Bazar Valley Campaign

Bazar Valley Campaign
Date 1908 Location Peshawar border of the North West Frontier Result Jirga and peace
Belligerents
Zakka Khel clan of the Afridi	British Raj

The Bazar Valley Campaign of 1908^[1] was a punitive expedition against the Zakka Khel clan of the Afridi, a Pathan tribe inhabiting the mountains on the Peshawar border of the North West Frontier province of British India.^[2]

It was undertaken by the Bazar Valley Field Force, under the command of General Sir James Willcocks. The campaign began on 14 February 1908, and was concluded by a jirga and peace on 1 March 1908. The satirical magazine, Punch, characterised the campaign as Willcocks’ Weekend War.^[3] The main British Army elements were the Seaforth Highlanders and the 37th Lancers. Regiments of the British Indian Army included sections of the 45th and 53rd Sikhs, the Madras Sappers and 5 Gorkha Rifles. Archibald Percival, 1st Earl Wavell took part in this campaign as a junior officer.^[4]

Footnotes

1. Official account of the Bazar Field Force, a punitive expedition against the Zakka Khel Afridis in February/March 1908, led by Major-General Sir James Willcocks Author: Intelligence Branch Amy Headquarters India ISBN 978-1-84574-360-4
2. "INDIA—NORTH-WEST FRONTIER POLICY. (Hansard, 26 February 1908)". Hansard.millbanksystems.com. 1908-02-26. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
3. "Field Operation - Zakka Khel, 1908. Bazar Valley Field Force. (1908)". Maggs.com. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
4. "AIM25 collection description". Aim25.ac.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-01.