AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EGYPT AND SUDAN CAMPAIGNS BY IAN KNIGHT

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EGYPT AND SUDAN CAMPAIGNS BY IAN KNIGHT
In 1882 Britain went to war with Egypt to protect her interests in the Suez Canal from a nationalist revolt led by an Egyptian army Colonel, '’Urabi Pasha. The Egyptian War was one of the last major campaigns fought in scarlet tunics; apart from a few minor details (a puggree around the helmet, different facings on the tunics), the British troops fought in basically the same uniform as they had in Zululand three years earlier. The British infantry force consisted of Line regiments, a Highland Brigade – which particularly distinguished itself at the climatic battle at Tel-el-Kebir – and Rifles, supported by sailors landed by the Royal Navy, and Indian Army troops. The British defeated the Egyptians at Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir, and put down the revolt. With their responsibility in Egypt, however, they inherited that country’s entanglement with Sudan, to the south. The Egyptian administration in the Sudan was under threat from a religious rising, orchestrated by a Moslem holy man, Mohammed Ahmad, who proclaimed himself ‘al-Mahdi’ ‘the expected one’, whode coming was prophesied by some Islamic sects. The Mahdi preached the overthrow of the inefficient and harsh Egyptian regime, and his message proved immensely popular amongst the Sudanese poor, who flocked to his banner. Followers of the Mahdi - who he called Ansar, ‘helpers’ – defeated several Egyptian forces sent against them, and captured a provincial capital. The British government was reluctant to become involved in the Sudan, and rather than send troops authorised one man, Colonel Charles Gordon, to go to the capital, Khartoum, to organise the evacuation of Egyptian personnel. Once in Khartoum Gordon refused to leave, and the town, defended by an Egyptian garrison, was besieged by the Mahdists. The British government, bowing to public pressure, organised a relief column. By this time the troops were no longer wearing scarlet, but instead an early rather grey version on khaki, with puttees around the legs. Among the forces assembled on the Nile were a mounted infantry unit mouonted entirely on camels. In the meantime, the British also secured the western Sudanese port of Suakin, on the Red Sea coast. Here a local leader ‘Uthman Diqna (‘Osman Digna’) had declared for the Mahdi, and had spread the rebellion among the loca Beja tribesmen – Kiplings 'Fuzzy-Wuzzies’. The Suakin Field Force, which consisted of both British and Indian troops, fought a number of fierce battles against ‘Uthman Diqna, and on several occassions – notably Tamai and Tofrek – the Mahdists broke into British squares and almost caused a disaster. In the meantime the Gordon Relief Expedition marched across the desert to relieve Khartoum, and fought two stiff battles at Abu Klea and Abu Kru. At this time most Mahdists still wore their traditional clothes – loose robes around the waist – and only those sent from the Mahdi’s own camp wore the uniform he specified, the famous patched jibbeh. The desert expedition reached the Mile, where they met several paddle steamers sent out to greet them by Gordon. Using these, manned by troops who had changed into scarlet jackets to impress their enemies, they made a dash to relieve Khartoum, only to find that the Mahdists had taken it by storm a few days before, and Gordon was dead. In the aftermath of this failure, the British retreated to the Egyptian border, and sporadic fighting took place there and around Suakin. The Mahdi himself died within a few months of Gordon, probably from typhus, and was succeeded by one of his disciples, the Khalifa Abdullahi, In 1896 the British began a campaign to re-conquer Khartoum. By this time all the British troops were dressed in Khaki, and the vast majority of the Mahdists were wearing the jibbeh. The British defeated the Mahdists at Atbara, and later in a pitched battle in the Karari hills outside Omdurman, across the river from Khartoum.

THE SUDAN RANGE

These 25mm figures, cast in high quality white metal are suitable for the Egyptian Campaign, the Gordon Relief Expedition and the Suakin Field Force 1882-85 as well as many border skirmishes. They are probably the finest Colonial figures being made today with exceptional attention to detail and a variety of poses. Most of the figures can also be used for the Zulu and early Boer War as they wear the 1872 uniform and equipment.

BRITISH INFANTRY IN RED COATS AND SUN HELMETS, 1872 valise equipment

SD1	Inantry officer with pistol, standind
SD2	Infantry sergeant with rifle, shouting orders
SD3	Bugler blowing bugle, holding drum
SD4	Drummer advancing, playing drum
SD5	Infantryman advancing, high port, bayonet, gaiters, helmet
SD6	Infantryman advancing, rifle at 45’, bayonet
SD7	Infantryman advancing, level rifle, bayonet
SD8	Infantryman advancing, rifle held across body, bayonet
SD9	Infantryman advancing, loading
SD10	Infantryman charging, bayonet
SD11	Infantryman lunging, bayonet
SD12	Infantryman stabbing, bayonet
SD13	Infantryman standing firing, bayonet
SD14	Infantryman standing at the ready, bayonet
SD15	Infantryman standing loading
SD16	Infantryman kneeling firing, bayonet
SD17	Infantryman kneeling at the ready, bayonet
SD18	Infantryman kneeling loading
SD19	Infantryman advancing crouched
SD20	Infantryman lying wounded

