A sentry overlooks Bagh, 1919 (c)

Photograph by Randolph Bezzant Holmes (1888-1973), 3rd Afghan War, 1919 (c).

On 3 May 1919 Afghan troops crossed the frontier at the western end of the Khyber Pass and captured the town of Bagh. The latter supplied the British post at Landi Kotal with water. Following this, the British garrison at Landi Kotal was reinforced to brigade-size and on 11 May, in an attack preceded by a 30 minute artillery barrage, the 2nd Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment and two battalions from the 11th Gurkha Rifles, captured Bagh, restoring the water supply to Landi Kotal and driving the Afghans back across the border.

From an album of 43 photographs compiled by Major G A Clarke, 12th Pioneers (The Kelat-i-Ghilzie Regiment), and the 2nd Bn 2nd Bombay Pioneers.