Operations in the Tochi

Operations in the Tochi
Part of World War I
Date November 1914–March 1915 [1] Location Tochi river flows East from the tribal territories, through North Waziristan, North-West Frontier Province Result Anglo-Indian victory
Belligerents
British Empire	Khost tribesmen
Commanders and leaders
Major-General Sir Vere Bonamy Fane Cpt. Eustace Jotham †	Tribesmen leader
Units involved
Bannu Brigade Local militia	Khost tribesmen
Strength
	7,000 tribesmen
Casualties and losses
Unknown, light[2]	250+ killed[2]

The Operations in the Tochi (28 November 1914–27 March 1915) were carried out by the Indian Army during World War I on the North West Frontier. The Tochi river flows East from the tribal territories, through North Waziristan, to join the Kurram and the Indus rivers. On the 28 and 29 November a raid by 2,000 tribesmen from Khost was defeated by the North Waziristan Militia near Miranshah, on the Tochi. The next January the militia again defeated a raid by tribesmen which had attacked Spina Khaisora. On 25–26 March a force of over 7,000 tribesmen, threatened Miranshah, but was defeated by the Bannu Brigade together with the local militia.[3]

Captain Eustace Jotham

It was during these operations when Captain Eustace Jotham was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Citation

For most conspicuous bravery on 7th January, 1915, at Spina Khaisora (Tochi Valley). During operations against the Khostwal tribesmen, Captain Jotham, who was commanding a party of about a dozen of the North Waziristan Militia, was attacked in a nullah and almost surrounded by an overwhelming force of some 1,500 tribesmen. He gave the order to retire, and could have himself escaped, but most gallantly sacrificed his own life by attempting to effect the rescue of one of his men who had lost his horse.

— The London Gazette, 23 July 1915[4]

He was buried in the Miranshah Cemetery, North Waziristan, and is commemorated on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate).[5]

See also

• Mohmand blockade
• Operations against the Mohmands, Bunerwals and Swatis in 1915

References

1. National Army Museum 2021.
2. "Tochi Valley Operations". kaisercross.com.
3. Mackenzie, F A. "The Defence of India". Retrieved 9 September 2009.
4. "No. 29240". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 1915. p. 7279.
5. "Commonwealth War Graves Commission — casualty details". CWGC. Retrieved 26 November 2007.

• National Army Museum (2021). "The North-West Frontier". National Army Museum. Retrieved 16 November 2021.