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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Chapter 6: The Telegraph Line

Read chapters sequentially. 1-5 and afterwards 6. Click on photographs to enlarge them.

General Pettygree's relief column continues its march from Fort Grant to Tranjapour. The most forward unit is 1st Troop 1/9th. Bengal Lancers acting as a screen. They are followed in turn by 2nd. Troop 1/9th Bengal Lancers, two troops of 2/9th Bengal Lancers, three companies of the 1st. Sikh Infantry Battalion, 1/1 Mountain Battery and the supply element. The vedette has entered the area of forest you see below.
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#79 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. The next day 1st. Troop 1/9th Bengal Lancers scouts the road to Tranjapour. They follow the telegraph line from Fort Grant. The rest of the squadron is just to the rear (not shown) followed by "The Relief Column" commanded by General Pettygree.
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#80 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. The vedette screen continues forward along the road and telegraph line. Fortunately this morning's telegraph from Tranjapour revealed the Tugs had not arrived there yet placing them even farther from us here. Tranjapour is still a day's march away from where we are. Therefore, no trouble is expected by the 9th Bengal Lancers. All is quiet --- and all is well.
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#81 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. ---------- KahBOOOOM!!!!! ---------- "Vedette HALT!"
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#82 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. Smoke rises from an explosion as a telegraph pole falls.
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#83 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. The near pole continues to fall and the next in line topples too. The lancers move to cover.
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#84 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. "To the rear, at the GALLOP!" The vedette commander has decided to ride back to his support, the rest of the squadron.
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#85 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. Smoke from the explosion rises and dissipates as the lancers ride back to friends whilst an unseen and cunning foe cheers.
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#86 The Telegraph Line
17 September 1898/2008. Later first troop dismounted, formed a skirmish line and moved forward. One lancer fired his carbine at movement in the forest. Was it the foe? Second troop remains mounted to the rear in support. Just beyond the far trees are the 2/9th Bengal Lancers and "The Relief Column" pounding up the road.
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#87 The Telegraph Line
17 Sept. 1898/2008. Dismounted lancers continue their work but the foe has cut communication to Tranjapour and "The Relief Column" has slowed to clear the way there. Will General Pettygree arrive at Tranjapour in time? Will the defenders hold out? ---------- Dismounted soldiers are Old Glory 25mms. Mounted lancers are Peter Gilder 28mm Connoisseur Miniatures, officer with binoculars is 25mm Hinchliffe and telegraph poles are Berkshire Valley O Gauge model railroad telephone poles.
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Chapter 5: The Relief Column

Read chapters sequentially. #1 first, #2 second, #3 third, #4 fourth and #5 afterwards, if you please. Click on photographs to enlarge them.

At the end of Chapter 3, you witnessed the 10th Hussars returning to Tranjapour from reconnoitering The Khyber Pass. The last image showed Major Trevelyan about to hand deliver new orders just arrived by telegraph from Fort Grant to Lt. Col. Preece. Later that evening we observe three officers conversing about those orders.



#57 The Relief Column
15 September 1898/2008. That night in Tranjapour there is heated talk. Khambatta, "No Sahib Bartlett! It is madness to stay here to await the Tugs." Bartlett, "My dear fellow, we thwarted them on the 8th and 9th and now with your infantry, we are stronger than a week ago." Dr. Watson, "I think Gen. Pettygree's orders, 'Hold until relieved. We are coming," are reasonable." Khambatta, “The 1st Sikhs will do our duty, but staying here is madness. The Tugs are a nemesis back from the dead!”
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#58 The Relief Column
15 September 1898/2008. In the next room Captain Sachs, 2/10th Hussars, overheard the conversation and rises saying, "I say, Subedar-Major Khambatta, with respect, it can't be as bad as all that. An' ol' Pettygree, the General I mean, will be 'ere with The Column before you know it."
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#59 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. General William Augustus Pettygree on parade within Fort Grant. 2nd Sikhs are drilling behind him. The General rides his trusty stallion, Express, "E" for short. Do you see the old bullet wound in his left flank? He received that battle honour long ago whilst taking his rider to safety in the Soudan.
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#60 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The General turns to observe the departure of The Tranjapour Relief Column. The 9th Bengal Lancers lead. Two of the four squadrons will remain at Fort Grant for eventualities.
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#61 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The 9th Bengal Lancers pass in review.
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#62 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The 9th's most senior squadron commander, Captain Paget, salutes General Pettygree. In a moment the regiment will sortie out the Main Gate.
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#63 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Within Fort Grant 1/9th Bengal Lancers trot toward the Main Gate.
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#64 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The procession continues as 2/9th Bengal Lancers appear. Squadrons 3 and 4 (unseen) remain behind for local duties. General Pettygree (center) appears content with what he sees.
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#65 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The procession of lancers continues under the watchful gaze of the General.
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#66 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. On the left Lt. Col. Sir Reginald Savory appears. He is the commanding officer of 1/Sikhs who are right behind him. In the background you can see a portion of the 2/Sikhs remaining behind. The Petrus Victory Column was raised by Brigadier Young some years before.
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#67 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. 1/Sikh infantry march into view. They are in earnest to reinforce a detachment of their comrades commanded by senior Captain Khambatta at Tranjapour. Sir Reginald salutes General Pettygree.
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#68 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. A second company of 1/Sikhs marches into view.
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#69 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Now appears a detachment of the 1st Mountain Battery, a 7 Pdr. gun disassembled on mules.
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#70 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. More of the battery comes into view obscured from sunlight by thick scudding clouds above.
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#71 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. A third company of 1/Sikhs guards the rear of the battery.
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#72 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Supply animals are essential to keep The Relief Column fed and supplied with extra ammunition. Wheeled transport is being left behind allowing for faster march speed.
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#73 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. More of the supply contingent appears including water carriers. The last one is Gunga Din. I say, whose face is just appearing leftmost in the photograph?
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#74 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. It's Annie! She is the Indian elephant so beloved by the garrison. Sometimes allowed to wander about, she has decided to go with The Column!
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#75 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. "Ohhhh' Annie!"
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#76 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. Annie is turned aside by her handler as the last of The Column exits The Main Gate. Notice two 2.5" screw guns and one 7 pdr. adjacent to the flag pole. These are remaining behind. Rightmost you see Gunga Din and General Pettygree are the last to leave Fort Grant. In a moment the General will gallop to the center of The Column in service to Queen and Country.
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#77 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008.
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#78 The Relief Column
16 September 1898/2008. The Relief Column stretches out into the distance. Their destination is Tranjapour. Will they arrive in time to relieve the 10th Hussars and the detachment of 1/Sikhs before, during or after the Tugs arrival there? Indeed will the Tugs even attack?

We shall see. Come back for Chapter 6 in three weeks time to find out. Fortunately the telegraph seen to the left can be tapped into to keep General Pettygree informed of the situation there. However, you must wait until next time.
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