'The 65th York and Lancaster Regiment at the Battle of Tamai, Soudan', 1884

Coloured reproduction, published by Arthur Lucas, from the painting by G Douglas Giles, 1 December 1884.

During the 1st Sudan War (1884-1885), a British force of 4,000 troops was almost defeated at Tamai by a Mahdist army under Osman Digna on 13 March 1884. The British fought in two brigade squares, one of which was temporarily broken by the Mahdists. The situation was only retrieved when the second square moved up in support after a desperate hand-to-hand struggle.