Thread by @syedurahman

In the year 1842, reigning world power Britain suffered humiliating defeat at the hands of Afghans who were armed with nothing more than primitive arms compared to the British soldiers armed to the teeth. It was not the only power to suffer this shameful defeat.
#Afghanistan

US is the latest superpower to suffer the same humiliation. It has withdrawn most of its massive force from Afghanistan, becoming third power in the span of 200 years to bite the dust and accept its defeat. 1000s of US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan

Three decades ago, another super power, Soviet Union, was beaten in Afghanistan leading to its eventual disintegration. It is another thing that Russian defeat was facilitated by the huge funding by US and its Gulf allies including Saudi Arabia and proxies in Pakistan.

Less than two hundred years ago, another Superpower, Britain suffered unprecedented ignominy in Afghanistan when its entire force including thousands of British soldiers were killed by Afghan tribesmen.

In 1841 William Brydon was posted to Afghanistan as the assistant surgeon of a British officered infantry force recruited in India to provide protection for the Company's ruler in Kabul. This unit formed part of a combined British n Indian army which occupied city in August 1839.

In January 1842, following the killing of 2 British officers, it was decided to withdraw the British force in Kabul. The nearest British garrison was in Jalalabad, 90 miles (140 km) away, and the army would need to go through mountain passes with the January snow hindering them.

Under the command of Major-General William George Keith Elphinstone, 4,500 British and Indian soldiers plus 12,000 civilian camp followers, set out for Jalalabad on 6 January 1842, on the understanding that they had been offered safe passage.

Afghans intercepted them and proceeded to attack them during the next seven days. Bryden recorded in his diary that as early as the first night of the retreat many of his sepoys were crippled by frostbite and had to be abandoned in the snow

By the 4th day of retreat Dr Brydon's regiment had virtually ceased to exist. The final stand took place at Gandamak on the morning of 13 January 1842 in the snow. Twenty officers and forty-five British soldiers, mostly of the 44th Foot, found themselves surrounded on a hillock.

Afghans attempted to persuade soldiers they intended them no harm. Then the sniping began. Captain Souter wrapped the regimental colours around his body and was dragged into captivity with a sergeant named Fair and seven privates. The remainder were shot or cut down.

Surgeon Brydon was one of twelve mounted officers who had become separated from the remnants of the main column before the final stand at Gandamak. All but Brydon were killed, one by one, further along the road as their horses became exhausted. Brydon got wounded.

The British troops in Jalalabad, watching for their comrades of the Kabul garrison, saw a single figure ride up to the town walls. It was Dr Brydon. Part of his skull had been sheared off, he survived only because he had stuffed a copy of Blackwood's Magazine into his hat.