What Happened At The Battle Of Atbara, Sudan 1898
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- The Battle of Atbara, fought in Sudan in 1898 was a decisive victory for British general, Herbert Kitchener, and his joint Egyptian-British army over the Mahdists.
It cleared the way for his advance, and final showdown with the Mahdi's successor, at the battle of Omdurman.
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The Battle of Atbara fought between 10,000 British, Egyptian and Sudanese troops and 15,000 mahdists in 1898 was a decisive victory for General Herbert Kitchener.
With the completion of that 220 mile railway through the harsh Nubian desert, Kitchener was finally able to bring British troops, including the Cameron and Seaforth Highlanders and the Warwickshire and Lincolnshire regiments to join his Egyptian and Sudanese army advancing against the Mahdi's successor, the Khalifa.
In response the Khalifa sent a 15,000-strong army under his cousin, Mahmoud, and the veteran warrior, Osman Digna, to confront him at Atbara (just east of the Nile).
The Mahdist army established a fortified position forcing Kitchener into a risky frontal assault.
His attack on Good Friday, the 8th April 1898, resulted in a decisive victory with over 3,000 Mahdists killed and 4,000 (including their commander) captured.
His success at the battle of Atbara, cleared the way for Kitchener to march towards the Khalifa's main army at Omdurman.
It was a battle that featured two future First World War commanders, Douglas Haig and David Beatty, and for fans of "Dad's Army" it also featured a Corporal Jones.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:17 Summary
1:27 Sudan 1898
3:55 Mahdist Strategy
5:55 Change In Mahdist Strategy
6:59 Kitchener Worried
8:17 Night Advance
8:59 Kitchener's Army
10:11 Artillery Bombardment
11:29 Infantry Advance
12:52 Battle Of Atbara
14:31 Casualties
15:13 Kitchener Victorious
16:12 Next Stop Omdurman
Sources used to produce this video included:
"Khartoum" - Michael Asher
"The Scramble For Africa" - Thomas Packenham
"Queen Victoria's Little Wars" - Byron Farwell
"The River War" - Winston Churchill
Dictionary of Canadian Biography
British Battles.com
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or TH-cam 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 in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
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.
Actually Lance-corporal Jones, in Dads army, mentions a similar incident with the specific battle. In the episode "Sgt - Save My Boy!", he says that:
"When the fazywazies discovered where our headquarters was, we had to move to an elsewhere. And when they came at us with their great weapons to the place where we wasn’t, we fired on them from the place where we was. Then, we went in with the cold steel, and they couldn’t abide that. They didn’t like it up 'em! They don't like it up 'em!"
I like that
Yes, yes. That’s quite enough Jones.
But they don’t like it up em sir.
Wilson? Keep your eye on Jones.
Wouldn't of liked Jones axe either I expect.
You might enjoy my video all about Lance Corporal Jones:
th-cam.com/video/WL_F3E973bU/w-d-xo.html
Neither did the Bulgarians in World War 1 apparently, (Balken Campaign), - according to my late mothers father.
Nice fellows,some of our past soldiery !
I was ill Sir but after viewing your video lecture on the Battle Of Atbara my spirit ross. Your narration brought to life a near forgotten incident of which many brave Sudanese troops , and their British counterparts and officers gave full measure against Mahdi's followers. Once again thank you for bringing a bit of joy too an elderly gentleman.
Dr Chris has arrived! 🤣
@@TheHistoryChap thank you for your prompt response!
That was wonderful. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Again, an excellent presentation. Very interesting.
Yes first class stuff,been reading books and watching films about Britains Armies and Auxies since I was a kid.
Many of the family served,going back to The Boer War and both World Wars apparently. Both Army and Navy both sides,even had an Aunt in The R A F. To Blazes with wether its fashionable or not. Its Historical fact and Highly Interesting ! Thoroughly Enjoy All The Videos.
Glad you enjoyed it
14:20 "...Victorian officers were willing to give their lives..."
One aspect of warfare that is often misunderstood, is the fact that officers always tended to suffer high numbers of casualties, throughout all eras of human history and across all cultures. It is only the very highest ranks who enjoyed greater safety as technology progressed. In fact, captains and lieutenants often have a much higher chance of getting killed or wounded than enlisted soldiers. The image of the callous and cowardly officer who sends his men to die while he hides in a bunker, is a malicious myth.
