'The Charge of the 3rd Bombay Cavalry at the Battle of Kooshab, 1857'

Engraving taken from 'The Illustrated London News', 24 April 1857.

In the mid-19th century, Britain was anxious about Russian influence on Afghanistan, an important border state with British India. They were therefore concerned when the Persians - whom the British believed to be too pro-Russian - began to show signs of interference in Afghan affairs.

When Persia attacked the Afghan city of Herat in October 1856, Britain declared war. They despatched an expeditionary force from the Bombay Presidency.

This engraving shows the 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry breaking the square of the Shah's Guards at the Battle of Koosh-ab (or Khushab), the largest engagement of the Persian War (1856-1857).