The Sherpur Cantonment, 1879 (c)

Photograph, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1879.

Major-General Sir Frederick Roberts' Kabul Field Force spent the winter of 1879-1880 besieged at Sherpur cantonment by vastly superior numbers of Afghans. The cantonment was located about a mile north of Kabul city. As news of a relief column under the command of Brigadier-General Charles Gough reached the Afghan commander Mohammed Jan, he ordered his men to storm the cantonment on 23 December 1879. Robert's force beat off the assault and the Afghans withdrew, allowing the British to reoccupy Kabul.

From a photograph album compiled by Major (later Major General Sir) Alexander Robert Badock.