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The British Army on Campaign (4), 1882-1902 PDF

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201 OSPREY· MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES 'lhe .. r3ritish ufrmy on (Jmpaign (4): 1816-19 02 9 1882-1 02 Text IJy MICHAEL BARTHORP Colourplates IJy PIERRE TURNER MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES I I EDITOR: MARTIN WINDROW The ~my GJ3ritish (4): on @mpaign 9 1816-1 02 9 1882-1 02 Text by MICHAEL BARTHORP COLOUT pLates by PIERRE TURNER OSPREY PUBLlSHI)/G LONDO)/ Published in Ig88 by Artist's Note Osprey Publishing Ltd Readers may care to note that the original paimings Member company ofthe George Philip Group from which the colour plates in this book were 12-14 Long Acre, London WC2E gLP prepared are available for private sale. All Copyright Ig88 Osprey Publishing Ltd reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the publisher. All enquiries should be addressed to: This book is copyrighted under the Berne Pierre Turner Convention. All rights reserved. Apart from any fair 10 Church Street dealing for the purpose ofprivate study, research, Lyme Regis criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Dorset DT7 gBS Act, 1956, no part ofthis publication may be The publishers regret that they can enter into no reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or correspondence upon this matter. transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission ofthe copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the Publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data BarIhorp, Michael The British Army on campaign 1816-lgOO. (Men-at-arms series; 201). 4: 1880-lgoo 1. Great Britain. Army, 1816-1902 1. Title I!. Series g55'·00941 Filmset in Great Britain Printed through Bookbuilders Ltd. Hong Kong Errata-MAA l!j/i, MAA 19B Regrettably the following colour errors have occurred in previous volumes ofthis series: (2) MAA Ig6: Plale Fo: shako ball tuft should be green. (g) MAA Ig8: Plate DI: water bottleshould be blue grey with iron stopper and rims. Plates Dg, EI, Hg: Greatcoats should be dark grey/black with no blue shade. Plate HI: Uniform should be black with no blue shade. (4): The British Army on Campaign 9 1882-1 02 rhe Army for irs dual role ofImperial garrisoning Introduction and possible inrervenrion in Europe, coupled wirh home defence (needs which in many ways conflicred) wirhour recourse ro conscriprion, enlisr· TheArmyof[882 hadjusremergedfrom rhemany ment had been alrered in [870 from long 10 shorr modernising reforms effecred berween 1856-8 service, parr wirh the Colours and parr on rhe I. These included: centralisarion of rhe Army's Regular Reserve. The lauer had nor exisred conrrol; reorganisarion of the logisric supporr inro previously,burcouldhenceforrhbemobilisedinrhe Deparrmenral Corps; opening of schools of in evenr of a narional emergency. Foreign garrisons srrucrion; abolirion ofrhe purchaseofcommissions; had been reduced; and Line infanrry regimenrs improvemenrs in pay, living condirions and were linked rogerher and localised ro enhance disciplinary measures; new weapons and tactics; recruirmenr, rraining and manning of ballalions. and grearer inregrarion of rhe second·line Miliria This firsr, 1872 linkingsystem had to be developed and VolunreerForcewirh rheRegularArmy.Tofir furrherin 1881 roprovidelargerinfanrryregimenrs, based on terrirorial areas, embracing Regulars, MiliriaandVolunreerswithcommondepors. Thus, Tel-el-Kebir,Egypt188!:!::2/HighlandLightInfantryassaulting theEgyptianpositions;afteraHarryPaynewater-colour.For by the opening of this period, the