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The Malakand Field Force
"While I was attached to the Malakand Field Force I wrote a series of letters for the London Daily Telegraph. The favourable manner in which these letters were received, encouraged me to attempt a more substantial work. This volume is the result." -Sir Winston S. Churchill
236 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1898
About the author
Winston S. Churchill
1,401 books2,512 followersSir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, politician and writer, as prime minister from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955 led Great Britain, published several works, including
The Second World War
from 1948 to 1953, and then won the Nobel Prize for literature.
William Maxwell Aitken, first baron Beaverbrook, held many cabinet positions during the 1940s as a confidant of Churchill.
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can), served the United Kingdom again. A noted statesman, orator and strategist, Churchill also served as an officer in the Army. This prolific author "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."
Out of respect for Winston_Churchill, the well-known American author, Winston S. Churchill offered to use his middle initial as an author.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston...
William Maxwell Aitken, first baron Beaverbrook, held many cabinet positions during the 1940s as a confidant of Churchill.
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC (Can), served the United Kingdom again. A noted statesman, orator and strategist, Churchill also served as an officer in the Army. This prolific author "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values."
Out of respect for Winston_Churchill, the well-known American author, Winston S. Churchill offered to use his middle initial as an author.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 25, 2021
Some years back,I had read Churchill's My Early Life,and found it fairly interesting.It included an account of his time with the military campaign of the Malakand Field Force.He was then working as a war reporter.
This area is now in Pakistan,and I had visited "Churchill's Picket" on a hilltop in Malakand,years ago.He had remained holed up there for several days.It was a long,exhausting climb and fairly memorable.So,I was interested in this book.
But,I didn't like it. The account of the military campaign,is pretty lively,and at times even thrilling. But what spoiled the whole thing for me,was the contemptuous and offensive manner,in which Churchill wrote this book.
While British soldiers are brave and civilized,the Pathans are "ignorant,degraded,savages". He even calls them "mad dogs,fired by fanaticism". The book has many such statements of racial stereotyping,and contemptuous references to the "natives".
In his conclusion,he states that "military rule is desirable for the tribesmen,as after a while,they will recognize the futility of resistance". Well,that never happened !
Infact,I was reminded of totally opposite remarks by Field Marshal Ayub Khan,Pakistan's first military ruler.After serving in the tribal areas,he rued the futility of military operations in the tribal areas.
No real surprise,I've never been a fan of Churchill's racist and colonialist views,but thought there may be some interesting stories here. The book,however,left a rather bad taste in the mouth.
This area is now in Pakistan,and I had visited "Churchill's Picket" on a hilltop in Malakand,years ago.He had remained holed up there for several days.It was a long,exhausting climb and fairly memorable.So,I was interested in this book.
But,I didn't like it. The account of the military campaign,is pretty lively,and at times even thrilling. But what spoiled the whole thing for me,was the contemptuous and offensive manner,in which Churchill wrote this book.
While British soldiers are brave and civilized,the Pathans are "ignorant,degraded,savages". He even calls them "mad dogs,fired by fanaticism". The book has many such statements of racial stereotyping,and contemptuous references to the "natives".
In his conclusion,he states that "military rule is desirable for the tribesmen,as after a while,they will recognize the futility of resistance". Well,that never happened !
Infact,I was reminded of totally opposite remarks by Field Marshal Ayub Khan,Pakistan's first military ruler.After serving in the tribal areas,he rued the futility of military operations in the tribal areas.
No real surprise,I've never been a fan of Churchill's racist and colonialist views,but thought there may be some interesting stories here. The book,however,left a rather bad taste in the mouth.
January 26, 2011
The story of a minor frontier war at the boundary of British India in the 1890s. Highly recommended, for two reasons.
First, it's by the young Winston Churchill, who is a fine stylist and a writer of substantial interest.
Second, because we're today again engaged in a colonial war, in exactly the same place, with very similar people, in a similar strategic context. Neither we or the British care much about the Swat valley per se -- both governments had a strong interest in the locals there not raiding and terrorizing civilians away from the Northwest Frontier.
Not only the strategy, but much of the tactical comment seems highly applicable. Churchill is really interested in when and why punitive raids make sense, and in how fanaticism both strengthens and weakens the natives, as compared to professionals. He's really interested in the tradeoffs between a ponderous logistical apparatus vs being under-equipped locals.
I read the free Gutenberg edition. There were minor formatting glitches, which bothered me very little. The lack of maps was a moderate minus, but tolerable.
First, it's by the young Winston Churchill, who is a fine stylist and a writer of substantial interest.
