the first two. For about the first two hours the artillery had it all to themselves; but it was evident our guns were not in any way telling on the enemy’s artillery, for their fire neither slackened nor did their aim become more inaccurate. As above mentioned, very many casualties from round shot, shrapnel and shell occurred in the ranks of the 1st Grenadiers, and the fire was so heavy that dooly-wallas could not be got up to the fighting line to carry away wounded men. Up to this time the Grenadiers had not fired a shot, but had nevertheless withstood the terrible artillery fire with the utmost coolness. About 12 o'clock noon the enemy's regular, infantry were seen advancing on our front and left front, while ghazis and cavalry threatened our left flank. We were now ordered to open fire at 800 yards. At first volleys were fired by companies; but after a few rounds such was the din that words of command could not be heard, and independent firing was carried on along the whole line. This fire at once checked the advance of the enemy and did much execution in their ranks, but their numbers were so great that they were able to press on and in time quite outflanked the Grenadiers. Our cavalry were now moved to the left, and their appearance at this critical moment certainly arrested a most determined attack on our left rear. About 1:30 p.m., being on the right of the Grenadiers, near two Royal Horse Artillery guns commanded by Lieutenant Maclaine, I saw the enemy bring up a battery of artillery and place them in a ravine about five hundred yards to my right front. With these guns were a regiment of regular infantry and numberless ghazis. I threw back the right company of my wing so as to bring a direct fire on the guns and infantry; but the cover they were under was so good that they did not sustain much loss, until some time after they made an advance and appeared on the open. Our fire was very heavy and accurate, and more than once the enemy retired into the nallah again and would not face us. At about 2:30 p.m., when we had been under fire for more than four and a half hours, I first saw a retrograde movement on the part of the two companies of Jacob’s Rifles on our left. The guns had long since been withdrawn for want of ammunition, and this left a large gap between the Grenadiers’ left and the cavalry right, which the enemy seeing quickly made a rush for, and it became necessary to throw back the whole of the left wing of the Grenadiers to meet this attack. About the same time a most determined attack was made on the two guns on the Grenadiers’ right, and the regiment was ordered to form square, but only succeeded in forming a V-shaped figure, in which manner the whole regiment retired very slowly, keeping up a brisk fire, but being subjected to a terrible cross-fire from the right and left. The line taken by the regiment retiring was a little to the then left of that taken by the infantry coming into action in the morning, but between the villages of Khig and Mahmudabad. I have seen it repeatedly mentioned that the Native infantry rolled up on to the 66th Foot. As far as my own regiment is concerned, I most emphatically deny this statement. The Grenadiers never went near the 66th Foot, but retired in the direction above mentioned. I have been told by a brother officer that a few men did join the 66th Foot in the garden where the first stand was made; but the number was so small as not to be worth mentioning. The main body of the regiment on crossing the ravine joined the baggage guards which were there formed up, and made a gallant stand, killing hundreds of the enemy who followed us up to the ravine, but who could not, in the face of our fire, cross it. About this time the 66th and other troops on our proper right were seen retiring from the garden, and so a further retrograde movement was made; more particularly was this necessary as a hot fire was being poured upon us from the village of Mahmudabad; but after this the men became perfectly out of hand. It was now about 4:00 p.m. and every one was utterly exhausted, having been without food or water for nearly twenty-four hours. The baggage was seen steaming along the straight road to Kandahar, and the men followed. Advantage was taken of baggage ponies and camels to mount the wounded on, and many were in this manner saved. The enemy followed us up for some three or four miles, but not with vigour, being doubtless as much exhausted as we were. It is difficult to describe the terrible march of 45 miles in Kandahar performed during the night. Those of us who took the upper and more direct road obtained no water until we reached the Argandab river, nine miles from Kandahar; and no sooner had we slaked our-thirst and continued our march than we became aware that that the whole of the villages of Kokeran, Abasabad and the neighbourhood had turned out to arrest our progress and to kill and plunder. The men seeing this, collected in groups, and, with the assistance of the small force sent out from Kandahar under the late Brigadier-General Brooke to clear the road, fought their way through and eventually reached cantonments. Many, however were killed or wounded and cut up by the enemy. On arrival at the cantonments of Kandahar, we heard that orders had been issued fur their abandonment and every one was seen hurrying into the citadel, whither also we went. It is quite impossible to give an idea of the terrible sufferings of those who performed this march after exertions of the previous day and without food or water; suffice it to say that those who eventually did reach Kandahar were utterly prostrated for many days. That nearly half of our losses, both European and Native, were sustained during the retreat, I think no one will deny.’


Other officers submitted accounts of the Battle of Maiwand which mentioned Griffith. Brigadier-General G. R. S. Burrows states: ‘The officers of the 1st Grenadiers exerted themselves in the utmost to steady their men. Lieutenant-Colonel C. M. Griffith was conspicuous in his efforts.’


Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. Anderson, Commandant of the 1st Bombay Native Infantry (Grenadiers), states: ‘As I was retiring, a part of the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, under Captain Mayne, charged in rear of us and cut up many of the enemy. The cavalry came too close to us; the infantry continued retiring without formation. I was then hit by pieces of a shell in six places, one wound being severe- Lieutenant-Colonel Griffith, Second-in-Command, being near me. Immediately I was hit a Havildar and four Sepoys carried my to the rear, and put me in a dooly, which they carried themselves across the nallah, defending me against the enemy.’


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