The 6-month siege of Jellalabad: Afghans outside, British & Indian courage inside

A brass crest of the Somerset Light Infantry with their greatest military feat: Holding out at Jellalabad.

The First Anglo-Afghan War was a poorly planned, poorly led, over-confident attempt by the East India Company to secure Afghanistan and prevent Russia entering their sphere of influence in India. After being mauled by the Afghans, and in full retreat from Kabul, 2500 officers and soldiers – British and Indian – holed up in Jellalabad. From November 1841 to April 1842, they waited to be rescued, surrounded by thousands of Afghans outside the fort, but defended within it by Indian infantry, cavalry, artillery and sappers. Together this force held out against all odds, hunger (the sowars of Skinner's Horse even captured 300 sheep), and withstood an earthquake (the sappers heroically repaired the fortress walls). When it was finally over, the name 'Jellalabad' became a legend. But also a lesson: Interfere in Afghanistan at your own peril.