A lecture and lunch on the Hunza–Nagar Campaign
A real-life “Ripping Yarn” – Hunza-Nagar, 1891
At the furthest North-West extremity of British India, “Where Three Empires Meet” (British, Chinese, and Russian), lay the Kingdoms of Hunza and Nagar. Due to their remoteness, they thought themselves untouchable and carried out raids and depredations on travellers, caravans, and on the inhabitants of neighbouring Kashmir (an independent state under British protection).
By early 1891 the situation had become intolerable, and later that year a punitive expedition was mounted. 200 men from 5th Goorkha Regiment (Punjab Frontier Force) and a section of No.4 Hazara Mountain Battery (PFF) marched over 300 miles to join up with 1,500 Kashmiri troops of the Imperial States Forces. They crossed snow-covered passes at 13,000 ft and bridged mountain rivers to do so – all in a winter that had come early for that region.
In just three weeks the expedition had captured two “impregnable” mountain fortresses and brought the campaign to a successful conclusion – facing far larger numbers who were armed with comparable weapons. Three Victoria Crosses, one Distinguished Service Order and no less than 22 Indian Order of Merits were awarded to the officers and men of this small force.
This is the story of those remarkable men – a real-life “Ripping Yarn”.
This lecture will be given by historian Chris Jupp. Attached to the Brigade of Gurkhas in 1980, he served over 25 years in Kent ACF, as a British Exchange Officer with the Canadian Army, and also in support of expeditions for people of varying disabilities with a Special Forces friend in the extreme western rivers and jungles of Nepal. He was for many years both Hon. Archivist and Regimental Historian to The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment (Museum and Association) and Chairman of Kent Branch of the Orders & Medals Research Society. He is now involved with researching and collating the records of 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force).
Join Chris Jupp for this remarkable story followed by a two course curry lunch buffet at The Gurkha Museum in Winchester.
