Invasion of Cheikh Said facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Invasion of Cheikh Said
Part of the South Arabia during World War I
Map of Cheikh Said.
Date 10 November 1914-11 November 1914 Location Cheikh Said Result British victory. Ottoman fort of Cheikh Said blown up and start of the Aden Theatre.
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	United Kingdom  India
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	H. V. Cox
Strength
An Ottoman garrison	Consists of 29th Indian Brigade and 23rd Sikhs Pioneers HMS Duke of Edinburgh

Map of Aden Protectorate

The Invasion of Cheikh Said was a short but important battle during World War I. It happened on November 10-11, 1914. British forces attacked the Ottoman Empire's position at Cheikh Said. This area was important because it was near Aden, a British colony. The British wanted to destroy Ottoman defenses there. The battle ended with a British victory. It also marked the start of fighting in the Aden region during the war.

Why the Battle Happened

Britain declared war on the Ottoman Empire on November 5, 1914. Six days later, the Ottomans declared war back on Britain. From the very beginning of World War I, the Ottoman Empire had a plan. They wanted to take control of Aden, a British colony. Aden was a very important port.

To help with their plan, the Ottomans had a small fort. This fort was at Cheikh Saïd. Cheikh Said is a peninsula that sticks out into the Red Sea. It was a key spot for controlling ships. The British knew about this Ottoman presence. So, they sent a group of soldiers. This group was the 29th Indian Brigade. It was led by Brigadier-General H. V. Cox. Their mission was to stop their journey to Suez. Instead, they were to capture Cheikh Said. They also needed to destroy the Ottoman forces there.

The Battle Unfolds

On November 10, 1914, the British began their attack. They sent ships carrying three groups of soldiers. These were from the 29th Indian Brigade and the 23rd Sikh Pioneers. Their goal was to land on the peninsula. They wanted to attack the Ottoman soldiers there.

An armored warship, the HMS Duke of Edinburgh, joined them. This ship started firing at the Ottoman fort. Meanwhile, the transport ships looked for a good place to land. The spot they first planned to use was too difficult. The weather made it impossible to land troops there. So, the soldiers landed a little further away. The armored warship kept firing to protect them.

The British soldiers and some sailors landed. They quickly attacked the Ottoman position. The fighting was intense. The Ottoman soldiers were forced to leave their cannons behind. They had to retreat from the area.

The next day, British forces took control. A special team used explosives. They blew up the Ottoman fort. This destroyed the Ottoman defenses. It was a complete British victory.

After the Landing

After the battle, Brigadier-General H. V. Cox continued his journey. He and his troops headed towards Suez. The British decided not to push further inland. It was not a good idea to continue fighting there.

The Ottomans still had troops in the area. These soldiers were stationed north of the Aden Protectorate border. The invasion of Cheikh Said was very important. It officially started the fighting in the Aden region.

Later, in July 1915, Ottoman forces recaptured the peninsula. They held it until January 19, 1919. That is when they finally surrendered.

Armoured cruiser HMS Duke of Edinburgh.