The Battle of El Teb 1884 - Mahdist War, Sudan
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- čas přidán 27. 07. 2024
- The Battle of El Teb fought on the 29th February 1884, was the first battle between the British and the Sudanese Mahdists, that would culminate in the Battle of Omdurman 14 years later.
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The battle between 15,000 Sudanese warriors under the Mahdi’s lieutenant, Osman Digna and a British Army which included famous regiments such as the Black Watch and the Gordon Highlanders occurred in eastern Sudan, close to the Red Sea coast.
It was fought less than 3 weeks after the Sudanese had defeated an Egyptian army on exactly the same spot.
But, whereas, that first battle had been a chaotic failure for the Egyptian s in their attempt to suppress the revolt (against Egyptian rule) by the self-proclaimed Mahdi, the second battle resulted in a British victory.
This is the story of the Battle of El Teb - or in fact, both battles of El Teb, in 1884.
Having taken over de-facto rule in Egypt, the British had now inherited Egypt’s foreign policy in Sudan - a country that they had occupied for about 50 years.
British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, was keen to avoid getting embroiled in propping up the Egyptian empire in Sudan, not least because he saw it as a potential drain on military and financial resources.
On the other hand, he did want to prop up the Khedive in Egypt.
Ans so, Gladstone pressurised the Egyptians to evacuate their colony.
A British Army officer, seconded to the Khedive, was sent to organise the withdraw from Khartoum - General Charles Gordon.
After the Egyptian debacle at El Teb, Gladstone ordered a British force to land on the Red Sea coast of Sudan to relief two Egyptian garrisons that were besieged inland and support their evacuation.
The British force, commanded by General Gerald Graham VC, consisted of 850 cavalry, 3,300 infantry and sappers and 28 guns.
The cavalry was made up of the 10th and 19th Hussars.
Whilst the infantry brigade consisted of the 1st Black Watch, the 3rd King’s Royal Rifle Corps, the 1st Gordon Highlanders, the 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, the 1st York & Lancaster Regiment, the Royal Marines Light Infantry, along with an attachment from the Royal Engineers.
Finally, Graham’s army was supported by 20 guns from the Royal Artillery, consisting of a mixture 7 pounders, 9cm Krupps guns, and mountain guns.
Further artillery support was provided by the 162 men of the Naval Brigade armed with two 9 pound guns and 6 Gatling and Gardiner machine guns.
On Friday 29th February 1884, the British Army advanced towards the hamlet of El Teb, where the Mahdi’s lieutenant, Osman Digna, was waiting with 15,000 warriors from the Beja tribe.
The British advanced in a square and at one point Graham ordered the infantry to lie down so that his guns had clear lines of sight on the attacking Mahdists.
In the two hour battle, the British had lost 30 men killed and 149 wounded, whilst the Mahdists lost over 2,000 killed.
The Battle of El Teb was the first time the British Army had been in action in Sudan. It wouldn’t be the last.
Nor had they heard the last of Osman Digna.
Within the month his warriors were once more facing up to the British and this time they would actually break the British square at the Battle of Tamai.
#thebattleofelteb #sudan #mahdistwar
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:42 Egyptian empire in Sudan
3:00 The Mahdist Revolt
4:49 Valentine Baker
6:30 First Battle of El Teb
8:30 British involvement in Sudan
11:00 British Red Sea Expedition
13:04 Second Battle of El Teb
17:00 Conclusion
17:48 The History Chap
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My name is Chris Green ("The History Chap") and I am on a mission to share the amazing history of Britain so that we can appreciate where we have come from and why we are here.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or CZcams animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree and continue to have a passion for the subject I studied.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
What a situation politicians get themselves in the guise of agreements and policies which always seem to require the military enforce. Lots of 'What if' questions come to mind regarding this battle. Thanks to the new technology weapons the brits won this battle. Can't wait for the next piece of the puzzle. Many thanks Chris.
Glad you enjoyed and keep your eyes peeled for next installment. Should be out on Friday (famous last words!)
An intriguing narrative, concerning a battle of which I previously knew nothing. It is a pity that George MacDonald Fraser is no longer around to weave a yarn that would have included Harry Flashman into this Conflict of Empire.
