The North-West Frontier: British India and Afghanistan - A Pictorial History, 1839-1947

by Michael Barthop

Examines the expeditions and individuals involved in the search for an arctic path to the Orient

184 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1982, this book, billed as a pictorial history of the Northwest Frontier - the Region of The British Raj and Afghanistan between 1839 -and 1947, answers the question how recently were Colonial And EuroCentric attitudes current in culture. This book covers the period well- but only from a British Imperial perspective. Author Michael Barthorp, a writer on Colonial Military topics, is good at giving us the view of British Officers who wrote about the period, but seems to leave the Pathan/tribal side out of the book entirely. He does delineate the various tribes and races who people the area- to show they are not monolithic- but then falls into some British view stereotypes when doing so. That said, it is a compelling narrative as we see the British grapple with applying "Peace" -as they saw it. Of course, as Tacitus said "Where the Romans make a desert- and call it peace"- and the British sometimes took a similar course. This book is filled with maps and diagrams as well as b/w photos and drawing of Soldiers, skirmishes, and geography.

Apart from the Major Afghanistan Wars, most of the book is taken up with various Punitive Expeditions against various villages or groups of villages for various reasons. The Malakand Field Force is probably the best known of these - Winston Churchill both serving with it and then documenting it with a book in 1898. After some "affront"(usually involving bloodshed, but not always), a force of British Indian(Raj) troops, sometimes with a smattering of British Infantry would march to and reduce with extreme prejudice the "Miscreant" village, villages, or villagers. When the period started there was fighting and burning, in the middle of the period fighting and shelling- and by the end there would be fighting and aerial bombardment as an option as well. The tribal fighters were agile mountain warriors since the days of Alexander the Great, but had trouble keeping up with the advances of western technology as applied to the Raj. Still, one can see why the region is still a hotbed of violence- and why it remains largely untamed to this day.

There are few adult themes (intentionally- the topic could have been much darker) and little gore, so this is a good book for a Junior reader over about 12- with a teachable element about diversity of sources. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast - the books intended audience and a group who understand the inequities of the era - this is a good resource. There are lots of good Scenario/Diorama development ideas and order of battle, as well as rare photos of how the uniforms were actually worn. With this history so core to the Colonial Wargaming canon (many gamers do not play any other region/era) this is that sort of single book one can give to a Warhammer/Traveler/D&D player who is flirting with Historical gaming to explain/hype a whole spectrum of Colonial Warfare, from Flintlocks to Armoured Cars and Aircraft for spotting , bombing and strafing. This book is compelling for its audience- but may be found a bit wanting by the more general public.

[Commander Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gallop through British India's relationship with the NW frontier. Nothing much from the other side.