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March on Kabul: A tale of Empire and War
Autumn 1879. The empire marches north.
Lieutenant William Blackwood and the Monmouthshire Fusiliers return from Africa, only to be swept into another conflict as Afghanistan erupts in violence. The murder of the British mission in Kabul sends shockwaves through the Raj, forcing an immediate reaction. Major General Roberts is ordered to form a new field force, and Blackwood’s regiment is ordered to the frontier to force a passage into the mountains.
From the furnace heat of Bombay to the thin air of the Shutargardan Pass, the advance is relentless. Roads crumble into mule tracks. Supply columns struggle through ravines and high passes. Tribal marksmen shadow the march from the heights. Every mile toward Kabul is contested by terrain, weather, and an enemy hardened by years of war.
South of the capital, the Afghan army makes its stand. At Char Asiab, a powerful force under experienced commanders holds a fortified ridge commanding the valley, its sangars and trenches manned by thousands of determined fighters armed with rifles, jezails, and artillery. To break the position, Roberts must commit his forces in Highlanders, Gurkhas, Sikhs, cavalry, mountain artillery, and frontier infantry advancing together against a skilful and resolute defence.
March on Kabul is the fourth volume in Blackwood of the Empire, a continuing story of command, endurance, and duty on the outer edge of Empire. Blackwood must navigate the demands of discipline, leadership, and survival in a land that has humbled armies for centuries.
Lieutenant William Blackwood and the Monmouthshire Fusiliers return from Africa, only to be swept into another conflict as Afghanistan erupts in violence. The murder of the British mission in Kabul sends shockwaves through the Raj, forcing an immediate reaction. Major General Roberts is ordered to form a new field force, and Blackwood’s regiment is ordered to the frontier to force a passage into the mountains.
From the furnace heat of Bombay to the thin air of the Shutargardan Pass, the advance is relentless. Roads crumble into mule tracks. Supply columns struggle through ravines and high passes. Tribal marksmen shadow the march from the heights. Every mile toward Kabul is contested by terrain, weather, and an enemy hardened by years of war.
South of the capital, the Afghan army makes its stand. At Char Asiab, a powerful force under experienced commanders holds a fortified ridge commanding the valley, its sangars and trenches manned by thousands of determined fighters armed with rifles, jezails, and artillery. To break the position, Roberts must commit his forces in Highlanders, Gurkhas, Sikhs, cavalry, mountain artillery, and frontier infantry advancing together against a skilful and resolute defence.
March on Kabul is the fourth volume in Blackwood of the Empire, a continuing story of command, endurance, and duty on the outer edge of Empire. Blackwood must navigate the demands of discipline, leadership, and survival in a land that has humbled armies for centuries.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2026
About the author
Michael G. Thomas
314 books133 followersMichael G. Thomas, is a writer, martial artist and military historian. He has written books on European martial arts and military history as well as Zombie Survival books and fiction. He is the co-founder of the prestigious Academy of Historical Fencing that teaches traditional armed and unarmed European martial arts. His specialist subject areas are teaching the use of the medieval two handed longsword and the German long knife in both the UK and other parts of Europe.
His academic background is as varied as his writing with degrees in Computing, Classical Studies and Machine Learning. In recent years he has undertaken substantial research in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence as well as Ancient Greek and Byzantine military history.
Michael is currently completing his Champions of the Apocalypse Series and Star Crusades science fiction series.
His academic background is as varied as his writing with degrees in Computing, Classical Studies and Machine Learning. In recent years he has undertaken substantial research in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence as well as Ancient Greek and Byzantine military history.
Michael is currently completing his Champions of the Apocalypse Series and Star Crusades science fiction series.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2026
Greatly Enjoyed
Learned slot about this Era. Also realized our Soldiers fight in Afghanistan and how they were so cruely injured and died there in that harsh land. Also their bravery must never be forgotten. Look forward to next book.
Learned slot about this Era. Also realized our Soldiers fight in Afghanistan and how they were so cruely injured and died there in that harsh land. Also their bravery must never be forgotten. Look forward to next book.
March 6, 2026
A wonderfully told story of a mostly forgotten war
Blackwood and his company travel from Africa to India and thence to Afghanistan.
A well researched book and with superb details. One can almost taste the dust,smell the black powder and hear the shots
An exciting read.
Blackwood and his company travel from Africa to India and thence to Afghanistan.
A well researched book and with superb details. One can almost taste the dust,smell the black powder and hear the shots
An exciting read.
March 10, 2026
Another satisfying immersion into the British Raj history.
A great insight into both sides of the conflicts. That courage, loss, grief and dedication is not limited to one side. Technology has changed but not the hearts of warriors over centuries of conflict.
A great insight into both sides of the conflicts. That courage, loss, grief and dedication is not limited to one side. Technology has changed but not the hearts of warriors over centuries of conflict.
April 12, 2026
Afghanistan
The word says what a wretched place Kabul has been for any outsider, and campaigns in this environment are never easy.
The authors tell the beginning of the tale in this book, what will follow?
The word says what a wretched place Kabul has been for any outsider, and campaigns in this environment are never easy.
The authors tell the beginning of the tale in this book, what will follow?
May 7, 2026
Historical fiction
Not as error prone as book 1. Lt. Blackwood (pg248) somehow managed to have a rifle in his left hand rather than the pistol several sentences earlier.
Not as error prone as book 1. Lt. Blackwood (pg248) somehow managed to have a rifle in his left hand rather than the pistol several sentences earlier.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews