Above is a pic of Lt. Colonel James Galbraith, Regimental Colour in hand, alongside Bobbie the regimental dog and some of the other "Last Eleven" survivors of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment, making their last stand in one of the walled gardens just South of Khig village, a few miles West of the Afghan town of Maiwand.

Friday, July 23, 2010

HOT WORK FOR THE 66th IN THE GARDENS OF KHIG





























































This last pic is of a figure meant to portray Lieutenant Beresford-Peirse. During the lead-up to the Last Stand of the 66th, the Regimental Commander, Colonel Galbraith, helped halt the retreat of some of his men and organized them to make a stand against their Afghan pursuers, within cover of one of the walled gardens behind the village of Khig. Some men continued to route away, slipping through an opening in the garden wall. Colonel Galbraith instructed Beresford-Peirse to block the exit. This the Lieutenant did, drawing his pistol and sitting on the wall beside the opening. Apparently the sight of his pistol did the trick, as there is no record of him having to shoot anyone other than Afghans. Beresford-Peirse survived the battle, living to fight another day, at Kandahar. Colonel Galbraith did not.

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