Life Guards at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, 1882

Thomas Davidson (fl. London 1863 - 1903). Oil painting on cardboard, Life Guards at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, 1882, by Thomas Davidson (fl. London1863-1903), signed bottom left, TD, 1882. Black horse racing to the left, with rider in uniform of the Life Guards, holding his reins with his left hand and leaning forward with his arm raised about to bring it down on a native fighter who is standing by his wheeled armament, a figure is being trampled beneath the horse and to the right is another native soldier with a rifle looking up at the horse and rider. Faint figures on horseback can be seen in the background. The battle of Tel al-Kebir was the decisive battle of the Urabi Revolt. After discontented Egyptian officers under Ahmed Urabi rebelled in 1882, Great Britain reacted to protect its interests in the country, and in particular the Suex Canal. Lieutenant-General Garnet Joseph Wolseley (later Viscount Wolseley) (1833-1913) (was placed in charge of a large force with the aim of destroying Urabi regime and restoring the nominal authority of the Khedive Tawfig. The total force was 24,000 British troops and 7000 Indian troops.To defend Cairo against Wolseley, Urabi ‘s force dug in at Tel al-Kebir, north of the railway and the Sweetwater Canal, both of which linked Cairo to Ismalia on the canal. Wolseley beganhis advance from Ismalia on September 12th 1882, with two infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade. He planned to approach the position by night and attack frontally at dawn, hoping to achieve surprise. At 5.45 am Wolseley’s troops were barely three hundred yards from the entrenchments and dawn was just breaking when Egyptian sentries saw them and fired. The first shots were followed by several volleys from the entrenchments. British troops, led by the Highland Brigade on the right charged with the bayonet. The resulting battle was over in an hour. Most of the Egyptian soldiers were tired from having stood to all night. Because of the haste with which Urabi’s forces had prepared their defences, there were no obstacles in front of them to disrupt the attackers. Several groups stood and fought, but those not overwhelmed in the first rush were forced to retreat. British cavalry pursued towards, Cairo, which was undefended. Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire (Accredited Museum)