NWF - Valley of Fire - End of Day 2

Situation at the end of Day 2
Pathan forces have declared in 63, 3 and 24
British forces have declared in 1, 2, 3, 24 and 64
There have been three screen combats.  The British have been forced back from ZARANJ (63) and are currently engaged with Pathan screens in 3 and 24

NWF - Valley of Fire - End of Day 1

Situation at the end of Day 1
Pathan Forces have declared in the vicinity of the Fort, Location 3, Location 5 and Location 24.  The British have declared in Location 1 and Location 2

Minor amount of supply has been consumed by the British at both the Fort and the relief column but with no fighting not massive.  Tomorrow however will be another day out on Afghanistan's plains....

NWF - Valley of Fire Supply Instruction

Deputy Commissary-General

Commissariat & Transport Department

Chapmanabad Cantonment

India

General Staff

Kohl Field Force

Chapmanabad Cantonment

 

Supply & Reinforcement Instruction for Operations in the Kohl Valley

 

For the forthcoming Operation supply is broken down into the following classes:

General Supply Items.  These comprise Rations, Water, Forage, uniforms etc;

Small Arms Ammuniton.  This is specifically the ammunition required by individual soldiers and cavalry;

Specialist Ammunition.  This comprises the ammunition required for the Sections and Batteries of the Artillery  and that required for the Machine Gun detachments.

 

Supply Holdings for each element of the force are specified below:

The Main supply base at CHAPMANABAD will hold:

30 Units of General supply;

30 Units of Small Arms ammunition;

15 Units of Specialist Ammunition.

The Mobile Column train will hold:

15 Units of General supply;

15 Units of Small Arms ammunition;

15 Units of Specialist ammunition.

Each Fighting Column will be capable of holding a maximum of:

5 Units of General supply;

5 Units of Small Arms ammunition

5 Units of Specialist ammunition

 

The consumption of supply items is expected as follows:

1 Unit of General supply will be consumed by each 100 men or part thereof in each force per day.  This includes cavalry troops but not screen units.

1 Unit of Small Arms ammunition will be consumed by each 100 men or part thereof in each force per engagement fought per day.  This includes cavalry troops but not screen units.

1 Unit of Specialist Ammunition will be consumed by each section of 2 firing weapons, either Artillery or MG, per engagement fought per day.

 

Resupply arrangements.  Units and Forces may draw upon the supplies in either the mobile column or the main supply base by:

Passing through the location of supply base of mobile column.

Dispatching a supply column which itself will pass through the location of the supply base of mobile column and return to the main body.

The final method of supply is where the main supply base once sufficient reinforcements and supplies have arrived from Kohat will transport supplies forward.

 

CinC India has indicated that supplies will be released from Kohat to Chapmanabad as soon as possible.  The rate at which these supplies will move forward is variable.  The maximum level of supplies that will arrive per day is as follows:

2 – 12 Units of General Supply

2 – 12 Units of Small Arms ammunition

1 – 6 Units of Specialist ammunition.

 

Personnel replacements will be sent forward from Kohat to Chapmanabad as reinforcements.  The rate at which these troops will move forward is variable.  The maximum level of reinforcements that will arrive per day is as follows:

2 – 12 Infantry

1 – 6 Cavalry

1 Field Piece (Artillery or MG at GOC Kohl Field Force request).

Reinforcements may be called forward by GOC Kohl Field force and may either reinforce existing units or create new forces for deployment.  When on route to the Kohl Field Force they may be used as supply escort for any supplies being moved forward.  Units may not be reinforced above their starting strength.

 

I will do my best to ensure that the forces receive a consistent level of supply throughout the operation in accordance with the instructions I have received from both GOC Kohl Field Force and CinC India.

 

Signed:                                                                                                                                     4^th September 1887

 

 

 

North West Frontier Action Pt 1

Fort Longhope is a British outpost established to protect the establishment of a defined border.  Its garrison consisting of a reinforced company from 4th Punjab Infantry PFF with two troops of cavalry from 2nd Punjab Cavalry PFF and a section of mountain guns from No.1 (Kohat) Battery have been conducting patrols into the surrounding villages and surveying the region.  The establishment of the Fort and the presence of a defined border has caused friction with the local tribes who see their way of life being threatened.  This friction has been enflamed by the activities of a local Mullah who has been exerting the Uzbek tribes remove the Infidels from the region and protect their heritage.

On 3rd September 1887, a force from the fort was attacked during a patrol to the village of FARAH investigating the murder of an Indian farmer and theft of cattle from the British side of the border. During the withdrawl Lt London (Royal Field Artillery) and Lt Leverett (10th Hussars) on secondment to 4th Punjab Infantry were mortally wounded.

The Fort is now beseiged by Pathan tribesmen from the Village of FARAH and relief from the British base at CHAPMANABAD is being assembled.  In the villages and tribal areas surrounding the valley and fort the revolt gathers momentum as neighbouring tribes put aside local feuds and focus attentions on the British.  There is always time for revenge.