THE AMIR OF BALAGASH:
Brothers,
Remember the curse of the Turks. They robbed our houses. They stole our women. We overthrew them!
The Egyptians came and thought they could do the same. But they were weak. They fell to the English, who then came to rob our houses and steal our women. But they are worse than the Turks and the Egyptians. They don’t just steal to make themselves rich, they want to make us poor. They forbid us from trading slaves. Yet that is not enough for the blue eyes.
This year, in 1303, my warriors captured a devil who came to steal our heritage. He aimed to take from us our own history. Take from us the possessions of our grandfathers.
We imprisoned this devil and demanded justice from the English. No more can they ignore us. The English now see we are not a people who can be pushed around. Not a people who can be treated like the sand in their sandals, but a people to be reckoned with.
But would the English treat with us? Could they talk to us about this thieving dog? No the English accept no equals, so they summoned their mightiest force and attacked me and my warriors. Foreigners marched across our country. Not just English, but Scottish (a poor country enslaved by the English) to destroy Sudistan.
Brothers they came and failed. We survive and the English have learnt that they cannot enslave us.
The English struck at Wadi Rank. They entered with great fear. The sight of a mere 100 of my warriors on a hilltop slowed their advance. They walked slowly and in line, like a caravan of slaves. But they stopped short of attacking my warriors. Instead they fired their guns at a great distance.
Even under attack, my warriors did not fail in their duties. Prayers were said and all duties were performed. The insolent infidels remained, so my warriors swept down upon them. The infidels neither ran nor attacked, just stood still in fear shooting their accursed guns.
Many of my warriors were martyrs on this glorious day. But the infidel was halted. We then melted away to demonstrate to them how powerless they are in Sudistan.
Wadi Rank has now been defiled by the infidel so my army has moved to a new base. If the English have sense they will retreat. But their ambition is large, so my warriors are training for the next victory.
The last words of Sheikh Ali Ibn Haddh who was martyred leading a charge on the English, was "Tell Amir Ali-Bashi to fight the English till the last breath in his body." This I will do, brothers. And it is your duty to join me in the fight. None of us may rest until the infidel is thrown out of Sudistan.
'Then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them. And size them, beleaguer them and lie in wait for them, in every stratagem (of war).'
The Qu'ran, Sura 9, verse 5
'O messenger! Rouse the Believers among you to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish two thousand of the unbelievers: for these are people without understanding.'
The Qu'ran, Sura 8, verse 65
SHEIKH IBN HADDH REPLIES:
The Amir of Balagash speaks with a snake’s tongue of the deeds at Wadi Rank. I do not deny the bravery of our warriors who indeed showed a true belief in the paradise that would be granted those that die it such a glorious cause, but had he actually advanced within range of the infidels fire, as opposed to hiding with the camels he so treacherously withheld from the support of my brave men, he would have realised that is was Sheikh Achmet Yerbouti who so gloriously died leading the charge on the enemies lines.
Wounded and left lying amongst the bodies of my faithful men as our glorious leader fled into the desert I managed to escape the clutches of the English devils and returned to my people where I am now recovering well. As soon as my health is restored I shall rejoin the fight to drive the British from our land but not before the scales are balanced between me and my 'brother' the Amir of Balagash Sheikh Ali Ibn Haddh
SIR GARNETT HUMBER: The following account is quoted in Osbert Tricklebank’s Gentle His Condition – a biography of Sir Garnett Humber, Oxford 1967. Letter to General Lord Blethering-Blethering, Governor of Sudistan from Colonel Sir Garnett Humber, officer commanding the British Garrison at Mahaba in Southern Sudistan. Wadi Rank Wednesday My Lord, I have the honour to report that the Mahaba Field Force has successfully engaged Muamir Al-Bashi and rescued Sir Gerald Utterleigh-Barkynge. I am pleased to be able to report that your Lordship’s cousin seems unharmed by the experience. Indeed he seems to have valued the experience of seeing a close quarters the domestic architecture and culture of the Balagashi slavers. As you know the Wadi Rank is a nest of robbers and slavers and has been quite lawless these past two hundred years. Although the rough terrain did not allow full freedom of manoeuvre to mounted troops, it was possible to use the impassable terrain of the Wadi’s side to secure one of the expedition’s flanks. The aim was to advance in a roughly L-shaped formation with Captain Eager’s rifle company leading on the left flank (some native rifles had been spotted among broken ground to their front) and the main body in column behind the lead company’s right flank. This would allow the force to maintain a continuous front and bring firepower to bear by turning the columns of march to the flank. The lead company engaged the natives in the broken ground in a brisk firefight and quickly pushed them back. The remainder of the force advanced to clear some high ground and, beyond it, a small waterhole. These features proved to be occupied by a mixed force of native riflemen and some fanatics armed with spears and shields. Fighting here was quite fierce but superb musketry and sterling work by the Nordenfeldt gunners put the slavers to flight. By this time Captain Eager’s company had cleared the bad going on the left. They suffered some casualties from natives lurking among the bodies of their fallen companions. They would suddenly jump up and attack our men from behind. Of course, this served only to anger the men who fought all the more determinedly as a result. A line had now been established across the wadi with Captain Eager on the left, Captain Keen’s company and the Nordenfeldt near the centre and the cavalry under Captain FitzDashing in reserve behind the right flank. As the Nordenfeldt and the right hand platoon of Keen’s company engaged the natives in the high ground and waterhole areas on the right, the main body of the slaver army swept down upon Eager’s company and Keen’s left platoon. Such circumstances would normally have called for a deployment into squares but the availability of a secure flank made it possible to keep a continuous front to the enemy. The men withstood the native charge (which included some Fuzzy Wuzzy tribesmen) with magnificent steadiness and the line was held.