I’m sure Flashman could have helped Valentine Baker 🤣
Awesome content, could you do an episode about Baden-Powell and the siege of Maefking during the Boer War?
I will add to my list. Great idea!
I knew nothing about this period of history, so thanks for your video.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Chris. I very much enjoyed this episode. It is interesting how neither numbers, nor advanced weaponry grant any side an "auto win". Belief, professionalism, discipline and morale are huge factors. I guess it is one reason why milirary padres are still used today - not necessarily because of ideological reasons but because they can act as force multipliers.
What a great observation.
Such a great telling history chap👍🏻 I've not long finished a book on the Egyptian/Sudan campaign, absolutely terrific stuff
Thanks for your kind comment.
Thanks, Great History retelling. I thoroughly enjoy your work.
Thanks for your kind words.
A great telling. And for me, as a Sudanese, you sound very neutral and objective.
Very kind of you. Keep safe.
I remember reading about this way back in the 80's. It's great to see the faces, maps and your usual awesome presentation bring it back to my mind. Very well done!!
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching
Ah never heard of this part of history and battles! So many good picttures and always well written & narrated. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for posting your comment.
Thanks Chris. Most interesting as well as exciting.
I can't wait for your next adventure to stimulate the theatre of my mind.
Glad you enjoyed. More coming soon.
I love hearing about these colonial wars.
Thankyou for such an informative presentation.
My pleasure!
I always look forward to your uploads. I wish you'd have been my history teacher at school. You know your stuff and you make it entertaining too.
Thanks for those very kind words
@@TheHistoryChap It's always good to' know your stuff'...
I thoroughly enjoyed your lecture regarding the two Battles of El Teb. Absolutely brilliant mini documentary would like to see more. God bless! 🧐🤔👊👍🙏
More coming very soon (hopefully on Friday)
@@TheHistoryChap await your next video presentation Sir
thanks! Unfortunately, a Gladstone is not far and wide in sight in London today...
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Excellent as always. Thanks for posting.
My pleasure. Thanks for your support.
Another great video with top information, thank you sir.
My pleasure.
Another excellent packed episode 👌 thanks for sharing
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.
I had never heard this before. Fascinating, thanks
Glad you enjoyed.
Excellent narration Sir.
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed.
Such well made an interesting videos. Thank you and the ppl for making those drawlings. really gives you a great image to describe the location and conditions of the event. Actual photos of the places and ppl are great too. Even locations as they are today would be cool to see.
Great video today thanks for what you do and I'm looking forward to the next one
Many thanks. I’m working on the next one and it should be out at the end of the week.
@@TheHistoryChap thank you looking forward to seeing it 😀
Q: Why are the Pyramids in Egypt ?
A: Because they were too big to move to the British Museum.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
“Many a true word spoken in jest…” 😂
Interesting and very well presented thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Great story telling.
I cant wait to hear about the broken square, I suspect Kipling will make an appearance.
Peter, it would be rude not to !
Another battle id never heard of, fascinatin..great thabX
Glad you enjoyed.
A very good talk and explanation of the situation.
Many thanks.
Real cool, thanks for sharing big dog
My pleasure.
Brilliant as ever
Thank you.
Im early, you have my like sir!
Thanks for your support.
Another stirring story.
Would love to see you present the Boxer Rebellion & Fall of Peking.
it's on my (ever-growing) list. Stay tuned.
Nicely done.
Thank you.
Thanks Chris. Great as ever,very entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it.
They don’t like it up ‘em, those Fuzzi Wuzzis. Thanks Chris, very enjoyable.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed.
It's good to see the Mahdist War getting more attention, I feel it often gets overlooked when it set the stage for a lot of future players like Kitchener and Churchill. If those leaf blades at Omdurman had been just a bit more accurate in their thrusts world history for the next fifty years might have looked very different.
I still remember reading about this in Khartoum the Ultimate Imperial Adventure, seeing films like Khartoum, The Four Feathers(both versions). Those works, Gunga Din, Zulu Dawn and Zulu gave me a deep fascination with this particularly period of the British Empire along with their conflicts in Afghanistan.
