Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

1882 Anglo-Egyptian War

The Second Anglo-Egyptian War or the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War occurred in 1882 between Urabi Forces, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Developments before war

The First Anglo-Egyptian War occurred in 1807 Britain seeking to replace Muhammed Ali with a puppet ruler favorable to British interests, Britain invaded with nearly 5,000 troops on March 17, 1807. British forces led by General A. Mackenzie Fraser seized the city of Alexandria. British forces suffered several military defeats before retreating and evacuating Egypt on September 14.

Urabi forces wanted to end Western influence in the country after huge debts had politically destabilised the Khedive.

European governments sought to restore stability in order to protect their private investments. During the summer of 1882 an international conference of European nations met in Istanbul. Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid boycotted it, and would not send troops to Egypt. No agreement was reached at the conference. The British then decided to engage alone, and the French then withdrew their navy regiment from Alexandria.

Beginning of War

A British fleet bombarded Alexandria from July 11-13, followed by British marines occupying it. Much of the city was destroyed by fires that broke out as a result of the bombardment. The British then installed the Khedive Tawfiq, who declared Urabi a rebel and took away his political rights.

Urabi response

Urabi then counteracted by obtaining a fatwa, which was authorized by Al Azhar shaykhs which stated that Tawfiq was a traitor who brought on the occupation of Egypt by a foreign nation and stated that he betrayed his religion. Urabi also ordered conscription and he declared war on the United Kingdom.

British Expeditionary Force

British army tried to reach Cairo through Alexandria but was stopped for five weeks at Kafr-el-Dawwar. In August, a British army of over 40,000, commanded by Garnet Wolseley, invaded the Suez Canal Zone. He was authorized to destroy Urabi's forces and clear the country of all other rebels.

Its order of battle was: British Expeditionary Force

Commander: Lieutenant General Sir Garnet Wolseley
Chief of Staff: Lieutenant General Sir John Adye

1st Division (Lt Gen GHS Willis)

1st (Guards) Infantry Brigade (Maj Gen HRH The Duke of Connaught)

2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
1st Battalion, Scots Guards

2nd Infantry Brigade (Maj Gen Gerald Graham)

1st Battalion, The Buffs (Royal West Kent)
1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s)
2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria’s)
2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment

Divisional Troops

19th Hussars (2 Sqns)
2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
A Battery, 1st Field Brigade, Royal Artillery
D Battery, 1st Field Brigade, Royal Artillery
24 Field Company, Royal Engineers
12 Company, Army Commissariat and Transport Corps
1 Bearer Company, Army Hospital Corps (Half)
3 Field Hospital, Army Hospital Corps

2nd Division (Lt Gen Sir Edward Hamley)

3rd (Highland) Infantry Brigade (Maj Gen Sir Edward Alison)

2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders
1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

4th Infantry Brigade (Maj Gen Sir Evelyn Wood VC)

1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte’s)
1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

Divisional Troops

19th Hussars (2 Sqns)
3rd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
I Battery, 2nd Field Brigade, Royal Artillery
N Battery, 2nd Field Brigade, Royal Artillery
26 Field Company, Royal Engineers
11 Company, Army Commissariat and Transport Corps
2 Bearer Company, Army Hospital Corps (Half)
4 Field Hospital, Army Hospital Corps
5 Field Hospital, Army Hospital Corps

Indian Contingent (Maj Gen Sir Herbert Macpherson VC)

1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
7th Bengal Infantry
20th Punjab Infantry
29th Baluch Infantry
7 (Mountain) Battery, Northern Division, Royal Garrison Artillery
(plus their own Commissariat, Engineers etc.)

Cavalry Division (Maj Gen Drury Curzon Drury Lowe)

1st (Heavy) Cavalry Brigade (Brig Gen Sir Baker Creed Russell)

Household Cavalry Regiment (1 Sqn each from the 1st Life Guards, 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards)
4th Dragoon Guards
7th Dragoon Guards

2nd (Bengal) Cavalry Brigade (Brig Gen HC Wilson)

2nd Bengal Cavalry
6th Bengal Cavalry
13th Bengal Lancers

Division Troops

N Battery, 1 Horse Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery
Mounted Infantry Battalion (formed from Mounted Coys of line infantry battalions)
17 Company, Army Commissariat and Transport
6 Field Hospital, Army Hospital Corps

Army Troops

Naval Brigade
Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry
G Battery, 2nd Horse Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery
F Battery, 1st Field Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
H Battery, 1st Field Brigade, RFA
C Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, RFA
J Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, RFA
T Battery, 3rd Field Brigade, RFA
Royal Marine Artillery
1 Battery, London Division, Royal Garrison Artillery
4 Battery, London Division, RGA
5 Battery, London Division, RGA
5 Battery, Scottish Division, RGA
6 Battery, Scottish Division, RGA

Army Train

A (Bridging) Troop, Royal Engineers
C (Telegraph) Troop, RE
Railway Troop, RE
8 Field Company, RE
17 Field Company, RE
18 Field Company, RE
A Company, Queen’s Own Madras Sappers and Miners
I Company, QOMS&M
8 Company, Army Commissariat and Transport Corps
15 Company, ACT Corps
Auxiliary Company, ACT Corps
2 Bearer Company, Army Hospital Corps
1 Field Hospital, AHC
3 Field Hospital, AHC
7 Field Hospital, AHC
8 Field Hospital, AHC

Battle of Tel el-Kebir

This important battle was fought on September 13, 1882. The Urabi forces were routed and the capital was captured. Khedive power was then restored as the authority of Egypt.

Trial of Urabi

A khedivial court had initially sentenced Urabi to death. However the British intervened and the sentence was changed to exile to Ceylon. His associates were also put on trial.

British occupation

British troops then occupied Egypt until the Anglo-Egytpian Treaties of 1922 and 1934, giving gradual control back to the King of Egypt. By 1934, Egypt had full 'independence', but the King remained something of a British 'puppet' figure, whilst the British retained control of the Suez Canal Zone, from which they withdrew in 1956 after 72 years.