[MacNaughton]

3 ... All kidding aside, "The River War" is an excellent book on the Sudan punitive expedition and the battle of Omdurman. As a calvaryman, Churchill was in one of the last great calvary charges in that battle.

A recent book about Churchill, Churchill's First War contained much info, including a lot of his letters and newspaper articles, about his 1st combat experiences against the Pashtuns in the Hindu Kush. Some ol' same ol', "there is nothing new under the sun" regarding Islam.

25 And he was smart enough to NOT use a sabre, but a Mauser automatic pistol.

Partly due to a polo injury in which he dislocated his shoulder. While on his 1st punitive expedition in the Hindu Kush, ~ 1897, he had to strap his arm to his torso so that he could ride his horse. He suffered from the effects of that injury the rest of his life.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"A recent book about Churchill, Churchill's First War contained much info, including a lot of his letters and newspaper articles, about his 1st combat experiences against the Pashtuns in the Hindu Kush. Some ol' same ol', "there is nothing new under the sun" regarding Islam."

Yes, what many people may not realize is that the British Empire's India consisted of modern day Pakistan. When people like Churchill and others talk about fighting on the northwest frontier, they talk of Pakistan. As you say, same ole, same ole...

Kipling gives good advice to the British soldier on what to do when looking at capture by the Afghani muzzies....

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!

Even back then, expect no quarter from the muzzies, same ole, same ole....