old numbered a rear view of2/Royal Irish's attack, see MAA 107, page 12. (Author's collection) regimenrs met in the previous ritles in this study (MAA tg3, Ig6and Ig8) hadbeenamalgamared10 become rhe Regular baualions of regiments with rerritorial designarions: e.g. rhe 39th and 54th Regiments were now rhe [st and 2nd Baualions of the Dorsershire Regimenr, which additionally had 3rd (Miliria) and [st (Volunreer) Ballalions.' By [882 not all the reforms of the previous 25 years had been as successful as their initiators had hoped and, though the possibility of a European role remained, the Army had perforce been commiued entirely to its Imperial funcrion, as describedin MAA Ig8. Thishad inevitablyaffected the Army's perception ofitselfand its approach 10 filling irselffor war. During this last period the Army's Imperial role remained pre-eminent. World affairs were domi· nared, in Europe, by the rising power ofGermany, but elsewhere, parricularly in Africa, by the scramble for colonial possessions. II was thoughr rhar the chief rhrears 10 rhe Brirish Empire were IAs the 1St-25th Regiments already had two battalions, no amalgamationswerenecessary,thoughallreceivednewtilies.The60th (nowKing'sRoyalRifleCorps) andRifleBrigaderemainedwithfOUf battalionseach. The 79th, now Cameron Highlanders, had onlyonc Regular battalion until ,897. 3 France,and theRussianadvanceintoCentral Asia; Gordon's mission to evacuate the Egyptian the territorial ambitions orboth nations influenced garrisons; the ratally belated expedition to rescue British roreign and colonial policy and thus the himoncehewascutoffin Khartoum;thesubsidiary Army's employment. operations around Suakin on the Red Sea; and finally, theattempted invasionorEgyptitselrbythe Mahdists. Therearter Mahdism was merely con tained ror 13 years, until the blow delivered to Campaiglls 1882-190? European prestige by Italy's dereat in Abyssinia, and French aspirations towards the Upper Nile, required the reconquest or the Sudan and its Concern for the security of Britain's com restoration to tranquillity under Anglo-Egyptian munications with India, the Far East and rule. Australasia through the Suez Canal led to the Elsewhere in Albca the consolidation orBritish Army's first campaign or the period, and to authority and supprcssion or tribal uprisings deployment ortroops into an area not visited since necessitated thedeployment orBritish rorces, albeit the Napoleonic War-Egypt and the Red Sea small, until well into the 18gos, including areas like littoral. The quelling orArabi Pasha's nationalist Ashanti and Zululand which had already relt the revoltagainsttheKhediveorEgyptand his Franco weight orBritish arms (see MAA Ig8). British advisors, who had been attempting to France's intrigues with the King or Burma restore Egypt to solvency, removed any threat to against British interests led to an expedition to theCanaleitherrrom theNationalistsorrromother dethrone the king and annex Burma to India. powers seeking to capitalise on an unstable Egypt. Though this was speedily accomplished, the However, the ensuing assumption by Britain or responsibility ror returning Egypt to stability Hasbin, Dear Suakin, 188.5: the Guards Brigade's square inevitably embroiled her in the Mahdist revolt shelteringInmancayalry;heightsattackedbya/Berkshireand RMLI in background. After T. S. Seccombe. (National Anny against Egyptian rulein theSudan.This\cd toGen. MuseulT\,as are remainder unless otherwiseattributed.) 