William Brydon
| William Brydon | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Born |
10 October 1811 London |
| Died | 20 March 1873 (aged 61) Scotland |
| Buried at | Rosemarkie churchyard |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Rank | Assistant Surgeon |
| Unit | Bengal Army |
| Battles/wars |
First Anglo-Afghan War, Second Anglo-Burmese War, Indian Rebellion of 1857 |
| Awards | CB |
| Relations | Major General Donald Macintyre VC (brother-in-law) |
William Brydon CB (10 October 1811 – 20 March 1873) was an assistant surgeon in the British East India Company Army during the First Anglo-Afghan War, famous for reportedly being the only member of an army of 4,500 men, plus 12,000 accompanying civilians, to reach safety in Jalalabad at the end of the long retreat from Kabul.
Brydon was born in London of Scottish descent. He studied medicine at University College London and at the University of Edinburgh.
The British Army began its retreat from Kabul in January 1842, following the killing of the two British representatives there. The nearest British garrison was in Jalalabad, 90 miles (140 km) away, and the army would need to go through mountain passes with the January snow hindering them.
Under the command of Major-General William George Keith Elphinstone, 4,500 British and Indian soldiers plus 12,000 civilian camp followers including wives and children set out for Jalalabad on 6 January 1842, on the understanding that they had been offered safe passage. Afghan tribesmen intercepted them and proceeded to massacre them during the next seven days.
The final stand took place at Gandamak on the morning of 13 January 1842 in the snow. Twenty officers and forty-five British soldiers, mostly of the 44th Foot, found themselves surrounded on a hillock. The Afghans attempted to persuade the soldiers that they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began, followed by a series of rushes. Captain Souter wrapped the regimental colours around his body and was dragged into captivity with a sergeant named Fair and seven privates. The remainder were shot or cut down.
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Wikipedia