Second, because we're today again engaged in a colonial war, in exactly the same place, with very similar people, in a similar strategic context. Neither we or the British care much about the Swat valley per se -- both governments had a strong interest in the locals there not raiding and terrorizing civilians away from the Northwest Frontier.
Not only the strategy, but much of the tactical comment seems highly applicable. Churchill is really interested in when and why punitive raids make sense, and in how fanaticism both strengthens and weakens the natives, as compared to professionals. He's really interested in the tradeoffs between a ponderous logistical apparatus vs being under-equipped locals.
I read the free Gutenberg edition. There were minor formatting glitches, which bothered me very little. The lack of maps was a moderate minus, but tolerable.
September 14, 2014
I am resident of the area this book is about, in fact, my great grand father fought the British at Chakdara.
The book relates the events of the 'war' (or the battle) from the British perspective with the usual colonial perceptions and sensitivities of course. As for as the narration of the events go, this British version is, with some exceptions, in conformity with the local tradition. However, its the interpretations of the whole or individual affairs that differ since both parties viewed the war/battle in mutually exclusive light..
For the Pukhtuns (Pashtun/Pathans) of Valley Sway and Buner, it was simply a fight for keeping an alien invading force away from their homelands while the British considered it an outrageous uprising against their 'civilized/benign' presence (not rule because the British were there just to secure the route to Chitral Valley that was adjacent to the Central Asian Steppe).
I was amused by the fact that how both the parties at times would see an act in totally different light. For example, Churchill eulogized the bravery of the men at the Fort who 'held' their position while the locals fighter were, in reality, scandalized that an enemy with superior weapons, means of communications and training would choose to so 'cowardly' hide behind walls. They believed that British soldiers were brave but after witnessing this, that myth got shattered and the respect was lost.
In the end, the Tribal warriors lost their interest and left but not all as Churchill records a sole fighter occupying a vintage point above the Fort and harassing the men inside for days.
It is important to note that, in the end, the Tribesmen can be thought of to have succeeded in achieving the desired results as the British never went to occupy Swat or Buner Valleys and thus the Pukhtuns of the area were able to escape yet another colonial occupation (previously they had defeated the mighty Imperial army of Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great.
The real importance of the book lies in the fact that it covers a time period in the history of the area which is otherwise scarcely documented. A modern reader would, nevertheless, find the biased and opinionated description a bit of an overdose.
The book relates the events of the 'war' (or the battle) from the British perspective with the usual colonial perceptions and sensitivities of course. As for as the narration of the events go, this British version is, with some exceptions, in conformity with the local tradition. However, its the interpretations of the whole or individual affairs that differ since both parties viewed the war/battle in mutually exclusive light..
For the Pukhtuns (Pashtun/Pathans) of Valley Sway and Buner, it was simply a fight for keeping an alien invading force away from their homelands while the British considered it an outrageous uprising against their 'civilized/benign' presence (not rule because the British were there just to secure the route to Chitral Valley that was adjacent to the Central Asian Steppe).
I was amused by the fact that how both the parties at times would see an act in totally different light. For example, Churchill eulogized the bravery of the men at the Fort who 'held' their position while the locals fighter were, in reality, scandalized that an enemy with superior weapons, means of communications and training would choose to so 'cowardly' hide behind walls. They believed that British soldiers were brave but after witnessing this, that myth got shattered and the respect was lost.
In the end, the Tribal warriors lost their interest and left but not all as Churchill records a sole fighter occupying a vintage point above the Fort and harassing the men inside for days.
It is important to note that, in the end, the Tribesmen can be thought of to have succeeded in achieving the desired results as the British never went to occupy Swat or Buner Valleys and thus the Pukhtuns of the area were able to escape yet another colonial occupation (previously they had defeated the mighty Imperial army of Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great.
The real importance of the book lies in the fact that it covers a time period in the history of the area which is otherwise scarcely documented. A modern reader would, nevertheless, find the biased and opinionated description a bit of an overdose.
June 27, 2018
"The Story of the Malakand" , the first of the 43 books published by Sir Winston Churchill, is a compilation of newspaper articles that he wrote while serving as a lieutenant the 4th Hussars of the Indian Army during the 1897 Frontier War in North West Pakistan. Churchill's style is at times sublime and he demonstrates a remarkable ability to concisely present complex issues. All in all, this book provides eloquent proof that Churchill was indeed a very worthy winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature.
History readers are those who will enjoy this book the most. Churchill is absolutely masterful at describing the challenges and issues involved in waging a war with a multi-ethnic army composed of Sikhs, Bengalis, Gurkhas and English in the mountainous terrain of what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan. Churchill very concisely explains and provides a nuanced defence of the "Forward Policy" toward Afghanistan pursued by Britain in the last 30 years of the 19th century.
