Battle of Ali Masjid

Overview

The Battle of Ali Masjid, which took place on 21 November 1878, was the opening battle in the Second Anglo-Afghan War between the British forces, under Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel James Browne, and the Afghan forces, under Ghulam Haider Khan. The perceived offence of an Afghan general's refusal to allow a British envoy entrance to the country was used as an excuse to attack the fortress of Ali Masjid, as the opening battle in the war. Despite numerous setbacks, including half the troops getting lost or delayed and missing the battle entirely, the British were lucky that the Afghans abandoned their position overnight.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle of Ali Masjid opened the Second Anglo-Afghan War on 21 November 1878, serving as the British Empire's first offensive action following the Afghan general's refusal to admit a British envoy into the country. The fortress of Ali Masjid was the initial target, and its fall — secured when Afghan forces under Ghulam Haider Khan abandoned their position overnight — gave British forces under Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Browne an early foothold in the campaign. The outcome was less a product of operational success than Afghan withdrawal: roughly half the British force was lost or delayed and missed the battle entirely, meaning the result hinged on the Afghan decision to evacuate rather than on British execution. Afghan casualties numbered around 300 against equal force sizes of approximately 3,000 on each side.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)