My God...Maiwand !

......one can almost smell the cordite and the blood

SAVING THE GUNS AT MAIWAND 1893

Maj. Godfrey Douglas Giles

This splendid image is of the heroic effort made by the British Royal Horse Artillery, E/B Battery, at about 2.30 in the afternoon of 27 July 1880,to save their guns. E/B Battery is vividly portrayed coming out of action whilst under heavy assault and in eminent danger of being overwhelmed by a force of some 6000 Ghazis and other tribesmen during the second Afghan rebellion (1878-80). The result was one of the most serious defeats for the British Army in India.

Approx. 20 1/2 x 35" excluding letters. Frame 31 x 45"
Ref. RI. 271/ALN/and>DALN
Price Code E: Click Here for Pricing Details

The scene was set when one Infantry and one Cavalry Brigade, some 2700 troops, left Kandahar on their way to support a force of 6000 British equipped and allegedly friendly tribesmen in putting down a rebellion by Ayub Khan, the Governor of Herat, He and his followers intended to replace the new Amir of Afghanistan, a British protege, at Kabul. In the event most of the 'friendly tribesmen' mutinied and went to join Ayub, leaving Brigadier George Burrows' force to face the approaching rebel army alone, in countryside where every man's hand had suddenly turned against them.

Gunner W.M. Williams of E/B Battery described the gun position where "many of the draught horses were kicking and plunging in the last agonies of death. The enemy, led by their chiefs who carried large silken banners of various colours, charged down on the guns, yelling and shouting as they came on."

After firing a couple of rounds of case shot, Captain Slade gave the order to limber up. On the left Maclaine's two guns were overun and a vicious fight ensued around them with handspikes, sponge-rods and Khyber knives. Sergeant Patrick Mullane won his Victoria Cross when he managed to save one team and, having run back under fire to pick up a wounded driver and place him on the limber, smashed his galloping horses through the ranks of Ghazis.

On the right, Lieutenant E.G. Osborne's two guns got out with difficulty, but he was shot dead helping his gunners to hook on. Slade deployed the four remaining guns of the Battery about 400 yards back to try and cover the retreat, but the situation was beyond saving. Battery Sergeant Major J.Paton, with sword, is seen in the right foreground.

Two Victoria Crosses and eight Distinguished Conduct medals were awarded as well as Maiwand added to the colours of the Royal Horse Artillery.

The memory of the heroic action of that day on which over 1000 soldiers of the empire were killed, brought into the English language the expression " My God - Maiwand ! "

This original photogravure captures all the intensity of the 1893 painting by Maj. Godfrey Douglas Giles (1857 - 1923). The work was first printed by Raymond Groom & Co. London, 28 Feb. 1894 and later by Louis Wolff.

Photogravure, Titled below matt. Published: Louis Wolff, London 1912.

Matted, Period frame.

Maj. Godfrey Douglas Giles was born in India and became a noted painter of horses, military scenes and battles, many he observed first hand during his service with the British army in India, Afghanistan and Egypt. He later studied in Paris with Carolus Duran.

Making his home in Newmarket, Suffolk, he exhibited between 1882-1904 in the following: RA. RBA. ROI. RSA. G. GL. L. M.

 

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