Some readers may be disconcerted by Churchill's determination to pay homage at all times to his fallen comrades. In part this practice was a function of the fact that he was writing for a newspaper. At the same time, it is an illustration of the intensely loyalty that Churchill always felt towards those that he served with.
"The Story of the Malakand" is an absolutely wonderful book for anyone who has taken an interest in the history of British India. Needless to say readers simply interested in the career of Winston Churchill will also be fascinated by this remarkable book.
History readers are those who will enjoy this book the most. Churchill is absolutely masterful at describing the challenges and issues involved in waging a war with a multi-ethnic army composed of Sikhs, Bengalis, Gurkhas and English in the mountainous terrain of what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan. Churchill very concisely explains and provides a nuanced defence of the "Forward Policy" toward Afghanistan pursued by Britain in the last 30 years of the 19th century.
Some readers may be disconcerted by Churchill's determination to pay homage at all times to his fallen comrades. In part this practice was a function of the fact that he was writing for a newspaper. At the same time, it is an illustration of the intensely loyalty that Churchill always felt towards those that he served with.
"The Story of the Malakand" is an absolutely wonderful book for anyone who has taken an interest in the history of British India. Needless to say readers simply interested in the career of Winston Churchill will also be fascinated by this remarkable book.
April 1, 2014
Being residence of the area, I found it pretty much wonderful.
Always passing through the fortess and Bridge of Chakdara, and specially seeing the Churchill Pact on the top of the rock I never feel like that before, after reading the book.
When you are passing the Malakand pass,,You can see the narrow pedestrian path used by the then british army.
By writing this book Churchill live the valley the mountain and the people for ever in the history.
There is nothing change too much.Passing through Chakdara bridge I can see (feel) the whole scenery alive as Churcill described 100 years before.
The pact where Churchill used to write and send telegrams, is still exist on the rock.
Always passing through the fortess and Bridge of Chakdara, and specially seeing the Churchill Pact on the top of the rock I never feel like that before, after reading the book.
When you are passing the Malakand pass,,You can see the narrow pedestrian path used by the then british army.
By writing this book Churchill live the valley the mountain and the people for ever in the history.
There is nothing change too much.Passing through Chakdara bridge I can see (feel) the whole scenery alive as Churcill described 100 years before.
The pact where Churchill used to write and send telegrams, is still exist on the rock.
September 1, 2019
I cannot believe this was written by a man in just his 22nd year of life. His prose is magnificent, quite so, but it’s his articulation of man's psyche and the forces that cause civilizations to rise and fall that is truly stunning.
September 20, 2014
"It was a strange thing, to watch these conspicuous forms toiling up the hillside, dodging this way and that way, as the bullets cut into the earth around them; but with the experience of the previous ten minutes fresh in the memory, pity was not one of the emotions it aroused."
If I told you I was reading a book about a mountain war in the Swat Valley region of Afghanistan against religious extremists whom no matter how much talent and treasure you throw at them ever seems able to conquer or defeat them and that most of the arms given to any Afghan allies just winds up being used against you at the end of the day, you would be forgiven for thinking I was talking about a contemporary book and not one written over 100 years ago with Winston Churchill as the narrator. And this is what is so striking about the book: that the same war is still going on today.
This book is one of the ultimate examples of there being nothing new under the sun. Literally every single point Winston Churchill makes about his observations about his time in the forward push into the Afghan region at the end of the 19th century can be applied to today's war in the region. From religious extremism that fuels an endless wave of brave young men to literally throw themselves against the bullets and steel of a vastly more powerful enemy, to the splintered alliances and feuds of the local tribes which everyone takes advantage of to keep them from uniting less they become a truly formidable foe, to the moral dilemmas of burning villages to starve out combatants, or the light years wide gulf between Western values and Eastern Islamic values.
And when I wasn't shaking my head at the similarity to today's conflict, I was in awe of the absolute and astounding ignorance and racism that is so idly tossed about by Churchill. Here are an entire population of human beings written off mostly as savages. He makes no bones about this, he sees all these people as less than human. Yes there are exceptions when some of the tribesmen act honorably, but he mentions this not as a matter of course, but almost as if he's shocked to find an honest man from Afghanistan.
But I'm not going to write this book off as useless because in its ignorance we can learn quit a lot.
This is a work of nationalistic propaganda. Churchill doesn't even try to hide this fact and he does an excellent job of turning his experiences into the fuel that fires the imaginations and romanticism of young British men to go fight for glory and honor. Everywhere in the book are the brave, stoic, and cheerful British fighting against dangerous odds, but always victorious. Yes some men die, but there is still glory in it all and no young man will be forgotten. And through this propaganda we can begin to understand the propaganda used on the tribesmen themselves. Where Churchill calls men up to the flag out of a sense of duty, the Afghan uses religion as their fire to fight.
