Yes and here goes as I have been interested for awhile: The first two are general historical accounts of the Indian Army, but as the frontier featured so heavily they have chunks on that. The Indian Army and the King's Enemies 1900-1947, by Charles Chenevix Trench (pub. Thames & Hudson 1988 in hardback) A Matter of Honour: An account of the Indian Army, its officers and men, by Philip Mason (pub. Penguin Books 1974) The third book is specifically about the local raised military units: The Frontier Scouts by Charles Chenevix Trench (pub. Jonathan Cape 1985 in hardback). The next starts away from the frontier, but spends a lot of space on there: Soldier Sahibs: The Daring Adventurers Who Tamed India's Northwest Frontier by Charles Allen. There is a PhD turned into a book 'The Army in India and the Development of Frontier Warfare, 1849-1947' by Tim Moreman. It is very expensive, so try this chapter 'Development of Frontier Warfare 1914-39' which is free on: Frontier Warfare 1914-1939 Moreman's entire this 35Mb is free on: 'Passing it on' : the army in India and the development of frontier warfare 1849-1947. - Research Portal, King's College, London Originally entitled 'Passing It On: Short Talks on Tribal Fighting on the North-West Frontier of India', published in 1932 and updated in 2008 as 'Lessons in Imperial Rule: Instructions for British Infantrymen on the Frontier' is a handbook by General Andrew Skeen is worth reading. The updated edition: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lessons-Im...8&qid=1546457067&sr=1-2&keywords=andrew+skeen Skeen's book is normally available for free via the US military, alas the link is not working now (perhaps affected by the 'shutdown'): http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/documents/Skeen.pdf Bill Slim has a book 'Unofficial History' on his earlier experience, which includes episode(s) on the frontier: Malakand in 1923. I have not read it, but a friend recommends it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Sl...16181&sr=1-1&keywords=unofficial+history+slim The application of what was learnt features in the WW2 campaign to liberate Abyssinia / Ethiopia appears in a relatively new book 'The First Victory: the Second World War and The East Africa Campaign' by Andrew Stewart. Quite a lot of the fighting was in the mountains, notably @ Keren and two Indian infantry divisions were there. See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Vict...second+world+war+and+the+east+africa+campaign There is an Indian authored book ‘The Army in British India: From Colonial Warfare to Total War 1857-1947’ by Kaushik Roy; which I have skimmed for my research. In 1937 a supply convoy was ambushed in a frontier defile. See: https://royalsignalsoperationalawards.com/2018/01/04/the-shahur-tangi-ambush-north-west-frontier-1937/ Then again an ambush in the same defile see Robert Williams ‘Ambush in the Shahur Tangi The 1st 4th P W O Gurkha Rifles in Waziristan June to October 1947’ which was published in 1998. Finally have a look at joining the Indian Military History Society, who have a quarterly journal. See: Indian Military Historical Society
To balance the military emphasis above try Christian Tripodi's book, Edge of Empire: the British Political Officer and Tribal Administration on the North-West Frontier 1877-1947'. A critical review: Review of Christian Tripodi 'Edge of Empire. The British Political Officer and Tribal Administration on the North-West Frontier 1877-1947 Or try for other reviews: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edge-Empir...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351889021&sr=1-1 Back to the military now. There is BBC reporter David Loyn's book 'Butcher and Bolt' which I have seen in bookshops and have not read. My recollection is his focus covers both sides of the frontier. Waziristan was a regular "hotspot" so books abound. I have not read either, they were recommended by others. “Imperial Frontier: Tribe and State in Waziristan,” by Hugh Beattie, published by Curzon Press in 2002 - a detailed, fascinating work, with extensive notes on sources. Secondly 'Waziristan 1936-1937: The Problems of the North-West Frontiers of India and their Solutions' by Lieut.-Colonel C.E. Bruce, published in 1938. He and his father before him spent years in/near Waziristan, Balochistan, etc.Available via: Waziristan 1936 1937 : C. E. Bruce, Lieut. Colonel : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Try to locate 'An Historical Analysis of the ‘Incessant Disputes in the Tribal Areas’ (of the North-West Frontier) against the British (and the British Indian Army) from 1893 to 1939. Available via: http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/publications/commanders/2012/02_sligo paper.pdf
For reference: Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India vols 1-4 - reprinted edition by Naval and Military Press North West Frontier by Capt A H Neville covers 1849-1908 in one volume (reprint by Tom Donovan Publishing) Not solely NWF but relevant here is Small Wars by Col C E Caldwell
There is an important Canadian book, which influenced Caldwell's 'Small Wars'. Originally published in 1907 the book is 'Bush Warfare' by General William Heneker, a Canadian who served with the British Army, more accurately the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) and explained aptly by a modern reviewer as: 'The first serious analysis of the characteristics of small wars since the 1896 publication of British Army Lieutenant Colonel Calwell's Small Wars, Heneker's own study became required reading and a resource for all commanders until new doctrinal publications appeared in the 1930s.' Wiki on General Heneker includes this relevant passage: 'He then served briefly in India and the North-West Frontier. As lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 2nd Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment at Peshawar, India 10 April 1912.[3] He served as temporary brigade commander, 1st Peshawar Infantry Brigade in 1912, and then later briefly as temporary brigade commander, Rawalpindi Infantry Brigade from 1913 to 1914.' See: William Heneker - Wikipedia Links to the book; this to the Canadian Forces website, but appears to "fall off" at times: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2012/dn-nd/D2-230-2008-eng.pdf The second link is to the 'Wayback Machine': Wayback Machine
Id'd by Tullybrone in an August 2023 thread a short (86 pgs) US military officer's thesis: 'An Ever Present Danger: A Concise History of British Military Operations on the North-West Frontier, 1849-1947' by Matt M. Matthews, published 2010 (9yrs after the US intervention in Afghanistan started). On a skimming of the first chapter it looks good! Link: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA523451.pdf
General Skeens book "Passing it on" can be downloaded here 2011-01-01 Passing It On Fighting the Pushtun on Afghanistan's Frontier (General Sir Andrew Skeen, edited by Lester W. Grau and Robert H. Baer).pdf - FMSO Monographs - Foreign Military Studies Office - APAN Community
When I replied to this request in 2019 I missed this thread: Waziristan in 1937 Note the opening post author has no logged on since 2019. Post 13 by Maureene has a list (as below):
