2nd Border Regiment, Quetta 1897 (forum archive)

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Posted by plbramham » 25 Feb 2012, 17:31

plbramham General Global moderator Posts: 1369

Where is Quetta, posting for 2nd Battalion in 1897? From Encyclopedia Brittanica 1911: “QUETTA, the capital of British Baluchistan, India, rose to prominence in 1876, when Sir Robert Sandeman founded a residency there. Quetta is the southernmost point in the line of frontier posts and system of strategic railways on the north-west frontier of India, 536 m. by rail N. of Karachi. It forms the headquarters of the fourth division of the southern army. The railway was built in 1879, with a view to its continuance to Kandahar; but its present terminus is New Chaman on the Afghan border. A branch line to Nushki was completed in 1905. The cantonment and civil station stand 5500 ft. above sea-level., Quetta was visited by the Prince of Wales (George V.) in 1906, and a staff college for the Indian army was opened here in 1907. It has become the trade mart for western Afghanistan, eastern Persia, and much of central Asia. The population of the town and cantonment in 1901 was 24,584.” In 1877 the cantonment of Quetta, which became the head-quarters of the Administration, was occupied by British troops, and in 1879 the administration of the district was taken over on behalf of the Khan of Kalat. In 1890 & 1891 a series of politico-military expeditions were carried out resulting in the occupation of the Zhob valley, the foundation of the central cantonment of Fort Sandeman, and the extension of a line of outposts with Quetta being the sourthernmost point in the line of frontier posts and system of strategic railways on the north-west frontier of India. The effect of these expeditions, and of this extension of military occupation, was to reduce the independent Pathan tribes of the Suliman mountains to effective order, and to put a stop to border raiding on the Indus plains. Regular British troops were cantoned at Quetta, Chaman, Fort Sandeman, anil Loralai, and detachments were stationed at different places, principally in the Zhob and Loralai Districts.