4 pacification of Upper Burma developed into a Burma, 1886: MountedInfantry (seealso PlateD2)onpatrol. From The Graphic, after an officer's sketch. (Author's protracted campaign. collection) Within India itself the Russian threat from Central Asia continued to preoccupy political and needed to be done to fit it for 20th century warfare military minds, and war with Russia over an fought with modern weapons. Afghan border incident was narrowly averted in Below are listed the campaigns and expeditions 1885 (a danger which brought operations in the in which the British Army took part between Sudan toa halt). Tribal turbulenceon thefrontiers, 1882~1902. Against each are shown the battle north-east as well as north-west, resulted in honours awarded and the cavalry and infantry numerous punitive expeditions. The relief of the regiments to whom they were granted. The besieged garrison of Chitral required the largest universal service ofthe Royal Artillery and Royal deployment ofBritish soldiers in such expeditions Engineers was recognised by their joint motto of up to ,895; but this was eclipsed in scale by the 'Ubique'. Where no battle honours were awarded Pathan Revolt of 1897, when the North-West theregimentswhich tookpartaregiven in brackets. Frontier blazed from end to end-fortunately The following abbreviations are used: without co-ordination between the various tribes. N ~ North; E = East; S = South, or Scots, The Indian Army contributed the major share of Scottish; W = West, or Wales, Welch; LG ~ Life tfOOPSin Frontierand Burmeseoperations,and also Guards; RHG = Royal Horse Guards; DG ~ provided contingents for Egypt and the Sudan, Dragoon Guards; D = Dragoons; H = Hussars; L 1882-85. ~ Lancers; G = Guards; R = Royal; K = King's; o The last three years of the period witnessed ~ Own; F = Fusiliers; LI = Light Infantry; H Britain's first major war since the Crimea and the ~ Highland, Highlanders; B = Borderers; KRRC Indian Mutiny, and thegreatestinvolvementofthe ~ King's Royal Rifle Corps; RB = Rifle Brigade; Army, including Militia, Yeomanry and Volun A&S ~ Argyll and Sutherland; DWR = Duke of teers, since the Napoleonic War-the conflict with Wellington's; Y&L = York and Lancaster; Dets ~ the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Detachments; MI = Mounted 1nfantry; CCR ~ Free State. Its long duration proved that, Camel Corps Regiments; RHA,RA ~ Royal notwithstanding all the Army's post-t856 reforms (Horse) Artillery;RE = Royal Engineers; RMA ~ and its many successes in 'small wars" much still Royal Marine Artillery; RMLl = Royal Marine 5 Light Infantry; ballalions ofinfantry regiments ~ RHG, 2DG, 4DG, 5DG, ID, 2D, 5L, 1/,2/; regimentswithlongercountytitlesendingin 16L; Light-3H, 4H, 7H, loH, IIH, shire are abbreviated, e.g. Northamptonshire 15H, 18H, 2oH, 21H; Guards Northamptons; Derbyshire = Derbys. Grenadier G, Coldstream G, SG, RMLT; MI-Somerset LT, RSF, Corn 1882 EgyptianWar. Tel-el-Kebir: ILG, 2LG, wall LT, R Sussex, S Staffords, Black RHG, +DG, 7DG, IgH; 2/GrenadierG, Watch, Essex, R W Kent, KRRC, I/Coldstream, G, I/SG, 2/R Irish, Gordon H, Connaught Rangers, RB.) 2/Cornwall LT, 1/B1ack Watch, 3/ 1885-89 Third Bunna War. Burma, 1885-87: KRRC, 2/Y&L, 2/HLT, I/Seaforth H, 2/Queen's, 2/King's, 2/Somerset LT, I/Gordon H, Cameron H, I/R Irish F. 2/RSF, I/RWF, 2/SWB, 2/Hampshirc, Egypt 1882: All above plus: I/R Sussex, I/KOLT6, 2/R Munster F, 1/ & 4/RB. I/S Staffords, 2/Derbys I/Berkshire, (RA; 1/ & 2/ Torfolk, 2/Leicesters, 1/ & l, I/R W Kent, I/K Shropshire LT, 1/ 2/Cheshire, I/Hampshirc, 4/KRRC.) Manchester, 8/London'. (RA; RE; 1888 Suakin Operations. (2/KOSB, RMA; RMLL) I/Welch.) 1884 BechuanalandFieldForce. (6D; RA; 1888 Sikkim Campaign (NE India). (RA; RE; I/RS.) 2/Derbysl.) 