Australian Infantry on the march through the mountains Accession Number: ART14434

Description

Depicts men of NSW Contingent crossing mountains inland from Suakin. A mounted soldier can be seen in the lower right, while a train of soldiers, carts and horses can be seen in the distance. The colour of uniforms shown is incorrect; the British issued khaki uniforms for the Sudan campaign. Between March- June 1885, the NSW Contingent served in Sudan, Africa as part of the War in Sudan (1885). The contingent, an infantry battalion of 522 men and 24 officers and an artillery battery of 212 men, was ready to sail on 3 March 1885. It left Sydney amid much public fanfare, generated in part by the holiday declared to farewell the troops; the send-off was described as the most festive occasion in the colony's history. The NSW contingent anchored at Suakin, Sudan's Red Sea port, on 29 March 1885 and were attached to a brigade composed of Scots, Grenadiers and Coldstream Guards. The Australian contingent sailed for home on 17 May 1885, arriving back in Sydney on 19 June. It was generally agreed at the time that, no matter how small the military significance of the Australian contribution to the War in Sudan, it marked an important stage in the development of colonial self-confidence and was proof of the enduring link with Britain.

Details

Accession Number
ART14434
Artist
Unknown
Publisher
Beckmann Bros, London
Classification
Art
Object Type
Print
Physical Description
Medium: hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Measurement
Overall: 55.8 cm x 70.8 cm
Medium
hand-coloured lithograph on paper
Date Made
1885
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Credit Line
Purchased 1948
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain

Conflicts

Places

Units

Tags

Accession ART14434

More like this

Landing of the Australian contingent at Suakin

Art ART14435 Sudan, 1885

A vibrant image depicting the arrival of the New South Wales Contingent at Suakin in Sudan. While the men arrived wearing the red coats, the British issued the troops with khaki uniforms on their firs

With the Sudan Contingent on board the Australasian

Art ART50164 19th century

Depicts a page from 'The Australasian Sketcher' of 8 April 1885 with seven small vignettes showing various activities of the NSW Contingent on board ship bound for the Sudan. Between March- June 1885

In the Sudan

Art ART19883 Sudan, 1885

Depicts two scenes of life in the Sudan during the War in Sudan, 1885, which appeared in the 'Illustrated Sydney News'. Between March- June 1885, the NSW Contingent served in Sudan, Africa. The contin

With the NSW Contingent in the Sudan

Art ART19875 Sudan, 1885

Depicts various vignettes of activities of the Australian (NSW) contingent in Sudan, which appeared in the 'Illustrated Sydney News'. Between March- June 1885, the NSW Contingent served in Sudan, Afri

Australian Infantry on the march through the mountains

Art ART91489 Australian Colonial Forces, 1854-1900

Men of NSW Contingent crossing mountains inland from Suakin. A mounted soldier can be seen in the lower right, while a train of soldiers, carts and horses can be seen in the distance. Note: colour of

See more similar items →

Record information

Last modified: 3 December 2025 - 1.24 am