Rudyard Kipling 1890
Peter Bellamy 1982
On 31 March 1879, disaster befell a squadron of 10th Hussars attempting to cross the Kabul River. Swept away by rapids, weighted down by their cloaks and equipment, 46 men were drowned or kicked to death by frantic horses. Though no major loss in the context of the bloody second Afghan War, the tragedy (no doubt because it was an accident, not a battle) caused deep shock at home and evidently made its mark on the 13 year old Kipling.
Peter Bellamy: Ford O’ Kabul River
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwcE1e_UuYQ
Kabul town’s by Kabul river- Blow the trumpet, draw the sword- There I lef’ my mate for ever, Wet an’ drippin’ by the ford. Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark ! There’s the river up and brimmin’, an’ there’s ‘arf a squadron swimmin’ ‘Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. Kabul town’s a blasted place- Blow the trumpet, draw the sword- ‘Strewth I sha’n’t forget ‘is face Wet an’ drippin’ by the ford ! Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark ! Keep the crossing-stakes beside you, an’ they will surely guide you ‘Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. Kabul town is sun and dust- Blow the trumpet, draw the sword- I’d ha’ sooner drownded fust ‘Stead of ‘im beside the ford. Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark ! You can ‘ear the ‘orses threshin’, you can ‘ear the men a-splashin’, ‘Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. Kabul town was ours to take- Blow the trumpet, draw the sword- I’d ha’ left it for ‘is sake- ‘Im that left me by the ford. Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark ! It’s none so bloomin’ dry there; ain’t you never comin’ nigh there, ‘Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark? Kabul town’ll go to hell- Blow the trumpet, draw the sword- ‘Fore I see him ‘live an’ well- ‘Im the best beside the ford. Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river, Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark ! Gawd ‘elp ’em if they blunder, for their boots’ll pull ’em under, By the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark. Turn your ‘orse from Kabul town- Blow the trumpet, draw the sword- ‘Im an’ ‘arf my troop is down, Down an’ drownded by the ford. Ford ford, ford o’ Kabul river, Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark ! There’s the river low an’ fallin’, but it ain’t no use o’ callin’ ‘Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark.