Our own
losses were eight men wounded; while two received the Order of Merit for
conspicuous bravery in action.
Such were a few of the adventures of the Guides during the twenty years
which elapsed between the Mutiny and the Afghan War.
CHAPTER VIII
THE MASSACRE OF THE GUIDES AT KABUL, 1879
The annals of no army and no regiment can show a brighter record of
devoted bravery than has been achieved by this small band of
Guides. By their deeds they have conferred undying honour, not only
on the regiment to which they belong, but on the whole British
Army.... The conduct of the escort of the Queen's Own Corps of
Guides does not form part of the enquiry entrusted to the
Commission, but they have in the course of their enquiries had the
extreme gallantry of the bearing of these men so forcibly brought
to their notice that they cannot refrain from placing on record
their humble tribute of admiration.
So wrote the brave, bluff soldier, Sir Charles Macgregor, as president
of the Committee appointed to enquire into the causes of the dreadful
tragedy which in a few hours ended in the massacre of Sir Louis
Cavignari and the whole of his escort.
When Cavignari, as minister and plenipotentiary on behalf of the British
Government, signed the treaty of Gundamuk, one of the provisions of
which was that a British Embassy with a suitable escort should be
established at Kabul, there were many who, unable to forget the
long-drawn history of Afghan treachery, looked with grave apprehension
on the proposal.
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