NAM.1966-10-12-1

The great bazaar on fire, Kabul, 1842. Ink wash over pencil sketch signed and dated, ‘G A Croly 26 L inf...18...’ by George Alfred Croly (1822-1845), 1842 (c). Troops resting by a well, with further troops and the city, billowing with smoke, in the background. Croly was killed in action at the Battle of Ferozshahr. Associated with 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). Major-General George Pollock’s Army of Retribution arrived in Kabul in September 1842. After releasing the British hostages, the soldiers destroyed part of the citadel and the covered bazaar. The force then prepared to depart for India. Despite Pollock’s efforts to confine the bazaar’s destruction ‘the cry arose that Cabul was given up to plunder. Both camps rushed into the city…’. Two mosques were also blown up, and the fire spread through parts of Kabul. ‘The fire burned during the whole time we remained encamped in the vicinity, and we still saw it when entering the Khoord Cabul pass on our return’.

1st Afghan War (1838-1842)