The story might be referring to the 2nd Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880), in which the devastating Battle of Maiwand occurred.
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The real-life basis for the "Fore and Aft" Regiment might be a nickname of the Gloucestershire Regiment, which has a cap badge on the front and back of its headdress.
drums | Drums Along the Mohawk | Pearl Drums | Drums Along the Mohawk (novel) | Drums | ''"the God Drums"'' | FORE Systems | Fore River Shipyard | Fore, Father | Drums in the Night | Drums in the Deep South | The Sound of Drums | Tama Drums | Still the Drums | N'Goma drums | Ngoma drums | Jungle Drums of Africa | Fore! | fore | Fibes Drums | Drums of Love | Drums of Fu Manchu | Death Drums Along the River | Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums | Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums | Ayotte Drums | Aft |