Chapter 20

David drew Khan to a sudden halt by the gates of the Fort. The entire garrison was drawn up on parade. Turin stood proudly in front of Tiger Company, whilst Sultar stood in front of Cobra Company. A Havildar stood in front of the rest of the men on parade.

Subedar Major Para cried out, bringing the men to attention and then to the present arms. He turned, giving David a fierce salute. David returned it, slightly shocked at the transformation of his command. Then Para turned, dismissing the Parade, and suddenly, his officers, keen to welcome him home, surrounded David. When he finally entered his quarters, Hanga had already poured out a whisky for him before going to attend to Khan.

At Officer’s Call the next morning, he listened as they reported the progress they had made. Turin reported the blockhouse was built, but had no stove installed.

Hagar reported that he now had three stoves similar to the one currently in use, as well as two smaller ones for use in the lookout posts. The tailor had delivered 50 overcoats.

Sultar said coal was difficult to burn on a wood fire, but worked fine in the stoves. He added that they had created a stockpile of it before leaving the Pass.

Para reported that Ghurkhas were joining at the average of four a week, now mostly from Nepal.

When they finished, David told them about the mortars, explaining their function and directing that training would begin with Turin, Sultar, and their Havildars. They, in turn, would select and train twelve men from each half troop to fire them.

He then turned to Para and Hagar, telling them the Fort would soon have a Doctor. Accordingly, a building would have to be found to turn into a hospital and dressing station and provisions made for quarters for the Doctor. Hagar said there was a storeroom near David’s quarters that could be utilised for it. David warned it must be scrupulously cleaned and freshly whitewashed inside, and have windows. Hagar said one end of the room could be converted into a bedroom. David said he would check it before work began.

He followed Hagar down to the armoury where the crates containing the mortars and shells were stored. Once the crates were open, he set a detail to removing the protective grease in which they had been transported. He showed Hagar the shells and tails, pointing out the significance of the tin safety cap. He ordered that the shells and tails be stored separately.

Later that night Turin came to see him. They sat outside smoking as he asked what plans David had in store for the coming spring thaw. “I think, old friend, we will have a major battle on our hands when the Pass opens. We are going to have to change our tactics. If, as I suspect, the Russians do attempt to use artillery, they will need to use a spotter to register where the shots fall. That can only be achieved from the crests, so they will need to clear out our lookouts first.

“Also, we will need to move the horses well away from our encampment area. The cleft will be garrisoned with a full fifty man troop, with ten men on each crest. We will have to find a means of sheltering them because, if an attack does come there, it most certainly will be at night. My only problem at the moment is to devise a method of creating illumination up there if an attack does develop.

“We will also need to send out regular patrols to the Pass at the end of February to check if it is clearing. I mean to be there as soon as we can start finishing off the camp.”

Turin said, “I’ll need to check with Hagar to see if he has acquired a further twenty-five sets of furs. Yours, by the way, I gave to Hanga.”

The next morning Turin, Sultar and eight Havildars, the combined Havildars of Cobra and Tiger Companies, drew a Mortar from the armoury plus four green painted shells and sixteen tails from the magazine. They met David outside the Fort.

David stressed that a firm area to assemble and mount the mortar was essential. Once an acceptable firing point was found, he talked them through how to assemble it. David could not help noticing the doubtful glances the men gave it. David explained the marks on the baseplate and the function of the plumb bob. He then explained the difference between the solid shells they would use today for practice and the explosive shells they would use in battle. He finished by showing them how to clip a tail to the shell and then, finally, how to remove the tin end cap.

He watched as Turin and Sultar set the mortar up at a 70 degree firing angle. Then, picking up the mortar shell, he ordered them to cover their ears. Once he was sure they were clear, he let the shell slide down the tube. There was a loud bang and the mortar shuddered on the baseplate. David could actually see the shell climbing. It reached the top of its arc and then fell almost straight down, raising a puff of dust. David started to pace out the distance. At one thousand, one hundred and twenty-five paces, he reached the shell. The men were looking at it, but now in amazement. He explained the mortar had to be set up approximately one hundred yards from the buttress in order for the shell to clear it. He then let each man fire it, changing the settings to sixty, then fifty then forty-five degrees. Each time he had the men pace out the distance to the fired shell.

