Second Brigade—Major-General Sir John MacNeill, V.C., K.C.B.: The 49th (Royal Berkshire Regiment), 53rd (Shropshire Light Infantry), and a battalion of the Royal Marine Light Infantry.
Indian Brigade—Brigadier-General J. Hudson, C.B.: The 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 17th (Loyal Regiment), and the 128th Pioneers.
To these must be added a battery of horse and two of field artillery, with a well-horsed, but only partially trained, battery of Australians. Sir Gerald's orders were to press on the construction of the railway to Berber, a feat which did not receive much encouragement on the spot, as it was felt that the nature of the country and the want of water on the route selected somewhat militated against success. The troops were much harassed by continuous night attacks, whilst the superior mobility of the enemy, who invariably shirked attack, prevented the General from inflicting any serious damage to the causes of the Mahdi. One action in this expedition has been rescued from oblivion, but it is open to question whether at the time it was considered a victory.
Tofrek, March 22, 1885.
This battle honour records the services of the under-mentioned regiments in a sharp little fight outside the town of Suakin, on the Red Sea, in the campaign of the Eastern Soudan, in 1885. It is borne on the colours of the
Royal Berkshire.
Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.
17th (Loyal Regiment).
15th Ludhiana Sikhs.
128th Pioneers.
In the early morn of March 22 Sir John MacNeill, a gallant and experienced soldier, was sent out from Suakin with orders to form a halfway camp on the route to Tamai. The road lay through a dense thorn-bush, and the reconnoitring was unfortunately confided to the 5th Lancers, a young regiment with no experience of Eastern warfare. They were all unused to the glare of the Egyptian desert, and gave no timely warning of the proximity of the enemy. The brigade was attacked when half the men were busy cutting the jungle to form a breastwork, but there was no confusion until the camels, terrified by the onrush of the Soudanese, who commenced ham-stringing the animals, broke the line of the rear face of the hastily-formed square. The commanding officer of the regiment fell in rallying his men. In twenty minutes the rush of the tribesmen was repulsed, and though our losses were severe, those of the enemy were enormous. Over 2,000 were buried by our men. Such a lesson was taught them that from that day until the withdrawal of Sir Gerald Graham's force no further attacks were made on his camp.
Casualties at the Action of Tofrek.
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| Naval Brigade | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| 5th Lancers | 1 | - | - | 5 |
| Royal Artillery | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| Roy. Engineers | 2 | 1 | 13 | 3 |
| 49th Berkshires | 1 | - | 22 | 30 |
| Royal Marines | - | - | 7 | 16 |
| Madras Sappers and Miners | 2 | 1 | 12 | 20 |
| 15th Sikhs | - | - | 9 | 11 |
| 17th Loyal Regiment | 1 | 1 | 20 | 33 |
| 128th Pioneers | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 |