HIGHLANDERS, KILT AND SUN HELMET

SD25	Highlander officer advancing
SD26	Highlander piper advancing
SD27	Highlander advancing
SD28	Highlander charging
SD29	Highlander at the ready
SD30	Highlander standing firing
SD31	Highlander kneeling at the ready
SD32	Highlander kneeling loading, kilt
SD33	Highlander kneeling firing, kilt

RIFLES, DARK GREEN JACKETS AND SUN HELMETS

SD34	Rifles bugler blowing bugle, separate arm
SD35	Rifles officer advancing, blowing whistle
SD36	Rifleman running at the trail, rolled blanket
SD37	Rifleman firing, rolled blanket
SD38	Rifleman advancing, rifle across body
SD39	Rifleman kneeling firing

NAVAL BRIGADE

SD40	Naval officer advancing, sword, separate arm
SD41	Sailor in sennet hat and naval rig advancing
SD42	Sailor in sennet hat and naval rig charging
SD43	Sailor in sennet hat and naval rig at the ready
SD44	Sailor in sennet hat and naval rig firing
SD45	Sailor in round naval hat and rig advancing
SD46	Sailor in round naval hat and rig firing
SD47	Sailor in round naval hat and rig standing at the ready
SD48	Sailor in round naval hat and rig kneeling at the ready
SD49	Sailor in sennet hat and naval rig kneeling at the ready

TROOPS FROM INDIA (Can be British infantry of the later Sudan period)

SD51	British officer on foot with pistol in separate arm
SD52	Officer firing pistol, sword in separate arm
SD55	British infantry from India advancing, puttees
SD56	British infantry from India firing, puttees
SD57	British infantry from India standing ready, puttees
SD58	British infantry from India kneeling, fixed bayonet
SD59	British infantry from India kneeling firing, fixed bayonet

INDIAN INFANTRY

SD60	Indian native infantry halvidar advancing with slung rifle
SD61	Bombay infantry advancing
SD62	Bombay native infantry charging
SD63	Bombay infantry standing ready
SD64	Bombay infantry standing firing
SD65	Bombay infantry kneeling ready
SD66	Dead Indian native infantry
SD67	Bombay infantry marching
SD68	Bombay infantry kneeling firing

EGYPTIAN ARMY

SD99	Egyptian officer with one hand on sword hilt, long jacket
SD100	Egyptian officer with one hand raised, long jacket
SD101	Egyptian bugler blowing bugle with rifle in separate arm
SD102	Egyptian infantry advancing, level rifle
SD103	Egyptian infantry advancing, high port
SD104	Egyptian infantry charging, level rifle
SD105	Egyptian infantry standing ready
SD106	Egyptian infantry standing firing
SD107	Egyptian infantry loading
SD108	Egyptian infantry kneeling ready
SD109	Egyptian infantry staggering back wounded
SD110	Egyptian infantry kneeling firing
SD111	Egyptian infantry kneeling cocking Remmington rifle
SD112	Egyptian infantry marching with rifle at the slope
SD113	Egyptian infantry running with rifle at the trail
SD114	Dead Egyptian infantryman

SUDANESE INFANTRY (Use Egyptian or British officers)

SD115	Sudanese infantry in jersey advancing
SD116	Sudanese infantry in jersey charging
SD117	Sudanese infantry in jersey standing ready
SD118	Sudanese infantry in jersey standing firing
SD119	Sudanese infantry in jersey kneeling ready
SD120	Dead Sudanese infantry
SD121	Sudanese infantry marching
SD122	Sudanese infantry kneeling firing

EGYPTIAN ARTILLERY (Can also be used for the Mahdist forces)

SD130	Egyptian gunner sighting gun
SD131	Egyptian gunner firing gun
SD132	Egyptian gunner loading shell
SD133	Egyptian gunner standing with shell

EGYPTIAN CIVILIANS

SD150	Egyptian civilian camel drover walking
SD151	Egyptian civilian camel drover riding camel
SD152	Egyptian civilian camp follower walking with water bag
SD153	Female Egyptian camp follower

EGYPTIAN CAVALRY

SD160	Egyptian dragoon officer (can be mounted infantry officer)
SD161	Egyptian dragoon
SD162	Egyptian Bashi-Bazouk riding with rifle upraised

DISMOUNTED EGYPTIAN CAVALRY

SD163	Bashi Bazouk advancing with rifle
SD164	Bashi Bazouk standing firing
SD165	Bashi Bazouk kneeling firing

GORDON RELIEF EXPEDITION – GREY/BLUE UNIFORM, SUN HELMETS

SD200	Camel Corps officer on foot with sword
SD201	Camel Corps infantryman advancing with rifle at 45’
SD202	Camel Corps infantryman advancing with level rifle
SD203	Camel Corps infantryman standing ready
SD204	Camel Corps infantryman standing firing
SD205	Camel Corps infantryman kneeling firing
SD206	Mounted infantryman advancing dismounted rifle at 45’
SD207	Mounted infantryman standing ready
SD208	Mounted infantryman standing firing
SD209	Mounted infantryman kneeling firing