Agree.
Meanwhile, the true masters of war, those who profit financially or politically and pull the strings never suffer the rigors of fighting, killing, or death. We should remember that it was KITCHENER who invented the CONCENTRATION CAMP in South Afrika to imprison the families of Dutch Boer farmers resisting the avaricious aggression of the British Empire trying to take their lands. Many died of starvation, diseases, and poor living conditions. I can't imagine that he treated the black Sudanese fuzzie wuzzies any better, as there were no influential people looking out for the interests of the captured Mahdi' followers.
The motto of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst is ‘To Serve To Lead’. Leadership is the vital factor in winning any battle.
Great video, as always. Love them all. Thanks, man!
My pleasure, thanks for watching
Well done! This time period of British military history. Doesn't get enough recognition. The age of Queen Victoria is what turned England 🇬🇧 then Britain into a world super power. Because of its Navy first but the British ability to assimilate colonials into its military system. Going all the way back to the Union of Scotland & England,& Wales. By WW1 Germany & France & later Belgium were playing catch up to Britain's intercontinental expansion. The only other European Monarchy that had a political & military system larger would have been the Romanovs of Imperial Russia. But they had such a problem domestically & internal rebellions that would plague it into the 20th century. Much like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Watching from the States & wishing U HAPPY New Year!
Thanks for watching my video & for your interesting feedback.
Another splendid episode!
My pleasure, thanks for watching
As usual, I enjoyed your program. Thank you. 👏👏👏
Thank you very much for your kind comment
Excellent video thanks Chris!
Glad you liked it!
Really interesting, thanks Chris.
Glad you enjoyed it
Good lecture Chris👍👍👍
Thank you! 👍
Thankyou Chris, very interesting stories and some great contributions form your followers too.
All the best!!
As you can tell by me answering your comment, I’d really do read every comment and try to respond. Obviously the wacky ones I remove!
I enjoyed your video on this particular British Victory. Thank you for presenting such historical battles. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant rendition,thankyou.
My pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Another cool presentation, an exellent augur for this new year, thank you for sharing. I wish you and your family a great year.
Very kind of you, thanks.
Good afternoon, Chris, another cracking telling. My bedside book reading pile just got higher. Cheers, love your channel.
Glad you’re enjoying and thank you for your support. Please make sure you subscribe, if you haven’t already
Bravo. Excellent presentation.
Thank you.
Love it sir, splendid video as always!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the great program 😮very informal
Glad you enjoyed it
Appreciate your Sudan series, having lived in Khartoum in the 1990's and seeing many places you describe, I enjoy your in depth analysis of this crucial conflict.
I’m glad you’ve all enjoying the videos. Thanks for your support.
I have been enjoying your series on the Sudan wars very much. Previously, my only knowledge of these came from Flashman's adventures. Thanks
I’m glad you’re enjoying these videos. Although in fairness, Flashman is a fun source of history, too.
Great Video!!! Always love hearing stories during the late Victorian Era. I would love to see you cover the Childers Reform of 1881 since it created many of Britains famous regiments. Another would be Britain’s ww1 Middle East campaign. Something that is always overshadowed by the Western Front.
Childers Reform is an interesting suggestion. I plan to cover some of the non-Western Front theatres in WW1 later this year.
New subscriber. 💯💯💯
Many thanks for your support. Appreciate it.
❤, this works....
The love of my life is not impressed that I have spent all of Sunday working on my videos!
@@TheHistoryChap My late wife was always grateful I was out of the way!
thanks for posting two videos on one day!😀
My great-great uncle, Colour Sergeant Thomas Edward Mackenzie, served with the Cameron Highlanders and was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions at the battles of the Atbara and Omdurman. During the 1980s and early 90s I owned (and used) the .360 Number 5 Lancaster Oval Bore sporting rifle which had been owned by Captain Charles Findlay of the Camerons. Captain Findlay was killed in the attack on the Zariba at the Atbara. He was recently married, and his young bride was expecting their first child when Findlay was killed. I assume that the rifle was sold to a fellow officer on his death (it was customary to sell off the deceased’s personal effects to raise money for his bereaved family). I eventually tracked down Captain Findlay’s grandson and returned the rifle to the family. If my memory serves, the illustration in your video of the Camerons officer attacking the Zariba with sword in hand represents Captain Findlay. Findlay was exceptionally tall (getting on for 6’ 6”, if I remember correctly) and must have drawn the attention of the enemy. He was speared twice and shot.