1884-85 FirstSudanWar (includingDefenceof 1888 North-West Frontier (Hazara/Black Egyptian Frontier, Dec 1885). Mountain). (RA; 2/Northumberland F, Egypt /8843: IoH, IgH; I/Black Watch, I/Suffolk, 2/R Irish, 2/R Sussex, 2/Sea 3/KRRC, I/Y&L, I/Gordon H, 2/R forth H.) Irish F. Abu Klea (AK), Kirbekan (K), 1888 Zulu1and Uprising. (6D; RA; I/RS, Nile 1884-854: IgH(AK); I/R Irish, Dets-I/R Inniskilling F, I/N Staffords.) 'is 2/Cornwall LT, I/R Sussex(AK), 188g"90 Chin-Looshai Expedition (NE In Sta!fords(K), 1/B1ack Watch(K), 2/Es dia). (I/KOSB, Dets-2/Norfolk, 1/ sex, I/RW Kent, I/GordonH, Cameron Cheshire.) H. Tofrek(T), Suakin 1885: 5L, 2oH; 1889"92 BurnJ.ese Expeditions. (2/Devons, 3/Grenadier G, 2/ColdsIream G, 2/SG, I/Cornwall LT, I/Hampshire, 2/0x[ords I/E Surrey, I/Berkshire(T), I/K Shrop Ll', 4/KRRC, 4/RB.) shireLT. (RA;RE; I/Yorkshire', RMLT, 1891 North-West Frontier. (Samana: RA; 2/Durham LT; Dets,CCR: Heavy-LG. I/KRRC, Det-2/Manchester. Hazara: I/RWF, I/KRRC, 2/Seaforth·H.) 18g1 ManipurExpedition(NElndia). (RA; ReliefofChitraJ, ISgs:MaxiIllsof./Devonsinaction.(Navy& Armylllustraud) I/KRRC, DeH/Buffs.) 6 1892~3 Chin-Kachin Hills Expedition (NE I/Seaforth H, I/Cameron H. Khartoum: India). (RA; Dets-l/Norfolk, 2/York As Albara plus: 21L; I/Grenadier G, shire'.) II orthumberland F, 2/Lancashire F, 1893 Matabeleland Revolt. (3DG; RA; 2/RB. (RA; RE; DeLS-I/R Irish F, RE; Det-2/DWR.) 2/Connaughl Rangers.) 1894-95 North-West Frontier (Waziristan). Pathan Revolt (Toc/li, Malakand, Moh (2/Border, Dels-l/Devons, 2/SWB.) mand, Tirah Field Forces). Tirah: 1895 North-West Frontier (Reliefof Chil l/Queen's, 1IDevans, 2/Yorkshire', ral). Chitral: I/Buffs, I/Bedfords, 21 l/RSF, 2/KOSB, I/DorseLS, 2/Derbys', KOSB, liE Lancashire, l/KRRC, II 1I OrlhamplOns, I/Gordon H (Det Seaforth H, I/Gordon H. (Det-!I I6L; RA; I/Buffs, I/Somerset LJ, 2/R Devons.) Jrish, 2/R InniskillingF, I/Cornwall Ll, 1896 Ashanti Expedition. (RE; 2/W York 2/R Sussex, 2/0xfords LJ7, I/R WKent, shire, Dets-Grenadier G, Coldstream G, 2/KO Yorkshire Ll, 2/HLl, 2/A&SH, SG, Northumberland F, Devons, KO 3/RB.) Yorkshire L1, K Shropshire L1, R Irish 189g Second Boer War". Modder River (M); F, Leinsler, RB.) 1902 Difence of Kimberley (DK); Reliif if 1896-97 Rhodesian Field Forces (Matabele Kimberley (RK); Paardeberg (P); De land, Mashonaland). (7H; RA; RE; fence ofLadysmith (DL); ReliififLadys 2/DWR, MI DeLS- orfolk, R Irish, mith (RL); South Africa, JlJ99-Jfj02: ILG Hampshire, S Lancashire, Derbys', (RK, P), 2LG (RK, P), RHG (RK, P), KRRC, Y&L, R Irish Rifles, R Irish F, 5DG (DL), 6DG (RK. P), ID (RL), 2D R Dublin F, RB.) 189~8 Second Sudan War. Haftr: liN Staf Landingin West Africa ofthe 18g6 Ashanti Expedition. The troopsareinhonteserviceundresswithhelmetsandcanvas fords. Atbara: l/R Warwieks, '/Lincolns, gaitersand mixed 188~/I888equipntent. 7 Tirah 109?: I/Gordon Highlanders attacking the Dargai 2{R Berkshire, 2{KO Yorkshire LI (M), Heights.After LioneljaD'les,the war correspondent. 2{K Shropshire LI (P), I{(DL), 3{(RL) & 4{KRRC, I{(DL) & 21 1anchester, (RK, P), SL (DL), 60, gL (RK, P), loH I/Y&L (RL), I{Durham LI (RL), (RK, P), 12L (RK, P), 13H (RL), 18H I/HLI (M), 2{Seaforth H (P), I/(P) & (DL), IgH(DL); 21 & 3/(M) Grenadier 2/(DL) Gordon H, 2{R Irish Rifles, I{& G, II & 2/(M) Coldstream G, I/(M) & 2/(RL) R Irish F, I{Connaught Rangers 2/SG, I/RS, 2/Queen's (RL), 2/KO (RL), I{A&SH (M, P), I{ & 2{R Lancaster (RL), II & 2{(M) Northum Munster F, I{ & 2{(RL) R Dublin F, berland F, 2{R Warwicks, 2{RF (RL), I{(RL), 2{(DL) & 4{RB. (RHA, RA; I{Kings(DL), I{(DL) & 2{(RL) Devons, RE; RM.) South Africa, 19oo-o2: 7DG, I{Suffolk, 2{Somerset LI (RL), 2{W 8H, 14H (RL), 16L(RK,P), 17L;2{Buffs Yorkshire (RL), '/Leicesters (DL), (P), 2{ orfolk (P), 