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The Savage Frontier - Anglo-Afghan Wars

$19.95

Author - D. S. Richards
Published in 2003 by Pan, UK
Softcover, 214 Pages
Size - 23.5cm * 16cm

The vulnerability of the Indian sub-continent to invasion by neighbouring Russia has engaged the attention of politicians from early Victorian times until today. There have been around sixty military campaigns in Afghanistan and on the infamous North-West Frontier. During the nineteenth century, the constant skirmishings were known as 'the Great Game' and, to ensure that her own interest prevailed, Britain twice invaded Afghanistan.

Soviet influence began to make itself felt in 1924 when aircraft bolstered Amanullah's attempts to bring his people into the twentieth century and a third British campaign was launched to crush the Afghan armies. Frequent clashes erupted between British soldiers and the fiercely independent Pathan tribesmen, whose reputation for bravery, cruelty and cunning was tempered by the mutual respect with which both sides regarded each other. In 1973 the coup led by President Daoud afforded the opportunity for deeper Russian penetration into Afghanistan and the development of a one-party state. In less than a year Russian forces increased from 5,000 to 80,000 by December 1979.

Drawing from the journals of generations of British soldiers and government officials who served in this most volatile of national borders, D. S. Richards vividly communicates the danger and excitement confronting those engaged in bitter conflict. The Savage Frontier is an absorbing account of the British Indian Army's long struggle against a savage opponent and a pitiless terrain, where a moment of careless relaxation often ended in hideous destruction.

Illustrated with pages of B&W Illustrations