Chakdarra Fort and Bridge, 1919

Photograph, North West Frontier, India, 1919.

The British built Chakdarra Fort in 1896 to guard the routes into the Swat Valley and Chitral via the Lowari Pass. An isolated post, it was cut off from other British forts for four months during the winter. At the start of the 3rd Afghan War (1919) it was garrisoned by the 1st Battalion, 11th Rajput Regiment (below strength after service in Mesopotamia), a section of the 23rd (Peshawar) Pack Battery, a section of the 2nd (Madras) Sappers and Miners and the Chitral Scouts, an armed frontier police under the command of the Assistant Political Agent. There was also a small force from the pro-British Mehar of Chitral's bodyguard, most of whom were armed with obsolete weapons.

From an album compiled by Lieutenant Col G J Davis.