Yet he fails to see any real similarity between the two opposing ideologies even when he clearly draws the distinctions. He explains the courage of the young British soldier is rooted in sentiment and even vanity. Yet the tribesmen find courage in religion and their conviction of eternal reward will always be stronger than the abstract constructs of race or military division. The British must invent methods to induce courage; the tribesmen are born with it.
And after all these mountains are their home, they fight and die for their own land whereas the British are, in the grand scheme of things, just trying to maintain a buffer region between British India and Russia. The British couldn't care less about the Afghans or their history or their struggles. When he muses of the ancient history of the land he remembers Alexander the Great leveling whole great cities that are now completly forgotten. In fact he believes everything in this region, once dead, is forgotten to time. It never occurs to him that the people living her might actually have long memories.
Churchill also fails to understand why the tribesmen are so willing to stand up before all those terrible British guns time after time after time only to be mowed down instantly. He seems to think they are idiots, but what do the tribesmen think? They see a bunch of cowards with guns hiding in trenches and behind stone barriers instead of charging out gloriously onto the field of battle. Where Churchill wonders how the tribesmen could possibly be so 'savage' as to mutilate the body of an injured soldier, where he wonders why they only attack when the British retreat, why they only take advantage of weakness, aren't they wondering just the opposite?
He speaks of the virtue and vitality of military camp life, of no worries for the future, of the memories and friendships formed in the British army, of the good it does the body, and then adds how much everyone wants to go home regardless of these positives. But don't the tribesmen love the former as much as we the later?
It's this gulf of understanding that after over 100 years has still not been crossed or even properly surveyed. He believes dealing with the tribes on an individual basis, of utilizing silver over steel (as he puts it), of playing one tribe against the other will pacify them, make them desire comfort and western values. And this has been the policy ever since and it hasn't had any effect we were hoping for. We fundamentally misunderstand these people because we believe in order and comfort whereas they do not. They live in the most rugged spot on earth, why would they suddenly want comfort and stability? And using them as a buffer against Russia has only exacerbated the issues for us by arming these tribes who then after saying "thank you" use those weapons to fight us. They know they are being taken advantage of and they resent us for it - as they should.
And while we may scoff at the Islamic idea of religious superiority, here in this book, without any political correctness to temper what we still know to be true, is the racist attitude we still hold over these people, what he refers to as "... the prestige of the dominant race ". We may not say so in that language today, but that ancient racism, that terrible misunderstanding and division between cultures is what fuels this fight and will continue to do so for another 100 years.
For as glorious as the battle seems in this book, for all the bravery he writes here and all the moral high-ground he believes he rides his polo ponies on, this is a very sad book. It's a sad book because it exposes how little we all understand each other, how much hatred and ignorance fuels our imagination just as much as romantic visions of glorious heroism can. There are no winners here.
If I told you I was reading a book about a mountain war in the Swat Valley region of Afghanistan against religious extremists whom no matter how much talent and treasure you throw at them ever seems able to conquer or defeat them and that most of the arms given to any Afghan allies just winds up being used against you at the end of the day, you would be forgiven for thinking I was talking about a contemporary book and not one written over 100 years ago with Winston Churchill as the narrator. And this is what is so striking about the book: that the same war is still going on today.
This book is one of the ultimate examples of there being nothing new under the sun. Literally every single point Winston Churchill makes about his observations about his time in the forward push into the Afghan region at the end of the 19th century can be applied to today's war in the region. From religious extremism that fuels an endless wave of brave young men to literally throw themselves against the bullets and steel of a vastly more powerful enemy, to the splintered alliances and feuds of the local tribes which everyone takes advantage of to keep them from uniting less they become a truly formidable foe, to the moral dilemmas of burning villages to starve out combatants, or the light years wide gulf between Western values and Eastern Islamic values.
And when I wasn't shaking my head at the similarity to today's conflict, I was in awe of the absolute and astounding ignorance and racism that is so idly tossed about by Churchill. Here are an entire population of human beings written off mostly as savages. He makes no bones about this, he sees all these people as less than human. Yes there are exceptions when some of the tribesmen act honorably, but he mentions this not as a matter of course, but almost as if he's shocked to find an honest man from Afghanistan.
But I'm not going to write this book off as useless because in its ignorance we can learn quit a lot.
