Katana VentraIP

Invasion of Darfur

The Invasion of Darfur was the military invasion and occupation of the Sultanate of Darfur by the British Empire and the Sultanate of Egypt from 16 March to 6 November 1916. The sultan of Darfur, Ali Dinar, had been reinstated by the British after their victory in the Mahdist War but during the First World War he grew restive, refusing his customary tribute to the Sudanese government and showing partiality to the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Sirdar Reginald Wingate then organized a force of around 2,000 men; under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Philip James Vandeleur Kelly, the force entered Darfur in March 1916 and decisively defeated the Fur Army at Beringia and occupied the capital al-Fashir in May. Ali Dinar had already fled to the mountains and his attempts to negotiate a surrender were eventually broken off by the British. His location becoming known, a small force was sent after him and the sultan was killed in action in November 1916. Subsequently, Darfur was fully annexed to the British administration of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and remained part of Sudan upon its independence.

Two companies of mounted infantry, commanded by Major Cobden, ;

9th Lancers

Five companies from the Camel Corps, commanded by Major Huddleston, ;

Dorsetshire Regiment

Six companies from the 13th and 14th Battalions, Sudanese Infantry, commanded by Major Bayly, and Major Darwell, Royal Marine Light Infantry;

Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Two companies from the Arab Battalion, commanded by Major Cowan, ;

Cameron Highlanders

Two companies from the 14th Battalion, Egyptian Infantry;

Two artillery batteries, which also included two Maxim machine guns, commanded by Major Spinks Royal Artillery; and

12-pounder

One Maxim machine gun battery.[8]

[4]

the rebellion of Darfur against the Sudanese government (2003–present)

War in Darfur

The Soldier's Burden: Darfur 1916