Battle of Ferkeh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Ferkeh
Part of the Mahdist War
Anglo-Egyptian troops storm the village of Ferkeh (illustration from a British book)
Date 7 June 1896 Location near Dongola, Northern Sudan Result British–Egyptian victory
Belligerents
Mahdist State	United Kingdom Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Osman Azrak Hammuda  †	Sir Herbert Kitchener
Strength
3,000–4,000 men	9,000–9,500 men
Casualties and losses
44 emirs killed 4 emirs captured 800–1,500 soldiers killed 500 soldiers wounded 500–600 prisoners of war	20 soldiers killed 81–83 soldiers wounded

The Battle of Ferkeh was an important fight during the Mahdist War. It happened on June 7, 1896. In this battle, an army of Mahdists was surprised and defeated. The Egyptian forces, led by Sir Herbert Kitchener, won the battle. This was the first major step in taking back control of Sudan. The larger campaign ended with the Battle of Omdurman in September 1898.

Why the Battle Happened

In June 1896, the Sudan campaign began. Sir Herbert Kitchener's army was moving towards Dongola in Northern Sudan. Ferkeh was a small village near the Nile River. It was protected by walls and was the first important place held by the Mahdists. About 3,000 Mahdist fighters were there. Their leaders were called Emirs Hammuda and Osman Azrak.

Kitchener's army was made up of Egyptian and Sudanese soldiers. British officers led them. This army had about 9,000 men. They also had three groups of field guns and one group of Maxim guns. The Maxim guns were operated by British soldiers. These soldiers were from the North Staffordshire Regiment and the Connaught Rangers.

The Battle Itself

Kitchener split his army into two groups. One group was mostly infantry (foot soldiers). They marched along the Nile River. Their plan was to attack Ferkeh from the North. The other group had cavalry (soldiers on horses), camel-mounted infantry, and horse artillery. This group went through the desert. They planned to attack from the Southeast. Both groups started marching in the evening of June 6. They marched all night and were ready to attack at dawn on June 7.

The attack completely surprised the Mahdists. They tried to fight back, but their attacks were not organized. During this fighting, Emir Hammuda was killed. Many Mahdist fighters then ran away. The cavalry group was supposed to stop them from escaping. However, the land hid the cavalry from view. So, many Mahdists, including Osman Azrak, managed to get away along the Nile. Other Mahdists stayed in their protected spots in the village. They fought until the very end. The Egyptian soldiers had to use bayonets to clear out these positions.

The battle was very quick. It lasted less than three hours, from 4:30 AM to 7:20 AM. About 20 Egyptian soldiers died. Between 800 and 1,000 Mahdist fighters were killed.

What Happened After

The Battle of Ferkeh was not a huge battle in terms of land gained. It was just a small outpost of the Mahdist State that was taken by surprise. However, this battle was very important for how people felt. It was the first big win for the Egyptian Army after the British helped reorganize it. The battle showed that the Mahdist forces could be beaten. This made the Egyptian Army feel much more confident. It also made their opponents feel less sure at the start of the campaign to take back Sudan.

Soldiers who fought in the battle later received special medals. These included the Khedive's Sudan Medal with a 'Firket' clasp and Queen Victoria's Sudan Medal.