I had no idea Lancaster made rifles as well. Ian over at Forgotten Weapons covered examples of the pistols, fascinating things. Was the rifle bolt action ?
@@paulmanson253 No, it was a single shot hammer rifle, which opened like a conventional shotgun. This was a relatively low-powered, lightweight weapon, and this type of rifle in variious calibres was generally used for small game. They were generally known as “Rook and Rabbit” rifles, usually sortened to “Rook Rifles”. I also owned a Lancaster Oval Bore rifle in .380. Both this and the .360 were pistol rounds, although some of these rifles had smaller-calibre rounds designed specifically for them. I used to reload for the .360 Number 5 using 9mm Parabellum lead pistol bullets and .38 Special brass. It was accurate at the range for which it was practical to use it for small game. I did read that a woman who lived off-grid in a remote part of Enlgand used a Rook Rifle to shoot deer for meat, but it was certainly illegal to do so when I owned the rifles, due to their low power. They were popular enough in the latter half of the 1800s for most of the major gunmakers to offer them for sale in various grades from plain to luxurious, and some even made double-barrelled Rook and Rabbit rifles. Apart from those made by Lancaster, they had conventional grooved rifling. The ones I owned were about the size and weight of a .410 shotgun. The reason that rifles of this type were referred to as “Rook and Rabbit” is self-explanatory as far as rabbits are concerned; the “Rook” part of the name derives from their intended use for shooting young, unfledged rooks from the branches of trees. Rook pie seems to have been fairly popular at the time these rifles were in vogue, but I can’t say that it appeals to me, let alone the safety aspect of firing a rifle up into a tree without a safe backstop in case of a miss. I read of two small boys who were sitting on a fence, when one suddenly fell off, dead, for no immediately apparent reason. It was found that he had been hit in the head by a falling bullet from a person who had been shooting rooks with a small calibre rifle several hundred yards away - a fluke accident, but all too real a tragedy.
Thank you so much for sharing that amazing personal connection to the battle. I appreciate the detail I’ve gone into
Today I visited a Church in Dumbarton, Scotland, for the first time, because I know my late grandmother worshipped there. St Augustine's Episcopal Church on the High St. I had no idea that the Church contains a most impressive memorial to Capt Findlay, who was a member of that Church. I recognised misname straight away, as I sometimes pass the impressive Cameron Highlanders memorial outside Inverness Railway Station.
I recognised his name straight away.
Thank God for Britain and the British!
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Another enthralling and educational video. Here's something a little different. How about something on the foreign brigades in the Spanish civil war or, how about the resistance of Malta during WW2?
Thanks for the suggestion, and I will add them to my list which is growing longer and longer thanks to my viewers here on TH-cam
I really enjoyed that bit about Kitchener becoming proud and emotional by the enthusiasm of his victorious troops.
He will similarly overwhelmed when he went to Gordon’s old Palace in Khartoum
@@TheHistoryChap Looking forward to your video covering that!
Watching how the real story of the campaign is very interesting and very informative to a confirmed air battle historian (armchair, not expert), but it brings the film “The Way Ahead” to mind (if you have seen it you will know what I am on about, if not I highly recommend it to you all), in the opening scenes and later on two “old soldiers” from the Chelsea Pensioners talk about how they fought in this campaign and, if memory serves, specifically the battle of Omdurman, forming square, bayonets gleaming and buttons polished, but then I am looking at the supporting photographs that are being shown after this battle and the soldiers, especially the British 🇬🇧 look 👀 far from the standard the two old soldiers stated, but tbh those of us who have served in the desert know how difficult it is to keep standards up, and of course we “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story”
Thanks for sharing this historic battle with us all, I never thought I would enjoy recounting of “Grunts” historical events, but I am glad to say I do now, I like the way the information is presented and the visual supporting photographs etc are a great way to let us form a picture of the events in our minds eye 👁️. Thanks again your research and knowledge is fantastic.
