Chapter 7: Battle of Tranjapour

Read chapters sequentially. 1-6 and afterwards 7. Click on photographs to enlarge them.




#88 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: The Relief Column's Van pushes onto Tranjapour after the incident downing the telegraph line earlier today. The foe vanished but succeeded in delaying the march and in cutting communication with Tranjapour. See the previous chapter.
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#89 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: The Relief Column stretches out on its march to Tranjapour. From front to back are: 9th Bengal Lancers (1st and 2nd. Squadrons), 1st. Sikh Infantry (3 companies), 1st Mountain Battery (1st. Section) and the Supply contingent. Arrival at Tranjapour without further incidents should occur tomorrow on the 18th. The men wonder what is happening at Tranjapour and if they will arrive in time.
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#90 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: The answer is. The attack is imminent. Here you see the Tug Raider Force massing in cover for the attack on Tranjapour to the left.
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#91 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Lonely and isolated Tranjapour is in the distance. Fortunately the sandbag works commenced yesterday were completed early this morning. The Imperials are as ready as they can be.
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#92 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Steady men and viewers alike. Wait now. Lieutenant Colonel Preece bellows, "GARRISON OF TRANJAPOUR. STAAAAAHHNNND TO!"
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#93 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Captain Sachs 2/10th Hussars readies his dismounted troopers within the inner work. Nearby Captain Khambatta orders, "1st Sikhs, North Wall, Mark Your Target, Aim ---- FIRE!"
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#94 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Here they come.
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#95 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Meanwhile Tug horsemen appear beyond the south wall. This way the garrison is attacked from two sides. Clever.
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#96 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: The horsemen are spotted.
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#97 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Tranjapour as seen from the Tug left flank.
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#98 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: All round defense.
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#99 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008; Tug horsemen charge the south wall. They hope to overcome the defense, jump the wall and cause confusion. Meanwhile the main attack arrives at the north wall. Can the charge be stopped?
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#100 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: View from east to west. There is trouble at the northeast corner. The Tugs are unstoppable.
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#101 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Success! The Tug cavalry charge is beaten back. However, the outer perimeter of the north wall has been breached and is untenable. The 1st Sikhs withdraw joining the 10th Hussars within the inner works. A new Tug unit appears from the right - a large body of swordsmen. Imperials have also abandoned the south and east walls withdrawing to building interiors and tops.
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#102 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: The crisis of the battle. The enemy is inside the outer work and breaching the one inside. Can the inner work hold? Do you see the new Tug unit coming near? In a moment they will pour over the outer wall joining their friends within. The only order for the garrison is, "Stand your ground like a good soldier." There is no place else to go. It is now up to each man and his mates -- where they stand. There is no place else and no one else. -- Just you, your mate and a bayonet.
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#103 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Miracle! Tug losses were severe. Morale failed throughout the attacking force. They run. THEY RUN!
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#104 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Parting shots.
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#105 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: Later the Raiding Force departs for the North. Perhaps they have had enough and will return to Surajistan and "The Hidden Valley."
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#106 Battle of Tranjapour
17 September 1898/2008: This is no time for complacency. The battle was a near run thing. Captain Bartlett leads 1/10th Hussars out of Tranjapour to shadow the retreating foe.
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#107 Battle of Tranjapour
18 September 1898/2008: During the afternoon of the next day, The Relief Column arrives at Tranjapour.
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108 Battle of Tranjapour
18 September 1898/2008: Lt. Col. Preece meets Brigadier Pettygree at the edge of the village. "Welcome General." "Thank you John. I see you did not need us. Well done. Well done, indeed." "Thank you Sir."
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