|
A Royal Marine Light Infantry at the Battle
of Tamai.
Illustration by Charles Stadden.
Nothing
specifically to do with this figure but you can't pass up an
opportunity
of a Stadden illustration! |
Fourth figure from that pack of Newline Designs Sudan British figures (SUD05 -
British Foot Advancing) I bought at Salute - I've had a lot of fun with them
considering they only cost me half a fiver..
For this figure I decided to
represent one of the typical home counties type regiments, in this case the York
& Lancaster Regiment...
The regiment was formed on 1st July 1881, from the amalgamation of two regiments
of foot, and a militia regiment:
- 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment
- 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment
- 3rd West York Light Infantry Militia (two battalions)
The title of the new regiment was going to be "The Hallamshire Regiment", but
this was universally disliked by rank and file (but would make a fine name for
an Imagination regiment!), and following a vote the title "York and Lancaster
Regiment" was chosen as being most representative of the separate battalions
that had made it up....
The 65th Foot became the 1st Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment, they
were serving in India & Aden at the time and whilst returning home in 1882
were diverted to Suakin; the battalion finally arrived home in 1884.
The 84th became the 2nd Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment, and served in
the Egyptian Expedition of 1882.
As we know, from the previous posts, in January 1884 Gordon was appointed to
oversee the evacuation of the Egyptian forces from the Sudan. At the same time a
British army, including the 1st Battalion, commanded by Major General Graham,
landed at Suakin to relieve the Egyptian garrison at Tokar, 50 miles to the
south. Once assembled, this force moved down the coast to the relief of
Tokar.
On 22nd February while still en route Graham received news of the surrender of
Tokar. The British force pushed on anyway, and occupied Fort Baker. On the 29th
the infantry brigade (including the York and Lancaster's) formed a square and
began the advance on El Teb, where a force under the Mhadi's second in command
Osman Digna, was in position.
The left of the square, commanded by Buller, was formed by the 1st York and
Lancaster and the RMLI (ok, so there was a reason for the picture other than the
link to Stadden!)
The Dervish opened fire with rifles and Krupps artillery captured from the
Egyptian forces they had defeated in the course of the revolt.
The British square halted and the infantry were ordered to lie down while the
guns and machine guns fired on the Dervish silencing the Krupps. The square
stood up and continued its advance under rifle fire.
When the square was within two hundred yards or so of the earthworks, the
Dervish charged the square with spears and swords. Large numbers of the
tribesmen were shot down by the infantry with rifle fire and by the Gardiner and
Gatling guns of the Naval Brigade.
The tribesmen fell back, the square reformed, and the British resumed the
advance. The cavalry charged the massed Dervish tribesmen, but suffered heavy
casualties. As the British infantry reached the earthworks, the battalions moved
out of square formation and, forming line, stormed the tribesmen’s positions at
the point of the bayonet, winning the battle...... superb!
=====================
At Tamai a month later the British advanced to attack Osman Digna’s camp, two
brigade squares were formed with the 2nd Brigade leading. The York and Lancaster
were again involved as a part of 2nd Brigade commanded by General Graham.
"The 2nd Brigade came into contact with the Mahdists and fire was opened as the
brigade square continued to advance. The brigade then found itself on the edge
of a wide deep gully. The sides of the square were being subjected to repeated
and increasingly threatening rushes by the Mahdists. The fire discipline of the
troops began to deteriorate. Smoke from the rifle fire with the dust from the
dry plain, stirred up by the numbers of men rushing about, made visibility
difficult. The front face of the brigade square moved down into the ravine, but
the men forming the sides of the square failed to conform fully to the movement
so that the continuity of the square was broken and it began to disintegrate.
The Mahdists launched an attack on the right face of the square, comprising
2nd York and Lancaster, which halted to give fire, while the front face of the
square continued to advance. The York and Lancaster fell back on the RMLI and
the two battalions became intertwined and disordered. The Black Watch, now
thrown into confusion, fell back into the square and the brigade was forced to
retreat, pressed hard by the attacking tribesmen. 3 Royal Navy guns had to be
abandoned and casualties were mounting. The tribesmen took some of the Gatling
and Gardiner guns".
You can almost smell the heat, the dust, and the acrid smoke of the Martini
Henry fire....!
The 2nd Brigade was eventually reformed by General Graham and
again attacked the Dervish, and the British won the battle but not before the
Dervish had broken a British square...
 |
| The 1st Battalion Black Watch and 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment in the 2nd Brigade square at the Battle of Tamai. Painting by Douglas Giles. |
This figure represents a soldier from the 1st Battalion who had just arrived at
Suakin from India wearing Indian khaki drill uniforms.
According to the
Perry's
uniform guide:
"It fought with fairly outdated equipment, cartridge pouch and belt from 1854
and 1857 expense pouch. The greatcoat had to be carried over the shoulder.
According to Bennet Burleigh of the Telegraph all troops passing through Suakin
were issued with Oliver pattern water bottles".
In my case the soldier has decided it's too hot to have the greatcoat draped, or
he is just about to go into action, and has rolled the coat in the small of his
back..
...and here's all of them... like I said - I enjoyed that little
diversion!
), in November 1688 the
Earl of Bath switched allegiance to William III but despite being immediately relieved of his command by James, was restored to his command by 