By the time of the tenth shell, the tube was very hot and it was noticed the range dropped off. This was due to the pipe expanding as a result of heat generated by the ignition of the charges that propelled the shells. The expansion permitted some of the propelling gases to escape around the shell, David explained. To combat that, water should be poured over the tube to cool it. He spent an hour answering questions, and then directed that each fifty man troop would need to select twelve men to fire the four mortars.

“You have fifty-nine tails and five solid shells with which to practice gentlemen, so make them count,” David told them. He left them to collect the practice bombs and return the mortar to the armoury.

Returning to his office, David started on the pile of documents Para had left on his desk. Last Post blew as he closed the door to go to his quarters.

Over the next eight days David was kept busy getting up to date with the changes that had occurred in the Command and managing the rigorous training program. There were forty-three men now training in Panther Troop, soldiers from Tiger and Cobra were marched out to receive instruction in the mortar, whilst other troops had drill, musketry, or horse training.

Spring was approaching, its normal promise of renewal overshadowed by the certainty of the violence that would accompany it.

Subedar Major Turin had introduced a competitive award to the musketry drill. Those who scored ninety-five or over, received an awarded a small silver badge of a rifle that was to be pinned to the chest. Those awarded it also received twenty Rupees a month extra. Competition to win it was fierce in the ranks.

The blacksmith had five mares that were in season confined to the small paddock and the tailor had at last delivered fifty more overcoats. Subedar Major Para had added to the Prince’s guard three former British Army recruits who were in their late forties and married. He also informed David that accommodation on the same street had been found for the families.

The Hospital had been completed and an annex had been added to create a bedroom and bathroom. Hanga had furnished it after a trip to the city. Of such events, great and small, was the fabric of a frontier garrison woven.

The lookouts report of riders approaching alerted David. He was standing outside on the wooded walkway when Ashar Khan and Susan rode through the gate accompanied by a small mule cart with a horse tied behind it.

David’s eyes were on Susan; she was dressed in tight cream coloured jodhpurs, black riding boots, and a white open-necked shirt under her opened safari jacket. Her hair was in her now familiar “horses tail” swaying beneath the broad-brimmed hat perched on her head. They dismounted and Ashar Khan came forward with his hand extended, whilst Susan was petting the grey Arab mare she had been riding.

“Colonel Sahib,” Ashar began, “I have brought you a replacement for Sulkie. He is from the Prince’s own string, but broken to the saddle already.” David glanced at the horse tied behind the cart. It was almost as big as Khan, a jet-black stallion with Arab blood in him he judged.

Susan came up to him and surprised him with a kiss on the cheek. “Hello David, what do you think of Tana? Isn’t she gorgeous?” she bubbled happily.

David chuckled, “And I bet you spoil her?”

He invited them into the lounge whilst men took care of the horses. He poured out whisky for himself and Ashar Khan while Hanga made tea for Susan. Once they were settled, he asked her how she was settling in. Her face radiated happiness. It seemed a building just outside the Palace walls had been made available to her. It had been stripped and cleaned, then repainted by an army of workers. Susan had her supplies and equipment stored in it. There was provision for six beds and a small laboratory for her microscope and test equipment. The front of the building was arranged into a reception and dressing station.

“I have two assistants that I’m training. Both are daughters of the Ghurkha guards,” she said, obviously proud of her achievements.

“Memsahib Susan’s happiness inspires confidence in all who meet her,” Ashar Khan added with a smile on his face.

David was surprised at Ashar’s use of her Christian name. She had obviously made a conquest there he thought.

“So what brings you out here?” he asked her.

“Well, you said I’m responsible for your troops and those that needed instruction on medical aid and...” then she grinned, “it also it gave me a chance to ride Tana.”

Ashar and David laughed at her admission.

“Well, your aid station is complete. When you have finished your tea Hanga will show it to you.”

As she left with Hanga, David asked Ashar how well she was really settling in.

“The people are suspicious of a Doctor, more so because she is a woman,” Ashar replied, “It will take time for them to overcome that. However, they see the Ghurkha families bringing their children to be treated. I have also ordered any of my men in the stables who are injured to go to her.”

David changed the subject, “Has the Prince had any word from his agents in Afghanistan?”