NAM.1966-10-15-1

The Sacking of the Great Bazar of Caubul, 1842. Ink wash over pencil sketch by George Alfred Croly (1822-1845), 1843. A fighting crowd of Afghans and troops (some on horseback) seen framed beneath the arch of a building, with fighting continuing into the distance. Signed and dated, ‘G A C.../ April 1843’ Attached printed caption reads: ‘18.-Plunder of the Kabul bazar, 8th October, 1842, by the camp-followers on the day previous to its destruction’ 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)