Battle of Erego

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Battle of Erego

A charge of Somali horsemen
DateOctober 6, 1902
Location
Hodayo (modern-day Somalia)
Result Dervish victory[1]
Belligerents
Dervish Movement  British empire
Commanders and leaders
Mohamed Abdullah Hassan
 British Empire Colonel Swayne (WIA)
Strength
600 or more riflemen accompanied by spearmen.[2]

2,360 British troops

1,189 reinforcements[3]
Casualties and losses

15 riflemen killed; 200 wounded

Heavy amount of spearmen killed or injured[4]

Hundreds of troops killed or wounded, 2 high-ranking officers killed, 99 levy and communication troops killed[5]

2 maxim guns lost[6]

The Battle of Erego (also known as Beerdhiga) occurred on October 6, 1902, in Hodayo, about 70 miles north of

Muhammad Abdullah Hassan (called the Mad Mullah because he did not accept colonial rule). The Dervishes won by ambushing the British forces.[7]

Battle

The British forces were on a mission to locate the Mullah which led them to Erego, where they were ambushed by the Mullah's forces.[8]

At the beginning, Colonel Swayne, who was leading the British column, believed that he had defeated the Dervishes. Certain that the capture of the Mullah was within reach, he dispatched triumphant messages of victory to London. However, the Mullah launched an attack from the rear that cut off Colonel Swayne's communication with the coast, destroyed the Zariba on which he relied for supplies, and ultimately forced him to retreat.[9]

The battle ended in a decisive Dervish victory.[10]

Aftermath

This expedition cost the British Empire more than $300,000 and resulted in a considerable loss of lives. It proved to be a failure.

Muhammad Abdullah Hassan $15,000 per year on the condition that he cease the war. However, he declined the offer.[12]

Colonel Swayne, who spearheaded the operations against the Dervishes, was recalled by The War Office for consultations.[13]

The victory at Erigo brought considerable recognition to the

Muhammad Abdullah Hassan was commonly referred to as the 'Mad Mullah' by the media until the defeat at Erego. Following this event, there was a shift in perception.[15] The Daily news noted that:

'the "Mad Mullah"... seems to be showing increasing signs of sanity', and that, 'for a mad man, the Mullah planned his tactics skilfully... he is no fool, this Mad Mullah'.[16]

References

  1. ^ Sanderson, Edgar (1910). King Edward VII, His Life & Reign: The Record of a Noble Career. Gresham Publishing Company. p. 114.
  2. ISBN 978-1-78150-661-5
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-8108-6604-1
    .
  4. ^ "SOMALILAND". Daily Telegraph. 1902-11-18. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  5. ISBN 978-0-8108-6604-1
    .
  6. ^ Parliament, Great Britain (1903). The Parliamentary Debates. Reuter's Telegram Company.
  7. ISBN 978-0-8108-6604-1
    .
  8. ^ The Speaker. Mather & Crowther. 1904. p. 97.
  9. ^ The chronicle (1911-02-10). J. Mewhort. 1911-02-10.
  10. ISBN 978-0-19-530173-1
    , retrieved 2023-11-01
  11. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  12. ^ The chronicle (1911-02-10). J. Mewhort. 1911-02-10.
  13. ISBN 978-1-871085-01-3
    .
  14. ^ "War on Mad Mullah | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  15. ISBN 978-0-230-59837-9
    .
  16. ISBN 978-0-230-59837-9
    .
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