P.S Subscribed (again, for some reason it was not showing me as subscribed). 😀👍🇬🇧🏴🇺🇦🇮🇱
Thank you for your resubscribe and I am pleased that you enjoyed this video. I’ve never served in the desert I have travelled through it in Sudan and the dust gets everywhere.
I'm reading the book you recommended, Warriors in Scarlet. The chapters about New Zealand are very interesting. Maybe videos about that campaign?
I really enjoyed the book. The New Zealand wars were a revelation and I will cover them in my future videos. Just need to get my head around some of those pronunciations!
Remember Winston's charge from the movie. Can't wait to see it.
I released it just under an hour ago
You have been a busy little boy.@@TheHistoryChap
MacDonald's depleted Sudanese battalions were replenished by defectors who had fought them and killed their friends. I guess a man's got to be realistic about things, in times of war.
Indeed.
To think that David Beatty, later first Sea Lord of Tha Admiriality and of Skagerak fame, was present at Atbara... As of usual, The History Chap brings us a Tour de Force with a comprehensive accoiunt of the Sudanese campain, meticulously detailed...100 % quality rating, should win the quality content creator of the year award, anywhere on the TH-cam... You can't get British Military History explained any better than this...
Thank you for your very kind comment
I love the way you tell every story in your own voice bringing obscure facts and information to light and making it very real and relatable. I will come after you if you ever decide to use AI-generated voice...
Thank you for your comment & thanks for watching my video
You could cover G.A. Henty, who was a newspaper correspondent during Victoria’s reign,witnessing many of the campaigns you’ve discussed, and later going on to write a series of historical fiction books targeted to British boys of the period.
Thank you very much for that suggestion. I will add to my ever-growing list for future talks.
We used to live in Atbara Road, Teddington!!!!
Funny how all these names pop up and most folk haven't got a clue as to the story behind the road names. A bit like Grenfell Tower in London.
British military history is always interesting for sure
Every time I think I’ve exhausted a subject area, more interesting material pops up
I enjoyed your video very much. Personally I’m interested in weapons and how they affect a battle. I would have liked you to have mentioned what rifles the British army were using and if the bolt action magazine fed rifles were a big factor over the single shot ( if that was what was used) in the 1885 campaign. I imagine they were but I would like it to have been covered.
Many thanks for watching my video, and for sharing your thoughts on how it could have been improved
The Egyptian and Sudanese troops under British control were generally issued with 455/577 Martini Henry Rifles. The British would have used Lee Enfield rifles with the nasty MK III ammuntion
You should check out some of the wars fought in New Zealand. Very interesting conflicts between the Maori and British-NZ colonials.
Getting a lot of requests for them. I just need to get my head around the pronunciation of some of the Maori words.
@@TheHistoryChap best of luck. Also, I think a video on the differences of Vietnam and Malaysia wouldn't hurt either. A lot of folks within the Anglo sphere have this idea that the conflicts are entirely relatable and that what worked in one might work in another.
Haaaa they were still using the ramp loading Martini-Henry. I love that rifle. I hope to have an authentic 1879 or 80 here soon.
The Egyptian army were using it, but the British Army had been upgraded to the Lee Metford.
catching up
I hope you enjoy it
As the Clash would say “ Caliph don’t like it….”
Very droll. You’ve made my Friday morning!
This is a new bit of history but I would love to hear anything about the Highland Light Infantry. My father was an engineer for the HLI. They were mobbed up near Camrose Alberta at the start of WW2. They were then shipped off to Edinburgh where the trained..and trained.....and trained. Then, prior to them shipping out for D-Day, they had 10 days?? anyway, it was long enough. He met a singer in a bar (my mother). I know very little about the campaigns they were in. They were selected to go in with initial wave, mostly because they were green. veterans would know better than to charge German positions. Anyway, they went right thru to occupy Berlin. Can you find out anything about these young men? I wrote to the Canadian Government 6 years ago for his military record. Never heard back... Many thanks! Love your story telling!
Many thanks for watching my videos and for your support. I will add your suggestion to my list for future productions, although I don’t know very much about this particular subject.
The importance of using railways to transport troops had also led to the Prussian army being able to defeat the French in 1870
Very good point. Thanks for posting.
Thank you Chris for fine presentation today! Were the Maxim machine guns a russian brand? All the best from Ludwig
The Maxim machine guns were the invention of Hiram Maxim, an American-born naturalised British citizen.The Germans used Maxims during the First World War, and the Russians were still using them in the Second World War.
