Picture of a 17th Lancer in 1829 wearing a 1796 LCS

[kronckew]

A lot of Afghanis will cheerfully charge at you thru a hail of bullets, they believe if they get hit, it is the will of Allah and they will go to Paradise if they die. being charged by a man with a big knife, or sword is, however, a different thing altogether. If they have a bit lopped off by an edged weapon, that's how they go into paradise and that is forever. Best not take any chances against a crazy Ferengi who brings a sword to a gun fight. Allah just might be helping HIM!.

A sword, or fixing bayonets is a statement of intent and commitment that they will be getting up close and personal and do not themselves mind dying. A proper Brit bayonet charge against Argentinian troops not all that long ago, who had been resisting strongly, scared the excrement out of them and they surrendered in droves.

Ref:https://www.businessinsider.com/the-...2-10?r=US&IR=T

https://www.businessinsider.com/6-of...5-10?r=US&IR=T

In spite of the bean counter REMFs, sharp pointy things are not yet obsolete, because they ultimately still work.

Doing it old school: https://vimeo.com/277556631

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

The charge at Huj in November 1917 is said to be one of the last successful cavalry charges of the British army. It was immortalized in a watercolour painting by British artist Lady Butler. Below is a 1908 pattern cavalry troopers sword marked to the Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, which was one of the units that took part in the charge.

[kronckew]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_udGcKMhbtc

As painted from Huj

For Jim: American charge in Afghanistan, no swords, M4 carbines...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9uK6x5HgA

[midelburgo]

1921 The charge of the Alcantara Regiment to cover the disastrous pull back in Annual in Moroccan Rif.
90% of casualties after 10 charges by 700 men. They were using those Puerto Seguro straight sabers.


https://www.abc.es/20120920/archivo/...209201639.html

The picture is modern.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by kronckew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_udGcKMhbtc

As painted from Huj

For Jim: American charge in Afghanistan, no swords, M4 carbines...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR9uK6x5HgA

Thank you so much Wayne! I really enjoyed the movie "12 Strong" and this is great insight into the true events.
As I have mentioned before of course, I have always had special interests in Afghanistan. In my very young years (loooooong ago) I was intrigued by the Bengal Lancers; Gunga Din and 'King of the Khyber Rifles'....pretty much anything 'Khyber'.

Years later I was fortunate to interview Brig. Francis Ingall (author of his autobiography, "Last of the Bengal Lancers". In this he described his 'last; mounted charge in the plains near the famed Pass.
It was most interesting to me as these studies of Afghanistan became much more dynamic as my son in law; then my son; then my grandson....all served in Afghanistan.

In looking into these many 'charge' events (and thank all of you guys for these great examples and art work), one book which is fascinating on the topic is "Charge to Glory", James D.Lunt, 1960.
As can be imagined there are many 'last charges' in many campaigns in the 20th century, and regardless of whatever qualification or revisionism which evolves in studying them......the courage and panache of these horsemen cannot be discounted.

While in reality horses were often actually used as 'work' animals, and 'charges' were not typically the raging 'hell for leather' events often embellished and portrayed by writers and artists, the true elements of courage and tenacity stand profoundly.

Bryce I was not aware of this charge nor the painting by Lady Butler, who is most well known for her painting "Scotland Forever" immortalizing the charge of the Royal Scots Greys at Waterloo. The actual 'charge' of course was quite different than the portrayal, but was painted over six decades later, but beautifully elicits the emotion and dynamics of the event.