2/Lincolns (P), 2/E I/Yorkshire' (RK, P), 2{Lancashire F Yorkshire, 2/Bedfords, ,{R Irish, (RL), I{RWF (RL), 2{Cameronians 2/Cheshire,2{SWB, I/KOSB (P), I{ & (RL), I{(RL) & 2/R Inniskilling F, I{ & 2/Worcesters, I{E Lancashire, I{DWR 2{(RK, P) Gloucesters, 2{E Surrey (RL), (P), I{R Sussex, 2{Hampshire (P), I{S 2{Cornwall LI (P), {Border (RL), Staffords, I{Oxfords LF (P), 2{R W I 2{Dorsets (RL), I{S Lancashire (RL), Kent, 2{Middlesex (RL), 2{Wiltshire, I{Welch (RK, P), I{ & 2{(P) Black 2{N Staffords, I{Cameron H, I{ & Watch, I{(RK, P) & 2{Essex, I{Derbys', 2{Leinster. I{Loyals' (DK), 2{ orthamplOns (M), SOllth ..!{rim. lI"JDI ()2: IDG. 20G. 1DG. 8 7H,20H. from any standard form of attack or defence South Africa, 1902: 3H. formation, and to allot troops to tbe different Igoo Boxer Rebellion. Pekin I!)OO: 2/RWF. echelonsaccordingtosuchfactorsastheterrainand (RA; RM.) nature and strength ofthe enemy. .\oleJ: The conceptofthe infantry attack envisaged the ISherwood Foresters (including Nottinghamshin: frum 1902). !PO.'lt Ollie\: Rifles (Volunteers). pushing forward of the firing line, reinforced as IFighling'HoundSuakin, BattlcsofEl Teb, Tarnai. necessary by its supports and reserve, to a position 4Gord0l1 ReliefExpedition. 5Now Green Howards. from whicb its fire could so dominate and envelop 'King'sOwn Light Infa11try (SolJlh Yorkshire) until 1887; llwrcancr theobjective, that thesecondlinecouldassaultwith King's Own Yorkshire Lighl Infantry. 'HuckinA"hamshil'cadded Ig08. the bayonet. The taskofthe third, reserve line was, 8~cn'ice was rccogniscd b~ lhe gCIH.:r;d honour S'I/IIII Ajrim with rcJc-vanl d;tl~'s and spedfie honours lor ()pn;lliullS between Oct in theeventofsuccess, topursue theenemyor,ifthe 1~J9 Feb 19°0 showlI abbreviated in brac-kCls ancr rcg-i attack failed, to cover tbe retreat of the first and mcnts/baltalions so entitled. The honour SOl/til AJi"ica wilh relevant dates toall Ycoll1:111ry involved. tvlilitia and Volunteer battalionsof second lines. In defence the first line provided the rcgimcl1lsabove, and Volunteerbattalionsofthe London, Cambrid advanced posts and a firing line as thick as possible geshire and \1onmOUlhshire Regimenls (which had no Regular battalions).Tht: honoursStlJrlfllGand Mr.di/em/7/n/7/wereawarded lO but still with its own supports and reserve. The certain Mililia battalions for relieving Regulargarrisons. ~:"iorth I.allcashir-e. second lineguarded Ihe flanks and was prepared, if necessary, to support the first line with fire or local Fighting-Met/lOds counter-attacks. The tbird line was held ready to deliver the main counter-attack. Themaximum uscofcover was encouraged, but Infantry subordinated to the maintenance of order and The principle (first introduced in the late 1870s) of cobesion. The extent ofdispersion, laterally and in giving depth to attack and detence formations by depth, adopted by a first line battalion, as well as deploying in l'hree lines or, more accurately, two the distances between the three lines, were and a reserve, with the first linedivided intoa firing determined by tbe type of ground; distance from line followed by its own supports and reserve, was and density ofenemy fire; and the need for control described in MAA 'g8. This principle remained in offircand movement. Movementin theearlystages force throughoulthisperiod.Itwasnowinterpreted ofan attack was in normal quick time of120 paces more flexibly than when first introduced, however, Sudan,18g8:chargeofthe:ustLancersatOmdurman(seealso commanders at all levels being urged to abstain Plate F3)' After W. B. Wollen, war artistfor The Sphere. g

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