This is a work of nationalistic propaganda. Churchill doesn't even try to hide this fact and he does an excellent job of turning his experiences into the fuel that fires the imaginations and romanticism of young British men to go fight for glory and honor. Everywhere in the book are the brave, stoic, and cheerful British fighting against dangerous odds, but always victorious. Yes some men die, but there is still glory in it all and no young man will be forgotten. And through this propaganda we can begin to understand the propaganda used on the tribesmen themselves. Where Churchill calls men up to the flag out of a sense of duty, the Afghan uses religion as their fire to fight.
Yet he fails to see any real similarity between the two opposing ideologies even when he clearly draws the distinctions. He explains the courage of the young British soldier is rooted in sentiment and even vanity. Yet the tribesmen find courage in religion and their conviction of eternal reward will always be stronger than the abstract constructs of race or military division. The British must invent methods to induce courage; the tribesmen are born with it.
And after all these mountains are their home, they fight and die for their own land whereas the British are, in the grand scheme of things, just trying to maintain a buffer region between British India and Russia. The British couldn't care less about the Afghans or their history or their struggles. When he muses of the ancient history of the land he remembers Alexander the Great leveling whole great cities that are now completly forgotten. In fact he believes everything in this region, once dead, is forgotten to time. It never occurs to him that the people living her might actually have long memories.
Churchill also fails to understand why the tribesmen are so willing to stand up before all those terrible British guns time after time after time only to be mowed down instantly. He seems to think they are idiots, but what do the tribesmen think? They see a bunch of cowards with guns hiding in trenches and behind stone barriers instead of charging out gloriously onto the field of battle. Where Churchill wonders how the tribesmen could possibly be so 'savage' as to mutilate the body of an injured soldier, where he wonders why they only attack when the British retreat, why they only take advantage of weakness, aren't they wondering just the opposite?
He speaks of the virtue and vitality of military camp life, of no worries for the future, of the memories and friendships formed in the British army, of the good it does the body, and then adds how much everyone wants to go home regardless of these positives. But don't the tribesmen love the former as much as we the later?
It's this gulf of understanding that after over 100 years has still not been crossed or even properly surveyed. He believes dealing with the tribes on an individual basis, of utilizing silver over steel (as he puts it), of playing one tribe against the other will pacify them, make them desire comfort and western values. And this has been the policy ever since and it hasn't had any effect we were hoping for. We fundamentally misunderstand these people because we believe in order and comfort whereas they do not. They live in the most rugged spot on earth, why would they suddenly want comfort and stability? And using them as a buffer against Russia has only exacerbated the issues for us by arming these tribes who then after saying "thank you" use those weapons to fight us. They know they are being taken advantage of and they resent us for it - as they should.
And while we may scoff at the Islamic idea of religious superiority, here in this book, without any political correctness to temper what we still know to be true, is the racist attitude we still hold over these people, what he refers to as "... the prestige of the dominant race ". We may not say so in that language today, but that ancient racism, that terrible misunderstanding and division between cultures is what fuels this fight and will continue to do so for another 100 years.
For as glorious as the battle seems in this book, for all the bravery he writes here and all the moral high-ground he believes he rides his polo ponies on, this is a very sad book. It's a sad book because it exposes how little we all understand each other, how much hatred and ignorance fuels our imagination just as much as romantic visions of glorious heroism can. There are no winners here.
August 20, 2021
update based on the current turmoil in Afghanistan.....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...
February 25, 2021
A grand adventure of a bygone age
Churchill's prose is, as always, engaging and deeply entertaining as he recounts an episode in the North West Frontier's bloody history. This is a tale of empire and heroism on a forgotten frontier, and woven between the sweeping strokes of the broader history and narrative, are striking vignettes of the brave actions of the Imperial troops and their Parham adversaries. This book is a window into the late Victorian world and well worth a read.
Churchill's prose is, as always, engaging and deeply entertaining as he recounts an episode in the North West Frontier's bloody history. This is a tale of empire and heroism on a forgotten frontier, and woven between the sweeping strokes of the broader history and narrative, are striking vignettes of the brave actions of the Imperial troops and their Parham adversaries. This book is a window into the late Victorian world and well worth a read.
February 10, 2014
An enjoyable read, but not as well written or interesting as The River War.
June 15, 2018
"It is sufficient to be tired and to have time to rest, and the camp, if all the various items that compose it can be said to have a personality, shrugs its shoulders and, regarding the past without regret, contemplates the future without alarm." - Winston Churchill, The Story of the Malakand Field Force, pg 123.
Why read a book about a British military campaign waged in the vicinity of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1897? Because it was written by Winston Churchill. Though the story comprises the heroic and the tragic elements of human conflict, it is Churchill's prose that fascinates me. Much of the book is devoted to relaying specific facts and figures but scattered among a reporter's delivery of detail are a young Churchill's observations on people, nations, heroism, and war.
