Abyssinia (battle honour)
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2019) |
Abyssinia is a
The Abyssinian Campaign of 1868
A diplomatic contretemps by the British Foreign Office led to a rupture of relations between
Expeditionary Force
The Abyssinian expedition of 1868 was led by an engineer officer, Lieutenant General
The Engineers consisted of seven Companies of
Military Account
On 16 September 1867, a reconnoitering party sailed from Bombay. The 3rd and 4th Companies of Bombay Sappers with an advanced brigade from Bombay reached Zula on 21 October and set to work at once to build a pier at the beach. A camp was made about one mile from the sea and 20 wells were erected. The Sappers were also tasked for improving the existing track to Senafe. When the whole force was assembled, they started advancing into the hinterland. The engineering difficulties in reaching Senafe were enormous with high mountains lying ahead.
The Sappers were engaged for six weeks in making a road 10 feet wide, in some places it was carried over enormous granite boulders, by ramps. The force arrived at Senafe on 29 January 1868 and on 26 February, the main body marched from
The Emperor ordered an attack, with many thousands of soldiers armed with little more than spears. The 4th Regiment of Foot quickly redeployed to meet the charging mass of warriors and poured a devastating fire into their ranks. When two Indian infantry regiments contributed their firepower, the onslaught became even more devastating. Despite this, the Abyssinian soldiers continued their attack, losing over 500 with thousands more wounded during the ninety minutes of fighting, most of them at little over 30 yards from the British lines. During the chaotic battle an advance guard unit of the 33rd Regiment overpowered some of the Abyssinian artillerymen and captured their artillery pieces. The surviving Abyssinian soldiers then retreated back onto Magdala.
The following day the advance was resumed with 3,500 men against the stronghold of Magdala which was perched high on a mountain of granite and had only two entry gates. In the assault on 13 April, the Engineers led the way along a path on the side of the precipice towards one of the gates. On reaching the gate there was a pause in the advance as it was discovered the engineer unit had forgotten their powder kegs and scaling ladders and were ordered to return for them.
As more men poured through and opened fire, they advanced with their bayonets fixed, the defenders withdrew through the second gate. The party rushed the Koket-bir before it was fully closed and then took the second gate breaking through to the amba. Ensign Wynter scrambled up onto the top of the second gate and fixed the 33rd Regimental
Tewodros II was found dead inside the second gate, having shot himself with a pistol that had been a gift from Queen Victoria. When his death was announced all resistance ceased. His body was cremated and buried inside the church by the priests. The church was guarded by soldiers from the 33rd Regiment
Battle Honour
The honour was awarded vide Gazette of India No 1181 of 1869. It is not considered repugnant.[1]
The following Indian units were awarded the battle honour (their present-day inheritors are listed after):[1]
- Poona Horse
- 4 Horse
- 25th (Bombay) Mountain Battery
- Madras Sappers & Miners (G, H, and K Companies) - Madras Engineer Group
- Bombay Sappers & Miners (HQ, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Companies) - Bombay Engineer Group
- 2nd Bombay Infantry - 2nd Battalion, The Grenadiers
- 3rd Bombay Infantry - 1st Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry
- 10th Bombay Infantry - 3rd Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry presently 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
- 25th Bombay Infantry - 5th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles
- 23rd Bengal Infantry (1st Bn Sikh Pioneers) - Sikh Light Infantry
- 5 Horse (Pakistan)
- 27th Bombay Infantry - 3rd Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment(Pakistan)
- 21st Bengal Infantry - 10th Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)
- 3rd Scinde Horse - Disbanded 1882
- 18th Bombay Infantry - Disbanded 1882
Fictional depictions
The 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia was depicted in a work of historical fiction, Flashman on the March by George MacDonald Fraser. This work was Fraser's last 'Flashman' novel.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b c Singh, Sarbans (1993) Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757 - 1971. pp
- ^ London Gazette, 28 July 1868
- ^ Our Soldiers, by W.H.G. Kingston - Battle of Magdala, page 194
- ^ Pankhurst, Richard. "Maqdala and its loot". Institute of Ethiopian Studies. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- ISBN 1-4000-4475-8.
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2009) |
- Anonymous 1996. A brief history of the Bombay Engineer Group. The Bombay Engineer Group & Centre, Khadki, Pune. Preface & 95 pages.
- Babayya, Brig. K., Ahlawat, Col. Satpal, Kahlon, Col. H.S. & Rawat, Lt.Col. S.S. (eds) 2006 A Tradition of Valour 1820-2006 - an illustrated saga of the Bombay Sappers. The Bombay Engineer Group & Centre, Khadki, Pune. i to xvii. 280 pages.
- Sandes, Lt Col E.W.C. The Indian Sappers and Miners (1948) The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham. Pages i to xxx, 1 to 726, frontispiece and 30 illustrations, 31 general maps and 51 plans.
- Singh, Sarbans Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757 - 1971.(1993) Vision Books (New Delhi) ISBN 81-7094-115-6