@@neilfoddering921thank you very much for that information! Ludwig
@@ludwigderzanker9767 Bitte schön!
I’m not sure which brand they actually were. I wouldn’t have thought they were Russian only because Britain’s relationship with Russia at this moment in time was not particularly friendly.
I say old stick a most excellent rendition!
Glad you enjoyed it.
⭐️👍
👍
An excellent video
A very well executed battle plan
(Could’ve gone wrong)
You always wonder if Haigh and Beatty remembered that almost easy victory at Jutland and Somme.
I’ve never really thought about it until now. Yeah, look at the size of the battles that they were later involved with.
Дякую!!!
You are binge watching my channel. Thanks
Excellent story
Thanks for watching
Chris, how was it that the Mahdists were able to use 'captured British artillery with considerable effect'?...Who instructed them?...
They were actually using captured Egyptian artillery. They were demanded, or at least instructed by former Egyptian artillery captives.
Wasn't Gatacre in command at the battle of Stormberg? A good night advance versus a not so good night advance...
Yes, he was, and on that occasion, the night advance lead to disaster
Kitchener was some general
Much maligned by his political enemies in World War I
Kitchener did well. It is not surprising the highest casualties belonged to the commands of those who were fighters like MacDonald. The others did well too. Thank good ness that artillery officer intervened from the Khalifa's cousin being killed. It was devastating that 90% of that first company was wiped out and even more so their enemies were themselves wiped out completely but given what happened no surprise. Kitchener's campaign in Sudan from 1896-98 was one of the best colonial campaigns ever conducted and fought. It was of course at Omdurmann that the arrogant Mahdist commander's warning to Kitchener would prove fatally wrong and would thus end Islamic extremism in Sudan. Extremism must not be tolerated!
Once more, a great and thoughtful post from you, Nathan. Some modern commentators tend to believe that the modest state was simply trying to stay independent. They missed the point that it was an Islamic fundamentalist state that wanted to spread its revolution across the Islamic world and beyond. The invaded Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia. They happily endorsed and practised slavery. The number of Sudanese in Kitchener army indicates that many of the population did not support that agenda.
@@TheHistoryChap Good thing, one's beliefs should not be forced on others.
What British battle killed the most Indians? This subject would be very interesting and exiting.
Goodness knows what the answer is. Possibly one of the walls with the Sikhs?
For some Reason changing Red Coats clothing effected British Cavalry and Royal Army
Thank you for taking the time to comment
What resources or economic gains were derived from control of these regions. Why were they fighting?
Watch my video about Charles Gordon.
Was there a young Churchill there?
Brain fog , he was there.
Young Churchill was at the battle of Omdurman but hasn’t arrived in time for the battle of Atbara.
I am from atbara
Thanks for watching my video.
Whatever happens, we have got
The Maxim Gun
And they have not.
Certainly true in this campaign,
It's a battle the British Army in Africa which fulfilling their destiny in the late 19th Century.
Thanks for watching my video
Have you done the Tibet campaign of 1903? I'm not quite sure that is the right date.
That has always seemed like the last spasm of empire to me.
I haven’t, but it is on my list for this year. Maybe I should call it “Battle on the roof of the world” , what do you think?
@@TheHistoryChap that's a good title.
🤔👍👍
Thank you for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant. It’s a pity these battles are not taught in schools. There is a lot of political nonsense dredged up when looking at history. A real shame because we can learn a lot.
History is all about perspectives. Generally there are no rights or wrongs. Maybe that is what students should be taught.
why were the British there in the first place?
You need to watch some of my other videos for that
Your vocabulary is so wide.I sometimes struggle to understand .English isn't my first language.I've heard some words in your videos first time .Such as ,"calamity."
Thanks for watching my video & for your comment.
The Brits win again.
Certainly on that occasion they did
You tube 🖕
Thanks for watching and for taking time to give me a thumbs up.
Having served in the mid 80s, I delight in the recounting of these battles, one of the reasons I joined up. We truly were the best. Sadly that's not the case anymore. The British army is virtually worthless as anything other than a last line of defence. Very sad.
Thanks so much for watching my video and for taking the time to comment.