The Barari Tangi, 1920 (c)

Photograph by Randolph Bezzant Holmes (1888-1973), North West Frontier, 1920 (c).

The Barari Tangi was a defile in the Tank Zam valley about five miles from Jandola. Major-General Sir Andrew Skeen's Derajat Colum had to capture it if it was going to advance further into the Mahsud heartland of South Waziristan. Between 23-28 January 1920, his men successfully seized the heights on both sides of the river before elements of the 67th Brigade captured the Tangi itself. British losses were only seven killed and 62 wounded, largely due to the fact that the Mahsuds were taken by surprise and had to defend the Tangi with a small numbers of warriors. Tribal losses were estimated at 16 killed and 20 wounded.