Military Service and Adventures in the Far East

Two wars-two volumes, combined into one essential first hand account of the British cavalry in IndiaReaders interested in the military history of British India during the 19th century will discover an entertaining guide in the author of this book, Daniel Mackinnon, an officer of H. M. 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers. Mackinnon’s good humoured, informed and philosophical personality shines through his personable narrative, revealing him to be a far thinking, humane and modern man. This makes his assessment of his experiences in the First Afghan War-as the British sought to place the puppet Shah Shuja on the throne of that inhospitable country-highly informative for the contemporary student of the region. Tellingly, Mackinnon understood how potentially dangerous the policy he was in Afghanistan to enforce was, he empathised with the Afghan people and could foresee perils inherent in an occupation of the region which hold good to the present day. The author also takes the reader on campaign with a renowned cavalry regiment with all the detail of camp, march, skirmish and battlefield that could be required by the military history student or enthusiast. Originally published in two volumes (combined in this Leonaur edition for good value), Mackinnon’s narrative continues, to tell of his part in the First Sikh War, which all but broke the power the sub-continent’s ’super-power,’ Runjeet Singh, had forged into being and began the process by which the Punjab would finally be conquered and absorbed into the British Empire. Of course, we follow Mackinnon in company of Sir Harry Smith on campaign towards and throughout the famous battle at Aliwal, where the 16th (The Queen’s) Lancers won undying fame as they charged and broke the ’squares’ of Sikh regular infantry. An excellent and essential account that is highly recommended.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.