Operations in Waziristan 1919-1920.

Confidential - with 32 photogravures. The scarce official account of the Waziristan campaign 1919–1920, and preceding 1917 conflict, with copious views and maps of the scarcely traversed terrain and landscape of Waziristan, including Jandola, Palosina, Kotkai, Kaniguram, Barari Tangi, Ahnai Tangi, and Badergoi Valley. Also included are twelve Appendices detailing the units of the British forces in 1917 and 1919, the terms delivered to the Waziris and Mahsuds, lists of British casualties, and approximate numbers of the different specific tribes of the Mahsuds and Waziris involved in the conflict.

In 1919 the short-lived Third Anglo-Afghan War concluded with the British ceding legal control of Afghan foreign affairs in return for the recognition by the Afghans of the Durand Line. Despite this, a rumour spread amongst the Waziri and Mahsud tribesmen that the British intended to cede their territory to the British. They quickly conducted a series of raids against neighbouring settlements in the North-West Frontier in late 1919, causing over 400 casualties.

Major-General Sir Andrew Skeen led the British response against the Tochi Waziris and Mahsuds in November of 1919. The campaign a took over 12 months due to the inexperience of the British units mainly comprised of light Indian divisions. The decisive eight-day battle of Ahnai Tangi, involving the stand of the 2nd/5th Gurkhas immortalised in several paintings, broke the Mahsud offensive and quickly resulted in a calming of violence and allowed the British to deliver their terms of control.

Despite the apparent British victory, the 1919-1920 campaign led to a change of policy in Waziristan. Britain decided to station permanent garrisons and have a much closer relationship with the irregular military units used. A large number of the locally raised troops had defected to the Waziris and Mahsuds during the campaign and it was hoped these measures would prevent further desertion. Britain also attempted a road construction effort in the region, but this was seen as invasive and caused further conflict up to 1924.

This copy was used by a member of the 1st Battalion of The Royal Scots during the time they were station in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, between 1922 and 1925.

First edition; 8vo (25 x 16.5 cm); complete with 32 photogravure plates including frontispiece, 16 of which folding, 4 of which large panoramic views, 8 folding panoramas sketched on the spot, 7 folding maps, 3 of which loose in rear pocket, 2 of which large coloured (75x92cm & 77x64cm), previous ownership inscription to both endpapers with underlining to a few passages, wide tear to margin of p97-8 not affecting text; typical contemporary half calf, green cloth boards, gilt morocco lettering pieces to spine, remains of a shelf mark to spine, extremities slightly rubbed from use, binding tight due to quantity of maps and plates, a very good copy; x, 187, [1]pp.