BRITISH CAVALRY

SD220	Mounted cavalry officer with sword in separate arm
SD221	Mounted cavalry bugler blowing bugle
SD222	Mounted cavalryman with sword in separate arm
SD223	Mounted cavalryman with carbine in separate arm

INDIAN CAVALRY (use British officers)

SD230	Mounted Indian cavalryman
SD231	Mounted Indian lancer, open handed

DERVISHES

SD500	Amir (Leader) in early decorated jibbeh and turban, waving sword
SD501	Amir in later type jibbeh and turban pointing
SD502	Standard bearer with banner in jibbeh, bareheaded
SD503	Standard bearer with banner in robe and turban

MULAZIMIN (GUARD)

SD504	Firing rifle in early jibbeh and turban
SD505	Firing rifle in later jibbeh and skullcap
SD506	Advancing with rifle in early jibbeh and turban
SD507	Charging with rifle in early jibbeh and skullcap
SD508	Charging with rifle in later jibbeh and turban
SD509	With elephant gun in early jibbeh and turban
SD510	With sword in early jibbeh and turban

JIHADIYA (RIFLEMEN)

SD511	Firing rifle in tattered Egyptian uniform and skullcap
SD512	Firing rifle in robe and turban
SD513	Advancing with rifle in robe and turban
SD514	Advancing crouched in early jibbeh and skullcap
SD515	Charging with rifle in robe and turban
SD516	Running with rifle in early jibbeh and skullcap
SD517	Kneeling and firing in tattered Egyptian uniform and skullcap

ANSAR (‘HELPERS’)

SD520	Riverene arab in robe and skullcap waving sword
SD521	Riverene arab with spear in robe and skullcap
SD522	Riverene arab in robe with shaven head, waving sword
SD523	Riverene arab charging, sword and shield, shaven headed in robe
SD524	Riverene arab in robe and skullcap charging, sword and shield
SD525	Mahdist drummer advancing playing drum

MAHDIST CAVALRY

SD553	Arab camel rider in jibbeh with rifle
SD554	Arab camel rider in robe with sword

EXTRAS FOR THE SUDAN RANGE

SDX1	Camel walking, suitable for riders or loads
SDX2	5 Barrelled Gardner gun with four man naval crew
SDX3	British infantryman bayoneting a recumbent Egyptian soldier
SDX4	Soldier in tunic giving water to wounded Infantryman

BEJA (FUZZY-WUZZY) these figures come in packs of ten, each pack containing separate legs and torsos, spears, shields and swords, enabling hundreds of different combinations to be created, There is a variety of the frizzy hair style and clothing in each pack.

SDX5	Pack of ten assorted Beja with spear
SDX6	Pack of ten assoreted Beja with sword
SDX7	Pack of five dead and wounded Mahdists in jibbeh
SDX8	Pack of five dead and wounded Mahdists in robes
SDX9	Pack of five dead and wounded Mahdists in trousers
SDX10	Emir on horseback in decorated jibbeh
SDX11	Standard bearer on horseback with standard
SDX12	Arab on horseback in jibbeh waving rifle
SDX13	British infantryman carrying ammunition box on shoulder
SDX14	British heliograph with four man crew
SDX15	British infantryman dragging wounded comrade
SDX16	British cavalry horse trotting
SDX17	British cavalry horse galloping
SDX18	Arab/Egyptian horse trotting
SDX19	General Gordon wearing fez and holding scimitar
SDX20	Colonel Fred Barnaby in braided patrol jacket with shotgun
SDX21	The ‘Mad Mahdi’ seated on decorated cushion
SDX22	Arab leader Osman Digna, mounted on horse waving spear
SDX23	British gentleman in straw boater with walking stick
SDX24	British lady with parasol in Victorian dress
SDX25	Mk1 2.5" 7lb screw gun with four British artillery crew
SDX26	Four british artillery crew (as used for the screw gun)
SDX27	Kneeling camel without saddle
SDX28	Empty camel saddle (useful for building zariba defensive walls)
SDX29	Camel saddle with load (for building zariba walls)
SDX30	Four camels with drovers and rider carrying screw gun parts and boxes
SDX31	Camel Corps soldier seated on camel saddle, use SDX1 camel
SDX32	Krupps field gun for use by Egyptian and Mahdist forces
SDX33	Officer on horseback, striking with sword, separate arm

See separate list for prices of all items

SUDAN PADDLE STEAMER

A superb 25mm model of a Nile River Paddle Steamer, based on the type used during the ward in the Sudan in the 1880’s. This is an impressive model with two decks, wheelhouse, boiler and cabin, 350mm long by 100mm wide.

The kit comes complete with defensive barricades of sacks and boxes that can be arranged around the decks and all the parts shown in the illustrations. There is a crew of six, including a captain and stokers, and there are two guns, a Gardner machine gun and a 7lb screw with crews for both. The screw gun can also be used out of the ship. There are also 12 Naval brigade sailors and 12 soldiers to man the barricades. Some of the defensive works have been omitted from the drawing to reveal more of the interior detail. The model is also available painted to high standard.

Ship and crew designed and built by Redoubt enterprises and Village Green.
For prices see separate list.

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