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	The '''First Mohmand campaign''' was a ~~[[United Kingdom\|~~British]] military campaign against the [[Mohmand]]s from 1897 to 1898.		The '''First Mohmand campaign''' was a British military campaign against the [[Mohmand]]s from 1897 to 1898.

	==Background==		==Background==

imported>Randy Kryn: Randy Kryn moved page Mohmand campaign of 1897–98 to Mohmand campaign of 1897–1898: full year per MOS:DATERANGE

2021-07-06T16:52:34Z

Randy Kryn moved page Mohmand campaign of 1897–98 to Mohmand campaign of 1897–1898: full year per MOS:DATERANGE

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{{short description|19th century British military campaign in India}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict = First Mohmand campaign
|partof =
|casus = British acquisition of tribal territory
|image =
|caption =
|date = 1897 to 1898
|place = [[Peshawar]] border of the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North West Frontier]]
|result = British Indian victory
|combatant1=[[Mohmand]]s
|combatant2={{flagicon|UK}} [[British Empire]]
* {{flagcountry|British Raj}}
|commander1=
|commander2=
|strength1 =
|strength2 =
|casualties1=
|casualties2=
}}
The '''First Mohmand campaign''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] military campaign against the [[Mohmand]]s from 1897 to 1898.

==Background==
The Mohmands are a [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]] tribe who inhabit the hilly country to the north-west of [[Peshawar]], in the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North-West Frontier Province]] of what the British considered part of the British Empire, now [[Pakistan]]. British punitive expeditions had been sent against the Mohmands in 1851–1852, 1854, 1864, 1879, 1880, but the principal operations were those of 1897–1898.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Mohmand |volume=18 |inline=1}}</ref>

The year 1897 witnessed an almost general outbreak among the tribes on the north-west frontier of [[India]]. The tribes involved were practically independent, but the new frontier arranged with the amir of [[Afghanistan]], and demarcated by Sir [[Mortimer Durand]]'s commission of 1893–1894 (the [[Durand Line]]), brought them within the British sphere of influence.<ref name=EB1911/>

The fear of these tribes was annexation, and the hostility shown during the demarcation led to the [[Wazir (Tribe)|Waziri]] expedition of 1894. Other causes, however, contributed to bring about the outbreak of 1897. The easy victory of the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] over the [[Kingdom of Greece|Greeks]] in the [[Greco-Turkish War (1897)]] gave rise to excitement throughout the [[Muslim]] world, and the publication by the Amir of Afghanistan [[Abdur Rahman Khan]], in his assumed capacity of king of [[Islam]], of a religious work, in portions of which antipathy to [[Christianity|Christians]] could be read, aroused militancy among the border Muslims.<ref name=EB1911/>

The growing unrest was not recognized, and all appeared quiet, when, on 10 June 1897, a detachment of Indian troops escorting a British frontier officer was suddenly attacked during the mid-day halt in the [[Tochi Valley]], where, since the Waziri expedition of 1894-95, certain armed posts had been retained by the government of India. On 29 July, with equal suddenness, the fortified posts at [[Chakdara]] and [[Malakand Agency|Malakand]], in the [[Swat (Pakistan)|Swat]] valley, which had been held since the [[Chitral expedition]] of 1895, were for several days fiercely assailed by the usually peaceful [[Swat, Pakistan|Swatis]] under the leadership of the "[[Sartor Faqir|Mad Mullah]]" in the [[Siege of Malakand]].<ref name=EB1911/>

On 8 August the village of [[Shabkadar]] (Shankarghar), within a few miles of Peshawar, and in British territory, was raided by the Mohmands, while the [[Afridi (Pashtun)|Afridis]] besieged the fortified posts on the [[Samana Range|Samana]] ridge, which had been maintained since the expeditions of 1888 and 1891. Finally, the Afridis, within a few days, captured all the British posts in the [[Khyber Pass]].<ref name=EB1911/>

