The Relief of Chitral [Illustrated Edition]

Includes over 15 illustrations including detailed map of the area of operations.

The Chitral Expedition was a military expedition in 1895 sent by the British authorities to relieve the fort at Chitral which was under siege after a local coup. After the death of the old ruler power changed hands several times. An intervening British force of about 400 men was besieged in the fort until it was relieved by two expeditions, a small one from Gilgit and a large one from Peshawar.

“To all who can enjoy military history this will be a fascinating book. It is written in conjunction by Captain F. E. Younghusband, formerly political officer at Chitral, and during the campaign correspondent of the Times, and his brother, Captain G. J. Younghusband, of the Guides who was with his regiment in General Low's force through the whole affair. Its information is therefore all firsthand, and as it is charmingly written, even the ordinary reader, while anathematising a few sentences of detail only interesting to soldiers, will find himself unable to lay it down. The cause of the war, the arrest of Captain Ross, the advance of General Low, Colonel Kelly's rush, the defence of Chitral, and the relief of Chitral, are all described with a lucid brevity and clearness which never fatigue. It was a wonderful little campaign; but to our minds the most interesting part of the book is the incidental proof it contains, that in spite of the success of Colonel Kelly's small force, the military authorities were in the right in their careful preparations.”-The Spectator.