On the 3rd, Captain Apthorp was sent with 40 of his own men and 40 Egyptian troopers to reconnoitre along the Berber road. At Hamdoob, 10 miles from Suakin, a camp and village, occupied by the enemy, was surprised and burnt. While the small party were thus occupied, a great body of Arabs, 5000 strong, had moved from Tamai and Hasheem to intercept them, and took post in a ravine two miles from Hamdoob, completely blocking their return to Suakin. The Arab force was so well concealed that the squadron was almost in contact with them before their presence was discovered, and the great mass of Arabs, footmen and men mounted on camels, bore down on the small body of cavalry at once. There was no time to dismount and fire, and it was hopeless to attempt to break through: nothing was left them but to ride for Suakin by a circuitous route. Turning eastwards the squadron started on a long gallop round the enemy’s flank. The Arabs followed in overwhelming numbers, and, moving on a shorter line, together with their knowledge of the ground, were able to harass the squadron for several miles. The 19th lost 8 men and 11 horses, while the Egyptian troop lost three men and six horses.
The number of Arabs in the neighbourhood of Suakin was too great to allow of distant reconnoissances, little more of interest occurred, therefore, till the arrival of Sir Gerald Graham’s force. Early in March, they began to arrive, but the whole force was not completed till nearly the middle of April. On the 17th March, the 19th Hussar squadron re-embarked for Cairo in order to join the Head Quarters of the regiment at Dongola, in readiness for the advance on Khartoum in the autumn.
Our interest with the Suakin force ceases here. It is sufficient to say that it amounted to 12,500 men, composed of troops from England, a contingent of native troops from India, and a contingent from New South Wales consisting of two batteries of artillery, and 500 infantry. It had also with it a balloon detachment, the first occasion on which balloons were used by British troops in warfare. On the 20th March, it fought a successful action at Hasheem, and again on the 22nd, at Tofrik, when an enormous number of the enemy were killed at a rather heavy cost to the British troops engaged. On the 3rd April, Tamai was occupied, and the last of the enemy’s force broken up. By the end of April, 18 miles of railway were completed, and the tribes in the neighbourhood had given in their submission; when the intention of the British Government to abandon the advance on Khartoum became known. On the 17th May, the withdrawal of the troops commenced, and again Suakin was left with only a small force to protect the port.
We left the three squadrons of the 19th at Dongola and other stations south of that place, with all thoughts concentrated on preparations for the autumn advance on Khartoum. The regimental establishment was increased by 110 men, bringing up the strength to 740 sabres. Four strong squadrons were being prepared for the field: but over 13 years were to elapse before Khartoum was again seen by British troops. About the 22nd April it was announced that the intention of advancing on Khartoum in the autumn had been abandoned, and orders were issued for the withdrawal of the troops. The retirement commenced on the 26th May, when Merawi was evacuated. The troops were withdrawn down the river in detachments, each post being evacuated in turn as it became the southernmost point of occupation. On the 22nd June, the Head Quarters of the 19th marched out of Dongola, the last of the force to leave for Lower Egypt. At Wady Halfa the hot and tedious march came to an end, and from that point the regiment reached the railway at Assiout in barges. At Wady Halfa, Korosko and Assouan they made over their horses to the 20th Hussars, and, by the 14th August, the regiment was reunited in Cairo. In the whole campaign the regiment had suffered a total loss of two officers, Lt. Colonel Taylor (died of fever) and Quarter Master Lima, and 18 non-commissioned officers and men.
In July 1885, Her Majesty was graciously pleased to confer on the regiment the designation of “Princess of Wales’ Own,” in recognition of “its distinguished services in Egypt and the Soudan.”
By G.O. 10 of January 1886 the regiment was permitted to bear on its appointments, the words “Nile 1884–85” “Abu Klea,” in commemoration of the ascent of the river Nile and the operations in the Eastern Soudan.
From a Photograph.