Battle of Erego
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| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Dervish Somali flag.png}} [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan|Mohamed Hassan]] |
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Dervish Somali flag.png}} [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan|Mohamed Hassan]] |
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| commander2 = {{flagicon|British Empire}} [[Eric John Eagles Swayne|Eric Swayne]]{{WIA}} |
| commander2 = {{flagicon|British Empire}} [[Eric John Eagles Swayne|Eric Swayne]]{{WIA}} |
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| strength1 = |
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| strength2 = 2,360 British troops 1,189 |
| strength2 = 2,360 British troops 1,189 [[King's African Rifles]]{{Cite book |last=Mukhtar |first=Mohamed Haji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPwOsOcNy5YC&q=October+1902+victory+dervish%7D%7D&pg=PA55 |title=Historical Dictionary of Somalia |date=2003-02-25 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6604-1 |pages=55 |language=en}} 1,200 [[Isaaq]] levies{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=76-80 }} |
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| casualties1 = 62 killed |
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| casualties1 = 15 riflemen killed 200 wounded Heavy amount of spearmen killed or injured{{Cite news |date=1902-11-18 |title=SOMALILAND. |work=Daily Telegraph |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236816819 |access-date=2023-10-30}} |
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| casualties2 = 2 officers killed 56 soldiers killed 84 Somali levies killed |
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| casualties2 = Hundreds of troops killed or wounded 2 high-ranking officers killed 99 levy and communication troops killed{{Cite book |last=Mukhtar |first=Mohamed Haji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPwOsOcNy5YC&q=October+1902+victory+dervish%7D%7D&pg=PA55 |title=Historical Dictionary of Somalia |date=2003-02-25 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6604-1 |pages=55 |language=en}} 2 maxim guns lost{{Cite book |last=Parliament |first=Great Britain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6TZVAAAAYAAJ&q=1902+October+swayne+troops |title=The Parliamentary Debates |date=1903 |publisher=Reuter's Telegram Company |language=en}} |
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| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox The Dervish War}} |
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox The Dervish War}} |
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The '''Battle of Erego''' (also known as '''Beerdhiga''') occurred on October 6, 1902, in Hodayo, about 70 miles north of [[Galkayo|Galkacyo]]. The battle involved [[British Empire|British colonial forces]], led by [[Eric John Eagles Swayne|Colonel Swayne]], and Somali troops (known as [[Dervish]]es) under the command of Haji [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan|Muhammad Abdullah Hassan]]. The Dervishes won by ambushing the [[British Empire|British]] forces.{{Cite book |last=Mukhtar |first=Mohamed Haji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPwOsOcNy5YC&q=October+1902+victory+dervish |title=Historical Dictionary of Somalia |date=2003-02-25 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6604-1 |language=en}} The battle was an early conflict of the [[Somaliland campaign|Dervish War]]. |
The '''Battle of Erego''' (also known as '''Beerdhiga''') occurred on October 6, 1902, in Hodayo, about 70 miles north of [[Galkayo|Galkacyo]]. The battle involved [[British Empire|British colonial forces]], led by [[Eric John Eagles Swayne|Colonel Swayne]], and Somali troops (known as [[Dervish]]es) under the command of Haji [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan|Muhammad Abdullah Hassan]]. The Dervishes won by ambushing the [[British Empire|British]] forces.{{Cite book |last=Mukhtar |first=Mohamed Haji |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPwOsOcNy5YC&q=October+1902+victory+dervish |title=Historical Dictionary of Somalia |date=2003-02-25 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6604-1 |language=en}} The battle was an early conflict of the [[Somaliland campaign|Dervish War]]. |
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==Background== |
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During August and September, the Field Force carried out small-scale clashes while moving captured livestock back to the coast. Major P. B. Osborn led a mounted infantry unit responsible for escorting supplies. The Dervishes observed these movements and occasionally attacked supply convoys. Reinforcements from the [[King's African Rifles]] arrived at [[Berbera]] in August and advanced inland, while additional troops were sent to strengthen coastal defenses. In October, Brigadier-General W. H. Manning arrived to oversee supply lines, leaving operational command to [[Eric John Eagles Swayne|Eric Swayne]]. In the meantime, the Mad Mullah and assembled a large force of 12,000 horsemen after calling the [[Dhulbahante]] tribe to his standard. The British in turn mobilized a "Somali Levy" under the command of Musa Farah, made up of 1,200 levies from the [[Isaaq]] tribe, who were friendly to British rule.{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=76-80 }} |
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== Battle == |
== Battle == |
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The Field Force advanced through the Erego valley, where terrain consisted of open desert interspersed with dense thorn bush approximately three metres high, significantly limiting visibility and movement. After advancing over 100 kilometres, scouts reported on 6 October that the Dervishes were positioned approximately three kilometres ahead. Swayne formed his troops into a defensive square, with two 7-pounder guns positioned at the centre of the front face. Recently raised levies were deployed on either side of the guns, while companies of 6 KAR Somali troops extended the front line and 2 KAR askaris secured the flanks. Transport animals followed within and behind the formation, with additional levies and askaris guarding the rear. The density of vegetation restricted visibility to a few metres. One Maxim gun was positioned on the left of the front face, with three others covering the right flank.{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=81-86 }} |
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The [[British Empire|British forces]] were on a mission to locate Hassan, who was known as "the Mad [[Mullah]]" for his resistance to colonial rule. This search led them to Erego, where they were ambushed by Hassan's forces.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3X44AQAAMAAJ |title=The Speaker |date=1904 |publisher=Mather & Crowther |pages=97 |language=en}} |
