The destruction of the British army while retreating from Afghanistan in 1842 is one of the most dramatic episodes in British imperial history. Lieutenant Vincent Eyre was present, and kept a diary throughout. This book, first published in 1843 and reissued in 1976, is Eyre's account of the events leading up to the retreat, the disastrous withdrawal itself, and his time spent in captivity.

British military history in India has been amply documented, but From Sepoy to Subedar by Sita Ram is the only published account by an Indian soldier of his experiences serving in the East India Company's Army. These memoirs cover a span of more than forty years of active service, and provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the Indian soldiers serving under the British.

British military history in India has been amply documented, but From Sepoy to Subedar by Sita Ram is the only published account by an Indian soldier of his experiences serving in the East India Company's Army. These memoirs cover a span of more than forty years of active service, and provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the Indian soldiers serving under the British.

The destruction of the British army while retreating from Afghanistan in 1842 is one of the most dramatic episodes in British imperial history. Lieutenant Vincent Eyre was present, and kept a diary throughout. This book, first published in 1843 and reissued in 1976, is Eyre's account of the events leading up to the retreat, the disastrous withdrawal itself, and his time spent in captivity.