Wargaming Miscellany: The Battle of Omdurman refought using Dominion of the Spear and Bayonet

Thursday, 26 June 2025

The Battle of Omdurman refought using Dominion of the Spear and Bayonet

Background to the battle

Following the fall of Khartoum in 1885, the British and Egyptians withdrew from the Sudan. Under British leadership, the Egyptian Army was reformed, better trained, and expanded, and by 1896 the Khedival forces - led by General Herbert Kitchener, the Sirdar (or Commander) of the Egyptian Army - were ready to return to the Sudan and destroy the Mahdists.

The offensive was a relatively slow but very deliberate one, with each stage planned to prepare for the next. On 21st September 1896, Dongola was captured, and Abu Hamed followed on 7th August 1897. At the Battle of the Atbara River on 7th April 1898, Mahdist forces - led by Osman Digna and Khalifa Abdullah - were decisively beaten and the line of march along the River Nile to Khartoum was open. On 1st September 1898, the Anglo-Egyptian army - with the support of a powerful flotilla of gunboats - arrived at Karary, some seven miles from Omdurman - the capital of the Mahdist state - where the Mahdist army was encamped.

The British force comprised:

Attached British troops

21st Lancers
32nd Field Battery, Royal Artillery
37th Howitzer Battery, Royal Artillery
Two 40-pounder guns, Royal Artillery

First Infantry Division (commanded by Major General Gatacre)

1st Brigade (commanded by Brigadier General Wauchope)

1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
6 Maxim guns
Detachment, Royal Engineers

2nd Brigade (commanded by Brigadier General Lyttelton)

1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
4 Maxim guns
Detachment, Royal Engineers

Attached Egyptian troops

9 Squadrons, Egyptian Cavalry
1 Battery, Egyptian Horse Artillery
4 Field Batteries, Egyptian Artillery
10 Maxim guns
8 Companies, Camel Corps

Second Division (commanded by Major General Hunter)

1st Brigade (commanded by Colonel Macdonald)

2nd Egyptian Infantry Battalion
IX Sudanese Infantry Battalion
X Sudanese Infantry Battalion
XI Sudanese Infantry Battalion

2nd Brigade (commanded by Colonel Maxwell)

8th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
XII Sudanese Infantry Battalion
XIII Sudanese Infantry Battalion
XIV Sudanese Infantry Battalion

3rd Brigade (commanded by Colonel Lewis)

3rd Egyptian Infantry Battalion
4th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
7th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
15th Egyptian Infantry Battalion

4th Brigade (commanded by Colonel Collinson)

1st Egyptian Infantry Battalion
5th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
17th Egyptian Infantry Battalion
18th Egyptian Infantry Battalion

Camel Transport

It is estimated that the Mahdist force numbered approximately 50,000.

The course of the battle

The battle began around 6.00am. Some 8,000 men under Osman Azrak advanced straight at the waiting Anglo-Egyptian force. These were followed by a similar number of troops who had been waiting to the northwest. The Anglo-Egyptian artillery opened fire when the advancing Mahdists were just under two miles away from the leading Anglo-Egyptian troops, and inflicted severe casualties on the Mahdists. The latter continued their advance until they came into range of the Anglo-Egyptian Maxim guns and infantry. This frontal attack faltered in the face of this firepower and none of the attackers got closer than 50 yards from the Anglo-Egyptian frontline units. A flanking move on the right was also checked, and there were bloody clashes on the opposite flank that scattered the Mahdist forces there.

Whilst the Anglo–Egyptian infantry were causing significant casualties on the Mahdists, the cavalry and camel corps that were deployed to north of the main force were threatened by about 15,000 Mahdists. The commander of the Anglo-Egyptian mounted troops attempted to use his cavalry to draw away some of the advancing Mahdists whilst the camelry moved towards the infantry’s zariba. Two gunboats moved so they could use their guns to support the cavalry and prevent a Mahdist attack on the zariba’s flank.

Kitchener then ordered his army to advance on Omdurman in several columns. The 21st Lancers were sent ahead to clear the route to Omdurman. Unfortunately, they were attacked by 2,500 Mahdists who were hidden in a depression. After a short but bloody skirmish clash, the Lancers drove the Mahdists off.

The Anglo-Egyptian force moved left in echelon towards the Surkab ridge and then towards the south. During the advance, the rear was a brigade of 3,000 mainly Sudanese troops was at the rear, and this force was unexpectedly threatened by 15,000 enemy troops who came from behind the ridge. The brigade turned to face the oncoming Mahdists, and despite intense pressure, they held their position and caused considerable casualties. Further infantry and the Maxim guns were diverted to support the Sudanese, and the Mahdist forces were forced to retreat in considerable disorder.

Now that this threat was eliminated, the advance continued and Omdurman was occupied.

THE REFIGHT

The forces involved

Mahdists