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Advancing under the assumption that open ground lay ahead, the formation came under close-range rifle fire, estimated at approximately 20 metres, from concealed positions targeting the right flank. The KAR askaris held their position as they were engaged by both rifle fire and a subsequent assault by spearmen armed with shields and lances. Machine gun fire disrupted the attack. A second assault on the same flank was also repelled. However, the transport camels panicked and could not be controlled, breaking formation. As they moved out from the left side of the square, the Dervishes entered among them and drove them into the surrounding bush, dispersing supplies.{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=81-86 }} |
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At the beginning, Colonel Swayne, who was leading the British column, believed that he had defeated the Dervishes. Certain that Hassan's capture was within reach, he dispatched triumphant messages of victory to London. However, the Dervishes 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.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/CFA_1911021001 |title=The chronicle (1911-02-10) |date=1911-02-10 |publisher=J. Mewhort |language=English}} |
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A further attack was then directed against the left face of the formation. Despite sustaining casualties, artillery crews continued to operate their guns, firing case shot at close range. The levies positioned near the guns withdrew approximately 350 metres, resulting in the collapse of the left corner of the square. A Maxim gun in that sector was abandoned in the vegetation. The withdrawal contributed to the breakdown of much of the front line, leaving the artillery crews maintaining their positions.{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=81-86 }} |
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A British officer's letter describes the situation during the battle: |
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''"No one will appreciate this business until it is too late. We are in a regular trap, and how we are going to get out we do not know. We have had stiffish fights, and have lost many men. The worst is that our blacks are flunking and our camels have nearly all been killed or captured. We have next to no water, and we are miles from any wells. We have no supplies, and nearly no ammunition. They have captured two of our Maxims. I do not suppose they care at home what happens to us. It is a brutal shame to send us blind into an ambush like this."'' |
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Swayne subsequently reorganized elements of his force and led a counterattack that restored the formation. The square was re-established, though the engagement resulted in significant casualties among officers. Captain Angus Hamilton was killed while directing artillery fire, and Major G. E. Phillips of the [[Royal Engineers]] was also killed during the engagement. Captain W. D. Everett of the [[Welch Regiment|Welsh Regiment]] was severely wounded while commanding troops on the rear face, which had also been subjected to sustained attack, and Major T. N. S. M. Howard of the [[West Yorkshire Regiment]] sustained minor injuries.{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=81-86 }} |
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The battle ended in a decisive [[Dervish movement (Somali)|Dervish]] victory.{{Citation |last=Aguiar |first=Marian |title=Somali Songs and Poetry |date=2005-04-07 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.43443 |work=African American Studies Center |access-date=2023-11-01 |publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.43443 |isbn=978-0-19-530173-1 |url-access=subscription }} |
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Casualties among the British included 56 killed (and 2 officers). Among the wounded officers were Lieutenant L. W. D. Everett of the 2nd Battalion, [[Welch Regiment|Welsh Regiment]], Captain T. N. S. M. Howard of the West Yorkshire Regiment, and 84 members of the Somali levies. The British had only counted the bodies of 62 dervishes. After this defeat much of the Somali levies would desert, which led to the force being much diminished.{{cite book|author=Douglas Jardine|url=https://dn710808.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheMadMullahOfSomaliland/214616_The_Madmullah_Of_Somaliland_1916_1921.pdf|title=The Mad Mullah Of Somaliland|publisher=Bellew|year=1923|isbn=978-0-947792-43-5|pages=81-86 }} |
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== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
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This expedition cost the British Empire more than $300,000 and resulted in a considerable loss of lives. It proved to be a failure.{{Cite news |last=Littlefield |first=Walter |date=1910-04-10 |title=MAD MULLAH TURNS AGAIN TO FANATIC SLAUGHTER; English Evacuation of Somaliland and the Death of King Menelik Encourage Him to Go on the Warpath. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1910/04/10/archives/mad-mullah-turns-again-to-fanatic-slaughter-english-evacuation-of.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}} In response, the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] offered [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan|Muhammad Abdullah Hassan]] $15,000 per year on the condition that he cease the war. However, he declined the offer.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/CFA_1911021001 |title=The chronicle (1911-02-10) |date=1911-02-10 |publisher=J. Mewhort |language=English}} |
This expedition cost the British Empire more than $300,000 and resulted in a considerable loss of lives. It proved to be a failure.{{Cite news |last=Littlefield |first=Walter |date=1910-04-10 |title=MAD MULLAH TURNS AGAIN TO FANATIC SLAUGHTER; English Evacuation of Somaliland and the Death of King Menelik Encourage Him to Go on the Warpath. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1910/04/10/archives/mad-mullah-turns-again-to-fanatic-slaughter-english-evacuation-of.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}} In response, the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] offered [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan|Muhammad Abdullah Hassan]] $15,000 per year on the condition that he cease the war. However, he declined the offer.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/CFA_1911021001 |title=The chronicle (1911-02-10) |date=1911-02-10 |publisher=J. Mewhort |language=English}} |
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