I found myself highlighting and marking various paragraphs throughout the book and have returned to them repeatedly since picking the book up. I admit to an affection for Churchill and a keen interest in the winding journey of his life. However, his command of the English language, ability to tell a story in a compelling way, and his clear and direct style make his work worthy of review regardless of topic.
"But here were those who had drawn the evil numbers-who had lost their all, to gain only a solider's grave. Looking at these shapeless forms, coffined in a regulation blanket, the pride of race, the pomp of empire, the glory of war appeared but the faint and unsubstantial fabric of a dream; and I could not help realising with Burke: "What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue." - Winston Churchill, The Story of the Malakand Field Force, pg 158.
I give this book 3 stars because it's topic will not appeal to most. However, I give Churchill's prose 5 stars because he was truly gifted with a profound ability to reach people through his powers of communication.
Why read a book about a British military campaign waged in the vicinity of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan in 1897? Because it was written by Winston Churchill. Though the story comprises the heroic and the tragic elements of human conflict, it is Churchill's prose that fascinates me. Much of the book is devoted to relaying specific facts and figures but scattered among a reporter's delivery of detail are a young Churchill's observations on people, nations, heroism, and war.
I found myself highlighting and marking various paragraphs throughout the book and have returned to them repeatedly since picking the book up. I admit to an affection for Churchill and a keen interest in the winding journey of his life. However, his command of the English language, ability to tell a story in a compelling way, and his clear and direct style make his work worthy of review regardless of topic.
"But here were those who had drawn the evil numbers-who had lost their all, to gain only a solider's grave. Looking at these shapeless forms, coffined in a regulation blanket, the pride of race, the pomp of empire, the glory of war appeared but the faint and unsubstantial fabric of a dream; and I could not help realising with Burke: "What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue." - Winston Churchill, The Story of the Malakand Field Force, pg 158.
I give this book 3 stars because it's topic will not appeal to most. However, I give Churchill's prose 5 stars because he was truly gifted with a profound ability to reach people through his powers of communication.
January 31, 2022
Military history, particularly history written before the 20th Century, can feel antiquated, utterly removed from modern life, and laden with jargon of armies no longer in being and states long since deceased. Not so with Winston Churchill's "The Story of the Malakand Field Force," a fantastic tromp across the Indian frontier regions as a British expeditionary force and Indian companies are pressed into service against the insurrectionist populations of the Indian-Afghan hinterland (an area of the world that never seems to quite down).
What makes Churchill's book readable and relatable to a modern reader is its passionate telling of the lives of soldiers: enduring long, hot marches; sitting at night amidst a swarm of sniper bullets; interspersing boredom with moments of bravery and courage. These values have remained at the heart of all successful military operations and individual careers, and still serve as a valuable lodestar for our wars, battles and skirmishes of the 21st Century.
What makes Churchill's book readable and relatable to a modern reader is its passionate telling of the lives of soldiers: enduring long, hot marches; sitting at night amidst a swarm of sniper bullets; interspersing boredom with moments of bravery and courage. These values have remained at the heart of all successful military operations and individual careers, and still serve as a valuable lodestar for our wars, battles and skirmishes of the 21st Century.
October 17, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this somewhat forgotten gem. While it may not rank high in Churchill's oeuvre, the great man's skill with words and his sharpness for detail and the overall picture are plainly evident even in this early work. There were a few famous Churchill quotes that I was happy to discover in the course of reading this book, and I found his assessment of the strategic difficulties the British found themselves in with respect to the "Northwest Frontier" to be depressingly familiar to the US's experience in Afghanistan. The only respect in which this book suffers is its author's objectivity; as a participant in the action, and as an avowed British patriot and imperialist, his assessments of some of the native peoples (Indian as well as mountain tribes) have to be taken with a grain of salt.
March 9, 2020
The Portrait of a Hero as a Young Man
This is Sir Winston’s first work, and it shows in the degree to which the book occasional wanders into the pompous pondering of which only the very young are capable. Nevertheless, this brief history of a campaign on the Northwest Frontier at the close of the 19th Century provides a little glimpse of the glories that once were and the realities of the Imperial attitudes and practices of those days.
This is Sir Winston’s first work, and it shows in the degree to which the book occasional wanders into the pompous pondering of which only the very young are capable. Nevertheless, this brief history of a campaign on the Northwest Frontier at the close of the 19th Century provides a little glimpse of the glories that once were and the realities of the Imperial attitudes and practices of those days.
October 18, 2021
Stopped reading because of the unsavory stereotypes cast on a huge portion of the world’s population. I know it was written by a great man from another time, but I just couldn’t get past it. Guess I can’t be completely objective about history.