"Brave Men's Blood" is a very good read.
Glad you enjoyed the film.
According to Lance Corporal Jones the second mad Mahdi was even madder than the first mad Mahdi.
Check out the movie "Young Winston" starring Simon Ward which depicts 3 colonial conflicts : North-West-Frontier,Sudan Campaign(Battle of Omdurman) and Anglo-Boer War(Winston being captured by Boers when the armoured train he was on was ambushed in November 1899).
@@col4574 Yeah, those fuzziwuzzies were a real dread back than... LOL
Brilliant thanks
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed
You paint an extremely exciting picture with words.
Thank you. I think History is full of exciting stories rather than a list of dates.
@@TheHistoryChap If only people would learn.
Such interesting history!
Glad you found it interesting.
This is always a step to insight.
Thank you for taking the time to comment
Love How it All Tied together in Spacetime, History, AND Humanity! Both Sides Gave all and Paid their Prices on to the Next Time, and History Repeats, only the Names and Dates have changed.
Thanks for taking the time to comment
Brilliant,brave men on both sides,great stories
Indeed. Thanks for commenting.
Marvelous!!!
Glad you enjoyed.
Can you make a playlist for Egypt-Sudan campaign?
My great great grandfather was a corporal at the 2nd Battle of El Teb. He was decorated by Queen Victoria for his bravery saving the life of a wounded officer. We have a photo of the men who had just received their medals from the Queen.
Wow. Great story.
Osman Digna (Mahdi General, leader of the Beja people)
(Arabic: عثمان دقنة) (c. 1840 - 1926) was a follower of Muhammad Ahmad, the self-proclaimed Mahdi, in Sudan, who became his best known military commander during the Mahdist War. He was claimed to be a descendant from the Abbasid family. As the Mahdi's ablest general, he played an important role in the fate of General Charles George Gordon and the loss of the Sudan to Turkish-Egyptian rule.
In Britain, Osman Digna became a notorious figure, both demonised as a savage and respected as a warrior. Winston Churchill described him as an "astute" and "prudent" man, calling him "the celebrated, and perhaps immortal, Osman Digna
I have begun to read the book ' Beyond The Reach of Empire' and would like to know more about ' Billy Hicks'...I thought that this was a minor battle much before Khartoum...You could easily do 2 hours on Charles Gordon I would think...Gladstone wanted no part of any of this mess to begin with...
Charles Gordon's picture hangs on SHERLOCK HOMES wall?
Fascinating FELLA,
Agree with you there👍🇬🇧🆘😤👁️💥👁️💪🗣️🎬
Jeff, thanks for Billy Hicks suggestion.
As for Charles Gordon I did two videos about him earlier this year.
It was a 2-parter talk.
Here is video 1:
czcams.com/video/z4DggwS1Wr0/video.html
and here is part 2:
czcams.com/video/SzIinMGpHBs/video.html
Thank you, Chris...@@TheHistoryChap
My Great Great Grandfather Barnes Robinson commanded the Royal Irish Fusiliers and his future son in law Frederick Angell was a platoon commander at El Teb. Barnes was wounded but also caught malaria resulting in his subsequent death when he returned to Dover.
James, thanks for sharing your family history. A lot more colourful than mine!
The Fuzzy Wuzzys were pretty damn intimidating looking. Especially when they are holding mean looking sabres and spears.
Fearsome warriors.
My Granny's father, Thomas White, was in 5 major battles during this period when serving with the Black Watch. He talked of the Fuzzy Wuzzies cutting the legs off the men in the line in front and having to step into the breach repeatedly.
Sadly, the Bejas today have been large Arabized and have adopted Arab language, dressing styles and Islam. Many don't even speak their native tongue.
Who said that still they speak beja language @@killer3000ad
Mahdist Sudanese history always captured my imagination ever since I watched the 4 Feathers movie years ago
Well that is a much deeper look into the Mahdist era than I have read or seen before. Really appreciate it.
Plus I can se why there might be a bit of confusion on which empire is ruling/commanding which empire/land/state/province.😂
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.
@@TheHistoryChap no thank you for enlightenment.
BTW Are you a teacher or just a big history fan .?