==Campaign==
The Malakand Field Force commanded by Major-General [[Sir Bindon Blood]] was assembled at [[Nowshera, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa|Nowshera]]. The post at Malakand was reached on 1 August, and on the following day Chakdara was relieved. The punishment of the Afridis was deferred till the preparations for the [[Tirah campaign]] could be completed. The Mohmands, however, could be immediately dealt with, and against them the two brigades of Sir Bindon Blood's division advanced from Malakand simultaneously with the movement of another division under Major-General [[Edmond Elles]] from Peshawar; it was intended that the two columns should effect a junction in [[Bajour]].<ref name=EB1911/>

About 6 September the two forces advanced, and Major-General Blood reached Nawagai on 14 September, having detached a brigade to cross the [[Rambat Pass]]. This brigade being sharply attacked in camp at Markhanai at the foot of the pass on the night of the 14th, was ordered to turn northwards and punish the tribesmen of the Mamund valley. On the 15th [[Brigadier-General]] (afterwards [[Major-General]]) Jeffreys camped at [[Inayat Killa]], and on the following day he moved up the Mamund valley in three columns, which met with strong resistance. A retirement was ordered, the tribesmen following, and when darkness fell the general, with a battery and a small escort, was cut off, and with difficulty defended some buildings until relieved. The casualties in this action numbered 149. This partial reverse placed General Blood in a position of some difficulty. He determined, however, to remain at Nawagai, awaiting the arrival of General Elles, and sent orders to General Jeffreys to prosecute the operations in the Mamund valley.<ref name=EB1911/>

From 18 to 23 September these operations were carried on successfully, several villages being burned, and the Mamunds were disheartened. Meanwhile, the camp at Nawagai was heavily attacked on the night of the 20th by about 4,000 men belonging to the Hadda Mullah's following. The attack was repulsed with loss, and on the 21st Generals Blood and Elles met at [[Lakarai]]. The junction having been effected, the latter, in accordance with the scheme, advanced to deal with the Upper Mohmands in the [[Jarobi]] and [[Koda Khel]] valleys, and they were soon brought to reason by his well-conducted operations. The work of the Peshawar division was now accomplished, and it returned to take part in the [[Tirah campaign]]. Its total casualties were about 30 killed and wounded.<ref name=EB1911/>

On the 22nd General Blood joined General Jeffreys, and on the 24th he started with his staff for [[Panjkora]]. On the 27th General Jeffreys resumed punitive operations in the Mamund valley, destroying numerous villages. On the 30th he encountered strong opposition at Agrah, and had 61 casualties. On 2 October General Blood arrived at Inayat Killa with reinforcements, and on the 5th the Mamunds tendered their submission. The total British loss in the Mamund valley was 282 out of a force which never exceeded 1,200 men. After marching into [[Buner Valley|Buner]], and revisiting the scenes of the [[Umbeyla campaign]] of 1863, the Malakand field-force was broken up on the 21st of January. The objects of the expedition were completely attained, in spite of the great natural difficulties of the country. The employment of imperial service troops with the Peshawar column marked a new departure in frontier campaigns.<ref name=EB1911/>

==Participation of Winston Churchill==
[[Winston Churchill]] accompanied the expedition as a second lieutenant and war correspondent, and wrote his first non-fiction book on it, ''[[The Story of the Malakand Field Force]]''.

==See also==
*[[Second Mohmand campaign]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{British colonial campaigns}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Mohmand}}

{{coord missing|Khyber Pakhtunkhwa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mohmand Campaign of 1897-98}}
[[Category:Military history of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Wars involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Battles involving British India]]
[[Category:History of the Bengal Sappers]]
[[Category:19th-century military history of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1897 in India]]
[[Category:1898 in India]]
[[Category:1897 in Asia]]
[[Category:1898 in Asia]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1897]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1898]]
[[Category:Military history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
[[Category:Mohmand campaigns]]

Mohmand campaign of 1897–1898 - Revision history

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imported>Randy Kryn: Randy Kryn moved page Mohmand campaign of 1897–98 to Mohmand campaign of 1897–1898: full year per MOS:DATERANGE