JOURNAL OF THE MARCH 
OF 
5/11 HEAVY FIELD, OK ELEPHANT, BATTERY 
FROM MORAR TO KANDAHAR. 
BY 
MAJOR C. COLLINGWOOD, R.A. 
On tlie morning of 24th September, 1878, without previous 
warning, telegraphic orders were received from Simla for 5/11, 
R.A., to proceed without delay on active service. Early next 
morning (25th) the battery marched out of Morar fully equipped 
for active service, en route for Dholpur (two marches distant) strength of battery. 
where it took train for Mooltan. Strength of battery as per 3-40-pr. gunsB.L.R 
margin. Notwithstanding that experiments on an extensive 21 ammunition 1 s ’ 
scale had been made by order of government at the camp of , wagons. 
,-r-kn* -it . r -. . 1 8 P are gM* car * 
exercise at Delhi, nearly three years before, as to embarking, dis- riage. 
embarking, and conveyance by train of the several branches of the 3 8torecarS. ar d °’ 
service, and that this particular battery had gone through ex- cfudS^omcers), 220 
haustive details in the mode of transit, yet when this occasion Natives ^ (including 
arose neither suitable trucks, for the conveyance of guns and locks, 9 elephants] 
ammunition wagons, nor any of the requisites which should have sukkur)!|Sut fr 2 so 
been provided, were forthcoming. camels for baggage 
1 J o and commissariat 
The amount of labor expended in the embarking and dis¬ 
embarking a battery of 35 carriages, including the 40-pr. guns, 
in trucks whose sides (with few exceptions) would not let down, 
can be better imagined than described. 
The battery disembarked at Mooltan and remained there for Battery at Mooltan. 
five weeks. 
As it is not yet considered safe, in India, to transport elephants Elephants had to 
by train, those of 5/11 had to march by road from Morar to march by road - 
Mooltan, and again from thence to Jacobabad, a distance altogether 
of about 900 miles, before they overtook the battery. 
30 
