Maiwand: The Last Stand of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment Afghanistan, 1880
On 27 July the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment fought a terrible battle
on the dusty plains of Afghanistan. The battle went down in history
as a massacre which effectively wiped out the regiment. They lost
10 officers and 276 men. Nonetheless, their valiant fighting was an
inspiration to many, from Kipling to Conan Doyle, who based Dr.
Watson on the 66th medical officer Major Preston. Queen Victoria
presented medals to the survivors, and it was Maiwand and the
66th's battle against the Zulus the year before which resulted
in the British Army no longer carrying Colors into battle. This
book tells the story of this fine Victorian regiment from 1870 when
they went to India through Afghanistan and back to England in 1881,
bringing the regiment to life and concentrating on the characters
who made it what it was. This title is illustrated with many
previously unpublished photographs from the Wardrobe Museum
archives.
