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History Daily

The Sole Survivor of the Retreat from Kabul

History Daily

History Daily

History

4.42.5K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

January 13, 1842. William Brydon is the last man standing after a disastrous British army retreat during the First Anglo-Afghan War.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:04.1

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0:06.0

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0:10.6

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0:30.6

Thank you. It's the early hours of November 2, 1841, at a mansion in Kabul, Afghanistan. 36-year-old diplomat Sir Alexander Burns peaks over the balcony and grimaces at what he sees below.

0:42.6

A few dozen Afghan men carrying torches and large knives are marching along the street,

0:46.6

and Sir Alexander is sure he knows their destination, his house.

0:50.1

The British invaded Afghanistan three years ago.

0:55.1

Their plan was to install a puppet ruler in the country to safeguard their colonies in neighboring India. Ever since, the British have occupied Afghanistan to prop up their chosen leader,

1:00.5

but the British are not popular here, and there have been whispers that the Afghans may rise

1:04.9

up in revolution. As the most prominent British official in Kabul, Sir Alexander knows he'll be

1:10.6

at the top of any

1:11.5

list of targets for retribution. At the sound of splintering wood, Sir Alexander risks another

1:17.8

glance over the balcony. The mob has broken into the stables next door. Soon, the accurate

1:24.0

smell of burning timber fills the air. They've set fire to the stables.

1:28.3

Knowing that his house might be next, Sir Alexander takes a deep breath, then stands up in full view.

1:35.3

He hopes that showing himself will calm the crown.

1:38.3

And inspired by his bravery, another British official also steps forward from his hiding place and joins Sir Alexander on the balcony.

1:45.7

Then Sir Alexander holds his hands up in the air, gesturing for calm, but the crowd isn't in the mood.

1:52.1

Gunshot echoes through the street.

1:54.4

The official next to Sir Alexander slumps to the ground, a bright red stain blossoming over his white shirt.

2:00.6

Sir Alexander ducks and scurries

...

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