The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
In the early 1880s, an Egyptian regime in the Sudan, backed by the British, came under threat from rebellion. The British instructed the Egyptians to abandon the Sudan, and sent the popular General Charles Gordon to coordinate the evacuation. When news of his death arrived in New South Wales in February 1885, the government offered to send forces to aid the British, and meet the contingent's expenses. The contingent, an infantry battalion of 522 men and 24 officers and an artillery battery of 212 men, sailed from Sydney on 3 March 1885 amid public fanfare. The British government's acceptance of the contingent was received with enthusiasm by the NSW government and members of the armed forces; it was seen as a historic occasion marking the first time that soldiers in the pay of a self-governing Australian colony were to fight in an Imperial war. This wood engraving reveals the actions of the NSW contingent in Sudan and their military experience. Graphic scenes of fighting are depicted, as well as an event involving two newspaper correspondents who had accompanied a patrol before leaving the cameleers to file their stories in Suakin. They found themselves surrounded by enemy forces, and one was wounded as they fled.
In the early 1880s, an Egyptian regime in the Sudan, backed by the British, came under threat from rebellion. The British instructed the Egyptians to abandon the Sudan, and sent the popular General Ch
A hand coloured wood engraving related to Australia's involvement in the War in Sudan (1885), consisting of four scenes; 1) Early morning parade in Sydney of volunteer soldiers for the War in Sudan; 2
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
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
Depicts a page from the 'London Illustrated News' from 25 April 1885 with an upper image of the departure from Sydney of the Australian contingent for the Sudan and the lower image of a St Bernard pup
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