Beja tribe in Sudan looks soo cool. I met many of them before.
The Sudanese people whom I have met are such nice folk.
Hi there Chris. In your video on the siege and attack on Khartoum, you say that one of Gordon's military commanders opened the gates to the city. However, in other accounts of the battle such as on Wikipedia, it says that the Mahdists broke down the city gate? Interestingly, in the 1966 movie Khartoum, it shows the gate being blown open with an explosive. Can you shed any light on this? Thanks, Greg from Durban, South Africa.
Hi Greg, yes there is some controversy as to whether the gate was blown up or it was opened. I would need to go back to my notes from the beginning of the year. PleaseDrop me a line via my website (www.thehistorychap.com) so I can come back to you.
@@TheHistoryChap read the "Mahdi of Allah," by Bergman. It reads like a great adventure novel. Now the army will fix bayonets and advance!
@@TheHistoryChap Thanks so much Chris. Will do so.
Excellent, RB, Nova Scotia.
Many thanks for your support.
Hey Chris , How far up the Nile was it Navigable for the larger Vessels?
The Nile had a series of rapids - so they couldn't get further than Wadi Halfa (Aswan dam today). They either had to pull boats up through rapids or along the bank.
Long live the empire!!!
Thank you for posting your comment.
Valentine Barker had more than just a stiff upper lip while riding on that train! Another great video Mr. Chris
Naughty 😆
@@TheHistoryChap Not as naughty as Valentine! The cad!
Thanks for the laugh! 😂👍 I needed one Today…
Those beja warriors look terrifying
Hard men and incredibly brave fighters.
good
Thank you.
What about Egyptian plans in the Lake Victoria Area?
thanks for watching my video
🇬🇧
Thanks for posting.
I wouldn't blame the Egyptians for turning tail; the mere sight of those Beja warriors and their hair would scare the living daylights out of a lot of folk, me included.
Me too!
What about the artwork and movies that depict the English army in anachronistic red uniforms when khaki color was period correct?
Victorian artists still used the red uniforms in their depictions for 2 reasons - 1. thats what the public expected (old habits die hard).
2. Red made it easier to spot which side was which and made the soldiers stand out.
Same happened with depictions at Omdurman and in the Boer War.
It's also worth mentioning that the last time a British regiment wore red in action was at the Battle of Ginnis, Sudan at the very end of 1885 (December 30). I'm a collector of Victorian-era military films and, *most* of the time, the uniforms are coloured correctly. When they're wrong, sometimes it bothers me and sometimes it doesn't, simply because the red looks so good!
I guess Kipling's Fuzzy-Wuzzy was dedicated to those Sudanese warriors..
Yes it was, although specifically about the next battle (Tamai) which I will be talking about later this week.
What is the name of the piece of music you end your videos with please?
Brooke's Triumphal March
Thank you!
Cnut the Great, please.
Thanks for the suggestion
The US Military have experienced that to depend on Logistical superiority creates a weakness and does not guarantee victory. The Soviets thought superior technology and firepower would see the Afghan tribesmen crushed, but they were so wrong. The sheer size of the logistical investment in Afghanistan by the Allies failed to secure the Country and defeat the Taliban. The Allies lived in Islands of fortified security with every mod-con while the Taliban ruled the rest of the Country.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Now, those Beja Warriors are what, one might call and using the vernacular of the time - Fuzzy Wuzzies
hence their nickname. It is a shame it is now used as a general term.
Well done Chris! The British performed well at Second El Teb, but the Mahdists were undeniably cunning. It is ironic that Gladstone didn't want to see slave rule restored to Sudan since he himself was a slave owner before it's abolishment in the British Empire plus I read that privately Gladstone supported the Mahdist cause. A military commander or any person in general should know that when it comes to fighting numerically superior forces, numbers matter in in addition to weaponry. The British learned that lesson the hard way in the Mahdist and Boer Wars. Hey Chris, a couple of questions. Going off topic but, in the First World War, the BEF landing in France, had battalions each numbering 1,000 men. When one hears the name of a British unit that fought in the war, does it refer to the battalion or the regiment? Also, would you be willing to do a video on Sir Frederick Robert's 313 mile march to Kandahar and the subsequent battle? It is a significant feat in British military history and is not well known.
