Mahdi's Tomb, Omdurman, 1898 (c)

Lantern slide, 2nd Sudan War (1896-1898), 1898 (c).

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi (1844-1885), a Dongola Arab, proclaimed himself Al-Mahdi, the Islamic chosen one, in 1881. He led a fundamentalist revolt against Egyptian occupation. Early successes including the capture of El Obeid increased his following and his forces defeated European-led Egyptian troops sent against him. The Mahdi then moved to Omdurman and besieged Khartoum defended by forces under the command of General Charles Gordon. The Mahdi's ansar, or helpers, including Beja tribesmen from eastern Sudan, delayed the British and Egyptian relief forces and the city fell. The Mahdi died on the 22 June 1885 and was buried in a tomb at Omdurman. The tomb was badly damaged by shellfire when Lord Kitchener's forces re-conquered the Sudan in 1898. The tomb was restored in 1947.

From a collection of lantern slides and photographs associated with Lieutenant Edward Douglas Loch, 2nd Baron Loch, Grenadier Guards.