Introduction.
Fort Saragarhi was basically a blockhouse with a signalling tower situated between the far more substantial Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan. It was a relay station passing and receiving heliograph messages, as it was mountainous and the two forts could not see each other. The forts were built to dominate the area as the local tribes were still attacking the British and their Indian allies now and again.
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| The Siege, London Graphic on 23 October 1897 |
The Northwest Frontier was, and still is, a very volatile area. In the August and September of 1897 the local Pashtun tribes conducted an uprising against British and Indian troops attacking various locations. This became known as the Tirah Campaign, the campaign would go on until April 1898.
Tirah is a mountainous region in the Kyber district in what is now modern Pakistan close to the Afghan border.
That August saw the 36th Sikh Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Haughton deploy into the area, their arrival as reinforcements was fortuitous as tribesmen attacked Fort Gulistan on the 3rd and 9th of September, and were repulsed by the Sikhs. At this time it was thought prudent to reinforce Saragarhi aslo which saw it's garrison increase to three NCO's (None Commissioned Officers) and 18 men of other ranks.
On the 12th September approximately 24,000 tribesmen were seen heading between Forts Gulistan and Lockhart, in their path was Fort Saragarhi.
The Battle.
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| A Heliograph Section. |
Because this was a signals relay station orders were very clear and concise, this is thanks to Sepoy Gurmukh Singh up in the tower, who sent this message to Lieutenant Colonel John Haughton at Fort Lockhart using his heliograph.
Gurmukh Singh - Enemy approaching main gate.....need reinforcement.
Lt Col Haughton - Unable to breakthrough.....hold position.
Gurmukh Singh - Understood.
Haughton counted 14 tribal standards moving on Saragarhi, each represented 1,000 warriors.
The Sikhs were armed with .303 Martini-Henry rifles, volley after volley decimated the front ranks of tribesmen but they were up against impossible odds. Casualties started to build up, the Pashtun command sent out entreaties to surrender to no avail.
The front picket outside the wall became untenable, so the Sikhs retreated inside, several attempts to rush the gate were repulsed. The Sikhs were running low on ammunition and men, most were wounded by bullets and sabre slashes, but they made the tribesmen pay for every inch. The wall and gate were eventually breached in a two pronged attack, the enemy were unstoppable. The Sikhs withdrew to the inner portion of the fort, fixed bayonets and fought on.
Eventually after hours of intense combat the soldiers of the 36th Sikhs were overwhelmed, the last messages sent by Sepoy Gurmukh Singh were;
Gurmukh Singh - low on ammo.....need ammo.....urgently.
Again Haughton tried to break through, but it was impossible. With the fort now burning the last 5 men put up a brave fight.
Haughton - Enemy approaching.....the breach.
Sepoy Gurmukh Singh - Main gate breached.....down to one.....permission to dismount and join the fight.
Haughton - Permission granted.
Sepoy Gurmukh Singh carefully put away the heliograph, picked up his rifle, rushed down the burning tower crying "Jo boley so nihaal! Sat sri akaal! (One will be blessed eternally, who says that God is the ultimate truth).
He was the youngest of the garrison at 19 years old, it is said he killed between 20 and 40 tribesmen before he died, he was the last man.
Aftermath.
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| The Ruins of Saragarhi |
Those men were;
"News has just been received that....the enemy attacked the forts of Samana in great force, and captured Saragarhi, held by 21 men of the 36th Sikhs, killing all the Sikhs, who gallantly died at their posts, attempting to defend the fort against overwhelming numbers."
"The garrison held out for 6 1/2 hours. There is no hope for the garrison. The enemy are also attacking the other posts in large numbers."
"Further particulars have been received regarding the fall of Saragarhi. The garrison sustained three determined assaults by an overwhelming force of Afridis....One Sikh defended the guard room alone, killing twenty of the enemy and was finally burnt alive at his post. The signaller kept up communication to the last."
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| The Burnt Out Interior. |
Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) 19th September;
"With reference to your criticisms of the 15th instant the post at Saragarhi was fully garrisoned by the 21 men of the 36th Sikhs.
The fort seemed impregnable unless reduced by failure of ammunition, food, or water, and these had three days previously been fully supplied. The retention of the fort was absolutely necessary as a transmitting signalling station between Gulistan and Lockhart.
The fort only fell by the assault of overwhelming numbers, reckoned by the onlookers at Gulistan and Lockhart at several thousands. A hole was picked in the wall at the dead angle of the flanking tower, the corner fell, and an entrance was effected.
The number of the enemy killed as reported by friendlies was 180."
The 12th September is still commemorated as Saragarhi Day.
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| 36th Sikhs in the Ruins. |
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| Fort Gulistan |
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| The Saragarhi Monument. |
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| The Saragarhi Monument Inscription. |
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