Battle of Suakin

The Battle of Suakin (also known as the Battle of Gemaizah), occurred on 20 December 1888 during the Mahdist War, when General Francis Grenfell defeated a Mahdist (Often called Dervishes by Europeans), force near Suakin, a chief port of Sudan.

Battle of Suakin
Part of the Mahdist War

Battle of Suakin
Date20 December 1888
Location
Suakin, Eastern Sudan
Result Anglo-Egyptian victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland United Kingdom
*  India[1]
Egypt Egypt		 Mahdist State
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Francis Grenfell Osman Digna (WIA)
Casualties and losses
12 killed 1,000 killed

The Mahdist force, under Osman Digna, had advanced on Suakin with an intention to invest it. From Suakin, General Grenfell launched a sortie against the Mahdists,[2] who were attempting to capture the Water Forts.[3] After one and a half hours of fighting, the casualties were 12 on the Anglo- Egyptian side and 1,000 on the side of the Mahdists. After this, the Mahdists withdrew, removing any threat to Suakin.[4]

General Kitchener was present, commanding an Egyptian Army brigade comprising Sudanese troops, this being the first battle where units of the Egyptian Army played a significant part since its reform by the British. They performed well in battle, enhancing the reputation of both the reformed Egyptian Army and of General Kitchener.[5]

In the battle, three of the swords of the 20th Hussars broke short, an incident which later caused debate in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.[6]

Egyptian and British forces present received both the Egypt Medal with clasp 'Gemaizah 1888' and the Bronze Khedive's Star.[2]

Forces

The British forces involved in the battle were:[7]

References
  1. Ernest Gambier-Parry, Suakin, 1885 : being a sketch of the campaign of this year (1885), (London : K. Paul, Trench & Co.)
  2. Joslin, E. C.; Litherland, A. R.; Simpkin, B. T., eds. (1988). British Battles and Medals. London: Spink. p. 164. ISBN 9780907605256.
  3. "Egypt Medal 1882–1889, 1 Clasp Gemaizah". Constantius. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012.
  4. Steward, W. Augustus (2008). War Medals and Their History. Read Books. ISBN 978-1-4086-9712-2.
  5. Barthorp., Michael (1984). War on the Nile. Dorset: Blandford Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780713718584.
  6. "Army—The Battle at Suakin—The Broken Swords of the 20th Hussars". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 332. House of Commons. 21 December 1888. col. 974.
  7. "Sudan Wars, 1884-1889". 2007-10-20. Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2020-08-22.


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