An Officer in the First Afghan War: Narrative of Services in Beloochistan & Afghanistan, with the Army of the Indus, and Beyond

The sharp end of the First Afghan War

The author of this book, Colonel Stacy was a highly regarded and capable British soldier destined to acquire much experience of campaigning and battle upon the Indian Sub-Continent. After the events described here he served with distinction during the Gwalior War and commanded a brigade under Dick in the First Sikh War where his leadership 'from the front,' particularly at the hard fought Battle of Sobraon, brought recognition from Gough. In 1841 the British initiative to place Shah Shuja on the throne of Afghanistan saw Stacy as part of the 'Army of the Indus' with the 43rd regiment and he served with it under Nott. Service in Kelat followed, but after the disaster at Kabul, Stacy returned once more to campaigning and played an active part in the march to Kandahar and once more to Kabul. Stacy's action in the Jungdulluk Pass is especially noteworthy. This is an excellent account of the First Afghan War told by a serving British officer, it is filled with battle detail and dialogue and reveals the difficulties of soldiering in the most difficult terrain which was both familiar to and dominated by the enemy. Available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.