A Story about the most ferocious and deadly 21 warriors I have ever had the pleasure of studying. This is the modern Thermopylae, only better. It's lesser-known in the west because this battle did not involve Greeks - it involved Indians.
On September 12-1897, twenty-one sikh Indian Soldiers would make a stand that would live on in history as one of the greatest battles ever fought.
The Battle Of Saragarhi :
A bit of background :-
The Sikhs were Indian warriors aligned with and under the command of the British. They were deadly, skilled and ferocious in a fight.
In the 1890s, the British were trying to conquer Afghanistan and it was becoming a severe challenge. As the Russians and Americans would learn, Afghanistan is not a place easily conquered.
A Revolt breaks out towards the end of 1897 and Afghan tribesmen rally in the tens of thousands to the rebel banner. They begin to march towards British forts to push them out of their home.
Soon a rebel army arrives at a series of British forts and the fight begins.
It's the morning of September 12, 1897, and the British see an army on the horizon.
The British forces are locked away in Fort Lockhart and from there they see a massive army on the horizon - numbering some 10,000 - 12,000. The British are dangerously outnumbered and they prepare for a siege.
A Signaling outpost some miles away, called Saragarhi, is manned by 21 Sikh warriors. The Sikhs are informed that an army numbering 10,000 is quickly approaching. The Sikhs request help, but the British inform them that they cannot assist, as they cannot leave the fort unguarded.
The Sikhs could run or surrender - the afghan tribesmen would show them mercy. But the leader of these brave men, Ishar Singh, tells his men they will stay and fight.
The board up the gate, get ammunition stockpiled, and prepare to defend their small compound from an overwhelming force.
The Afghan army approaches and the fighting begins.
The Afghans send a massive charge to overwhelm the fort but disciplined and accurate rifle fire from the Sikh warriors is enough to break the charge and send the Afghan warriors running.
A Second charge appears. This time the Afghans come in even greater numbers. The Sikh fire is unable to break the enemy lines and before too long, the Afghan tribesmen are climbing over the walls. A tough melee fight ensues with rifle butts, swords and bayonets.
Again though the Sikhs hold, killing hundreds. They turn back the massive force and maintain control of the fort.
By this point, Afghan forces have taken significant losses, considering this is a lightly manned signaling post. But several Sikhs have died as well.
But Still the fight continues in second part