The attack on Gumbaz Fort (17 feb 1918 anni – 20 feb 1918 anni)

Descrizione:

Thirty men from the 3rd Skinner’s Horse were garrisoning Gumbaz Fort when news of trouble brewing in the Marri region was received at regimental headquarters in Lorelai. On 17th February 1918 Major J.R. Gaussen CMG, DSO was despatched with 50 more men to reinforce Gumbaz, and this group arrived at the fort the following day. The fort and surrounding area appeared quiet and the resident Political Officer, Lieutenant Colonel F. McConaghey, was living in his bungalow some distance away. However towards evening Gaussen sensed impending violence and he persuaded the Political Officer to move into the fort.

Gaussen’s appreciation for the defence of the fort with just 80 men had decided him not to attempt a perimeter defence but to concentrate his men in the two flanking towers; he commanded one tower and Lieutenant H.B. Watson (Indian Army Reserve of Officers attached to 3rd Skinner’s Horse) commanded the other. At 2300 hours on 19th December (February) several hundreds of mainly sword-wielding Marris suddenly attacked, scaled the fort walls, and then hurled themselves against the towers. Mullahs had promised the tribesmen immunity from infidel bullets and the Marris were fearless. The intensity of the fighting can be gauged from the citations for the two Indian Orders of Merit (2nd Class) that were later awarded

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