 Meanwhile , Pashtun forces had successfully assaulted the camp in three other locations , and the 24th Punjab Infantry 's picket lines were quickly overrun . Pashtun sharpshooters occupying the nearby heights inflicted casualties throughout the night , and the bazaar and surrounding buildings were occupied . Other units of the 24th , under Lieutenant Climo , retook the area and held it until 10 : 45 pm , but under fire from sharpshooters they were driven back . The Pashtun forces broke through in a number of other locations . Lieutenant Watling commanding a group of British troops guarding the ammunitions stores at the Quarter Guard was wounded , losing the stores in the process . Meiklejohn led a small group of sappers , members of the 24th and Captain Holland , Climo from the earlier charge , and Lieutenant Manley to recapture the ammunition dump ; Holland and the General were wounded , and the group severely depleted as it twice failed to retake the dump , but a third attempt proved successful . However , continuing crossfire from the enveloping Pashtun troops wounded a number of British officers , placing the command of the 24th with Climo . Towards 1 : 00 am on the morning of July 27 , Lieutenant Edmund William Costello rescued a wounded havildar while under fire and was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions . 