[1] At this point a large body of native camelry were spotted moving to reinforce the enemy spearmen and rifles whom we had started to drive back on the right. The only troops available to block this potentially concerning outflanking manoeuvre were FitzDashing’s cavalry. In terrain unsuited to mounted manoeuvre, FitzDashing’s men fought bravely and repulsed the fanatics’ charge. Captain FitzDashing, standing in clear view of the enemy to encourage his men, was struck by a stray musket ball. Fortunately the wound did not prove mortal. FitzDashing had set a fine example to the men, however, and with a final cheer they stood firm all along the line as the last of the natives broke and fled in blind retreat down the Wadi. I cannot speak to highly of the spirit shown by the men in this encounter, nor of the cool professionalism shown by Captains Eager and Keen at a time when their presence in the front line made a considerable difference to the men under their command. A sweep of the field found Sir Gerald safe and sound in the squalid hut where he had been held. As I have said, he is well and he sends his best wishes to your Lordship. Also found was the body of the notorious slaver Sheik Yerbouti who had been shot while retreating with his men. Among the prisoners taken is a youth of some fourteen summers who, it seems, shared the bed and the confidences of the Balagashi Amir Al-Bashi. I am sending the latter to you in Mirabar as his information may prove useful. As regards further action I recommend that a force be sent to pursue Al-Bashi and destroy his forces before they have a chance to regroup. This force should be provided with a balance of all arms as Al-Bashi may flee into the mountains or make a break for his traditional tribal lands around the Blue Nile. I have the honour to remain, Sir, you obedient servant. /signed/ Col G Humber, KB. [1] Biographer’s note: Humber is his usual phlegmatic self here. The fighting was fierce and on several occasions the Sudanese force nearly broke through Humber’s line. With his cavalry reserve pulled out of position by the subsequent advance of the native camelry towards the British right flank, Humber’s position was, for a tense hour or so, perilous in the extreme. - OT
A LETTER HOME FROM CAPTAIN EAGER:
April 13th 1882
My Darling Cecily,
I am writing to you my darling from my modest rooms at Mahaba Garrison,
looking out at the barren wastelands, thinking of you in the
conservatory looking out on the lush gardens of the estate. The large
sun sets in the West and the bright stars, many unfamiliar to me, are
beginning their romantic procession across the sky, mimicked by the
numerous oil lamps burning in the tents of the men of our proud regiment.
Thank you for your wonderful letters, I treasure them dearly and read
them often. I share your consternation at the lingering demise of the
bustle, however I believe the current austerity of high fashion will
have seen its day soon.
Do tell me more of Charlotte and her dalliance with William Houghtsbury,
a man who never understood cricket despite a preoccupation with rational
recreation. I fear that I do not see any prospect of happiness in this
courtship, but hope that I am proved wrong.
The cold season is now abating, and though unhealthily warm during the
day, this twilight period is cool and soothing. A slight northerly
breeze is noticeable, though precipitation is light to negligible. So on
the whole reasonably clement, made more so by your thoughtful inclusion
of the white parasol in your last package.
I have, in fact, just dined with Sir Garnett and the officers. Cecil
continued to speak overly seriously of the alarming increase in life
expectancy amongst the poor back in blighty, and its unpalatable
consequences for the emerging socialist movement. However, the evening
was mercifully saved by the ever reliable Plucky de Hampton, who
continued his amusing, if not entirely profound thesis, linking the
development of the specialist torpedo boat to the increasing
respectability of the music hall. Modesty does not permit me to repeat
some of the more central illustrations to his argument, but safe to say
he is being put forward as our representative for next month's
Regimental debating society final. The evening was rounded off with a
series of rousing songs around the piano and a not inconsequential
Highland Park whisky.
I believe that I must mention our most recent adventure out in the
steaming waddis of this unfathomable country. I have, in summary, seen
my first action against the local tribes people. I am only able to say a
little, as I wish to forget some of the things that my duty has required
me to witness. Though poorly equipped and ungifted with any strong grasp
of a civilized language, the excitable locals are a brave and resolute
people. I take no great pleasure in the killing done at my command, and
can only hope that the souls of the local people find some sort of rest
with the Almighty.
On this day I was keen to undertake the rescue of a local dignitary, and
pushed forward my company somewhat over zealously. It was, therefore, my
gallant companions that took the brunt of the fighting, as the raging
tribesmen charged my unit. Our thin red line held against the swarms
that sought to kill us with their long swords and guttural curses.
Indeed as the battle came to hand to hand fighting, I was saved from one
dervish by the accidental engagement of my parasol which, causing sudden
surprise and alarm, enabled me to dispatch the distracted swordsman with
my trusty revolver.
Fitzdashing bellowed and postured as ever, but proved largely
ineffectual on the field of battle. Cecil provided sturdy cover to my
flanks and Sir Garnett cut a splendid figure in the centre of our
deployment. I'm told that he issued quite a number of orders during the
action, but unfortunately they were all drowned out by the large gun
that he spent most of his time firing.
I have many wounded amongst my ranks and many letters to write to the
families of those brave lads who will not be seeing dear England again.
I miss you greatly my lovely Cecily, and want nothing more than to
return home, spend time with you, and oversee my cherished estates. I do
promise not to get killed or even wounded in an unsightly fashion. Do
write soon my darling.
All my love,
Moe,
Captain Maurice StJohn Eager
"B" Company
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