Tuesday 27th July

Tuesday 27th July marks the anniversary of the Battle of Maiwand.

In 1880 the Afghan leader Ayub Khan planned to march on Kandahar which was occupied by British and Indian troops. A field force under the command of Brigadier - General Burrows consisting of over 2,600 officers and men marched out of the city to link up with the Wali of Kandahar an enemy of the Afghan commander.

The field force included six nine - pounders belonging to E Battery RHA under the command of Major Blackwood. Receiving news that the Afghan army consisting of 15,000 tribesmen supported by artillery was marching towards the village of Maiwand, the field force headed for the area.

The Afghan artillery bombarded the field force forcing it to retreat. Although the gunners managed to hitch up four of the nine-pounders to the limbers and drive the guns away, the two remaining guns fell into the hands of the enemy.

Major Blackwood whose father was a partner in Blackwoods the Edinburgh publishing house was killed during the battle.

The painting by R.Caton Woodville shows the gunners driving away the nine - pounders during the battle.