This is the story of an unknown incident during the little-known Third Afghan War. An aircraft from the No. 20 Squadron RAF was lost while investigating gathering tribesman. The crew were rescued, and most of the aircraft was recovered by the Kurram Militia and the 22nd Battery Motor Machine Gun Service. It was an all-arms action—the lives of two airmen were saved at the cost of an Indian Militiaman and an unknown number of Afghan tribesmen. It also illustrates the experience of a virtually unknown group of soldiers, the 22nd Battery of the Motor Machine Gun Service. They had volunteered to serve as Motor Machine Gunners in France, had been through an intense, competitive, and sometimes costly selection process, and had now suddenly found themselves dispatched half way round the globe to the heat, dust, snows and monsoons of India and the North-West Frontier.

Strategic background --The war in the Kurram -- Military motorcycling and raising 22nd Battery Motor Machine Gun Service -- 22nd Battery in India 1916-1919 -- The Kurram Militia and Major Dodd -- 20 Squadron Royal Flying Corps : formation to September 1917 -- 20 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force : Third Ypres to India -- Action at Badma Post — 29 and 30 July 1919 -- Clearing the aircraft -- The endgame : 31 July 1919 -- And afterwards.