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12 September in military history: the Battle of Saragarhi, 1897

Military history · 12 September · Northwest Frontier, British India · Full calendar

By Echoes of Battle

Location: Saragarhi post, Tirah, North-West Frontier, now Pakistan.
Location: Saragarhi post, Tirah, North-West Frontier, now Pakistan. Location map: © Echoes of Battle (data: Natural Earth, public domain)
Quick answer

On 12 September 1897, 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikhs held the Saragarhi signaling post in Tirah, on the North-West Frontier of British India, against Pashtun tribesmen. All 21 died, and the post was retaken two days later.

A last stand

The post was commanded by Havildar Ishar Singh. Lieutenant Colonel John Haughton, at Fort Lockhart, could not send help in time. The attackers numbered thousands; the estimates range from 6,000 to 14,000.1

Recognition

All 21 defenders were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, then the highest gallantry award an Indian soldier could receive.

Our article on the Battle of Saragarhi covers the defense in full. › Battle of Saragarhi, 1897

Frequently asked questions

When and where was the Battle of Saragarhi?

It was fought on 12 September 1897 at the Saragarhi signaling post in Tirah, on the North-West Frontier of British India, now in Pakistan.

How many defenders were there?

21 Sikh soldiers, all of the 36th Sikhs, under Havildar Ishar Singh.

Did the defenders survive?

No. All 21 died in the defense of the post.

Notes

A number in the text points to a note; each note names the works that paragraph draws on, listed in full under Sources.

  1. Echoes of Battle, “Battle of Saragarhi”. ↩

Sources

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