William Gladstone never held slaves. Sir John the first Baronet, did.
@@alecblunden8615 Thank you for correcting me. I was wrong. I read about the subject previously and I made a mistake.
Hi Nathan, thanks for your post. Love the idea of Roberts march to Kandahar. I was intending to do a video about him and his son (one of only 3 Father-Son combinations to both win the VC.
Most modern historians generally agree that slavery continued in Britain into the late 18th century, finally disappearing around 1800.[11]
Slavery elsewhere in the British Empire was not affected - indeed it grew rapidly, especially in the Caribbean colonies. Slavery was abolished in the colonies by buying out the owners in 1833 according to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Most slaves were freed, with exceptions and delays provided for the East India Company, Ceylon, and Saint Helena. These exceptions were eliminated in 1843.
Enlighten me please how under these conditions was William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS (/ˈɡlædstən/; 29 December 1809 - 19 May 1898) a slave owner? There is not much known about his activities in the Caribbean.
@@morriganmhor5078 I made a mistake about Gladstone. His father was a slave owner but Gladstone was in favor of a slow emancipation process. One can read about it on his Wikipedia page. He believed slaves should be educated about freedom for some years before being freed.
W EGYPTIANS AND THE BRITISH!!!!
Not sure, I understand your comment
Excellent video 📹
Britain's other Afghanistan.
The people of the Sudan were previously the Nubian peoples.
They fought against the Pharaohs and indeed ruled Egypt.
They embarrassed the Roman Empire.
They defeated the Arab empire *battle of the eyes)
Now the British were coming with the best weapons. Krupp artillery from Germany and Gatling guns from the USA.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
They defeated the Arabs so much that they became muslims and slave traders. Krupp guns and gatlings were not necessary to crush them - and their former slaves were great help - at Ommdurman fought 17,000 Sudanese and Egyptian troops against mahdists, twice the number of the British.
@@morriganmhor5078 Omdurman: the cowards 😤 battle
For 10 years the British were afraid 😨 to fight them.
The British and Egyptians hid behind the newly invented 'maxim gun".
They were too afraid to fight the Mahdi, in combat.
Except one young soldier, Winston Churchill, he saw the cowardice and charged the Mahdi.
@@beachboy0505 Charged the self-served Mahdi who was dead in the time for three years. Return to beach, boy.
Ottaman empire in the conquering of Sudan started in 1820 there main goal was to establish more land and territory and to make a slave army
Was Egyptians rather than ottoman
Mumluks are considered freed slaves and who pleaged their allegiance to the ottaman empire
That emphasis in the presentation on "modern guns" is excessive. British squares were repeatedly able to repel enemy forces, be it cavalry or infantry, already in the time of the Brown Bess flintlocks. That was proved succinctly in the Napoleonic wars and in sipahi mutiny in 1857. So, under normal conditions, Beja or other mahdists did have no big chance against British or British-led and thoroughly trained troops, even if they didn´t have Nordenfeldt repeaters. Even the old muzzle-loading field guns sufficed.
Interesting points you have made. Of course, as you are no doubt aware, the Mahdists did break the square at both Tamai and Abu Klea, so they weren't always impregnable.
@@TheHistoryChap Impregnable? No. But with good training and officers/NCO´s very resistant. And you know better than me how both these battles you mentioned ended.
7:26 One bad ass looking group of men. Most having narrow noses, bet they have a very unique DNA ethnic chart.
Yes, I bet the DNA would be very interesting.
Pointy noses...
Nothing to with the Barbary Coast Slavers 🤔
𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐦 😁
Thanks for taking the time to share your comment.
I got 3 medals with EL Teb-Tamaii clasp.2 to the Royal Irish and one to the Gordon's. I like the Egypt medals I'v collected 16 of them so far.
Thanks for sharing.
My Great Grandad was in at this battle he was a colour sergeant in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, I have an original 'coloured' photo of him in his uniform looking very formidable, I don't know much about him but would love to find out more!.
Thanks for sharing.
My great great grandfather was a corporal there.