March 25, 2022
Loved reading someone so significant in his later life write in so much detail about my homeland. But I could not help siding with the "barbaric" tribesmen which Churchill so easily dismissed as savages.
June 12, 2022
Malakand Filed Force - commanded by Maj Gen Bindon Blood, covers operation of Bajaur from July to Sept 1897. There is alot of similarity between then and now, one thing is evident that "The only thing we learn from History is, that we learn nothing from History".
March 4, 2019
Good, concise chronicle of another British war most people never heard of.
December 11, 2019
Who knew Churchill could write?
October 8, 2021
A very interesting ready . . . but he does get kind of racist at the end
August 1, 2023
A well-written and excellent historical book.
May 13, 2025
First book
November 15, 2011
Having read a bit of Churchill before I wasn't surprised by the brilliant readability of this in-depth play-by-play of a series of minor skirmishes on the frontiers of the British empire at the turn of the last century. You could tell it was his first book, as the style of his later writings is not nearly as developed, but it is still distinctly Churchill.
He walks you through the major battles and exchanges of the Malakand Field Force on the northwestern frontier of British India, now Pakistan and Afghanistan. I was looking for historical insight on the current conflict in the region and was mildly disappointed on that front, but there were some sections that were extremely enlightening. In particular one chapter where Churchill debates the effectiveness of the British policy of 'punishing' rebellious tribes by burning villages until they capitulated. You could argue he takes the detached view of a Westminster politician thousands of miles away, but you can't - he was there, in the action, seeing it all first hand. You can see that his views are distinctly coloured by his upper class background, but there is a logic to his arguments that he lays out clearly and concisely.
There is no doubt that Churchill sometimes overlooked the less glorious aspects of war in favour of the ideals of attaining historical significance through gallant and heroic action. He is incredibly determined to recount every act of bravery, every act of selflessness and every act of military brilliance so that those who participated could reap the rewards that he trumpeted. At the end of each chapter is a box score for the battle listing those killed and wounded, from the officers through the ranks and including the mules and camels. Everybody is still split into their ranks and listed in a distinct order - British officers first, then casualties from British regiments, then native officers and native men, then those poor, afflicted mules.
If you like Churchill and are interested in the history of the region, this should be for you. It's a quick read - don't judge me on the fact that I read it piecemeal over several (ok, many) months. It's not his best, but it's his first and the ability to see the evolution of his technique and skill is quite cool to observe.
He walks you through the major battles and exchanges of the Malakand Field Force on the northwestern frontier of British India, now Pakistan and Afghanistan. I was looking for historical insight on the current conflict in the region and was mildly disappointed on that front, but there were some sections that were extremely enlightening. In particular one chapter where Churchill debates the effectiveness of the British policy of 'punishing' rebellious tribes by burning villages until they capitulated. You could argue he takes the detached view of a Westminster politician thousands of miles away, but you can't - he was there, in the action, seeing it all first hand. You can see that his views are distinctly coloured by his upper class background, but there is a logic to his arguments that he lays out clearly and concisely.
There is no doubt that Churchill sometimes overlooked the less glorious aspects of war in favour of the ideals of attaining historical significance through gallant and heroic action. He is incredibly determined to recount every act of bravery, every act of selflessness and every act of military brilliance so that those who participated could reap the rewards that he trumpeted. At the end of each chapter is a box score for the battle listing those killed and wounded, from the officers through the ranks and including the mules and camels. Everybody is still split into their ranks and listed in a distinct order - British officers first, then casualties from British regiments, then native officers and native men, then those poor, afflicted mules.
If you like Churchill and are interested in the history of the region, this should be for you. It's a quick read - don't judge me on the fact that I read it piecemeal over several (ok, many) months. It's not his best, but it's his first and the ability to see the evolution of his technique and skill is quite cool to observe.
February 16, 2016
This is a wonderful book of history because it was written by Churchill only months after the frontier skirmishes he describes. Churchill himself was present for some of the actions, in the capacity of some sort of junior staff officer, and he acknowledges that he gives those actions more weight than they might otherwise deserve.
It is no surprise that Churchill, young as he was when this was written, had a way with words. Neither will anybody be surprised to discover that he was already a died-in-the-wool colonialist. The extent of his colonialist prejudices may, however, be quite shocking to the modern reader. Besides his preference for the Anglo Saxon race, he pulls no punches in cataloging the intellectual, moral and physical uglinesses of the "barbarian" tribesmen and even of the Indian soldiers who fought alongside the Brits. Moreover, he's incredibly bloodthirsty; he staunchly defends the policy of punitive tactics, especially the burning of native villages. So one reason to read this is that it brings the ugliness of the Raj into focus. Another reason why this is a good read is that it describes a situation eerily familiar in the 21st Century, a series of battles in which a better trained and equipped Western power wins the skirmishes but can't prevail in the long run over a ragtag bunch of tribal warlords. Churchill's conclusion is that the war ought to be left to the soldiers and government should butt out. This lament will be familiar to Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Interesting as it is, this book fails to attain five star status because it's maps are terrible, and maps are a necessity in understanding the sorts of skirmishes described here.
