Chitral Charlie: the Rise and Fall of Major General Charles Townshend - Hardcover

Norman Nash

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1848842767 ISBN 13: 9781848842762

Publisher: Pen & Sword Military, 2010

Synopsis

Charles Townshend achieved international fame, as a captain, when he commanded the besieged garrison at Chitral (now Pakistan) in 1895. As a result, he became known as 'Chitral Charlie'.Decorated by Queen Victoria and lionised by the British public, his passage up through the Army was assured and, in 1916, he was given command on 6th Indian Division and sent to Mesopotamia. Here he won a series of stunning victories as his ill-supported division swept all before it in a devastating advance up the River Tigris. He triumphed brilliantly at Kurna, Amara and Kut but then, against all the tenets of military common sense, he advanced up the River Tigris to take Baghdad.By now over-reached, he was confronted by a determined Turkish foe. His Division was depleted and exhausted. Townshend withdrew to Kut, where he was besieged and forced into a humiliating surrender. The mis-treatment of the British POWs by the Turks only added to Townshend's shame.This fascinating and objective biography examines Townshend's controversial conduct during and after the siege and assesses whether his dramatic fall from grace and popularity was fair.N S 'Tank' Nash CBE, is a retired brigadier. His highly amusing 'Sustainer' articles in military journals attracted a wide following. He is the author of K Boat Catastrophe (Pen and Sword, 2008). He lives near Edinburgh.

About this title

About the Author

NA 'Tank' Nash CBE was educated at Latymer Upper School before entering the catering industry with J Lyons and Co Ltd. He enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company in 1957 and served until conscripted for National Service in 1960; he was a member of the Army Catering Corps for thirty years, rising to the rank of Brigadier. He resigned his commission in 1991. For thirty-three years, from 1973, he wrote humour under the pen name 'Sustainer' and his work was published internationally in a variety of military journals. His books for Pen and Sword include K Boat Catastrophe, 'Strafer' Gott - Desert General, Chitral Charlie - The Rise and Fall of Major General Charles Townshend and Valour in the Trenches.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848842767
• ISBN 13: 9781848842762
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 332