It is no surprise that Churchill, young as he was when this was written, had a way with words. Neither will anybody be surprised to discover that he was already a died-in-the-wool colonialist. The extent of his colonialist prejudices may, however, be quite shocking to the modern reader. Besides his preference for the Anglo Saxon race, he pulls no punches in cataloging the intellectual, moral and physical uglinesses of the "barbarian" tribesmen and even of the Indian soldiers who fought alongside the Brits. Moreover, he's incredibly bloodthirsty; he staunchly defends the policy of punitive tactics, especially the burning of native villages. So one reason to read this is that it brings the ugliness of the Raj into focus. Another reason why this is a good read is that it describes a situation eerily familiar in the 21st Century, a series of battles in which a better trained and equipped Western power wins the skirmishes but can't prevail in the long run over a ragtag bunch of tribal warlords. Churchill's conclusion is that the war ought to be left to the soldiers and government should butt out. This lament will be familiar to Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Interesting as it is, this book fails to attain five star status because it's maps are terrible, and maps are a necessity in understanding the sorts of skirmishes described here.
December 23, 2016
This is an interesting book on several levels. First, it is one of Winston Churchill's first books to be published. in 1897. Churchill had been an active "War Correspondent" for the London, "Daily Telegraph" in the Boer War ( where he was taken prisoner by the Boers, escaping and in doing so making himself a rising figure in the public's mind) followed by this assignment covering what is referred to as the Malakand Field Force during its campaign in what is now Pakistan. Churchill demonstrates well his gifts as a writer, his use of language and his ability to catch a superb phrase that sums up a complicated situation. We see in this book the beginnings of the power of Churchill's gifts as a writer. The story is interesting because the cultures and challenges of the Indian Frontier ( at the time ) are still with us today. The power of tribes and local loyalties are very much at work today in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. As the old saying goes, the world advances and changes take place, but much of history continues to follow its origins. If you want an interesting look inside a fascinating time in the British Empire's Indian adventures, an insight into Churchill's thinking and development as a Leader, this book is worth reading.
October 19, 2012
The Story of the Malakand Field Force was Winston Churchill's first published book, and it came out long before he was rich and famous enough to hire a large staff of ghostwriters and researchers. It was one of the books that made his reputation as a writer, and that reputation is pretty well deserved: it reads very well, and hit a lot of the things I look for in books non-mathematical.
There are wry and surprisingly perceptive commentaries on the state of life along the frontier, adventure stories a-plenty, no shortage of self-aware pride in the Empire, unflinching descriptions of some of the nastier and more brutal facts of life. It's a fun read, and some of the observations, and speculations, about the nature of the tribes and the future of India are very ironic in retrospect.
There are wry and surprisingly perceptive commentaries on the state of life along the frontier, adventure stories a-plenty, no shortage of self-aware pride in the Empire, unflinching descriptions of some of the nastier and more brutal facts of life. It's a fun read, and some of the observations, and speculations, about the nature of the tribes and the future of India are very ironic in retrospect.
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September 5, 2009Excellent book, and though it chronicles events and policies in 1897, it is very timely since Churchill was writing about the Northwest Frontier, as the British then called the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is worthwhile background reading for those who want to understand the conflict there today.
May 1, 2012
Trade murk Churchillian this one. The lines, the words just grip you. It takes u along the route Churchill found himself with Malakand Field Force. One gets the feel of the area and its customs. The planning and heroics of brown tunics of British Indian Army in that area which has always been rebellious.
April 27, 2013
I enjoyed the book. I read in kindle format. I had to open maps in my pc to get a better understanding of the geography. One interesting aspect of British EMpire writing of this era is the underlying racism. How these colonial races are considered inherently inferior. An attitude that was quite simply accepted at that time
June 4, 2015
Churchills first book and if it does not have the polish of his later work, it has all the marks of future greatness in it.
An account of an expedition against rebellious tribes on the northwest frontier - churchill injects himself into the narrative and delivers an enthral long chronicle that rips along. Recommended.
An account of an expedition against rebellious tribes on the northwest frontier - churchill injects himself into the narrative and delivers an enthral long chronicle that rips along. Recommended.
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