'The Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, September 13th, 1882'

Full page chromolithograph from 'The Boys Book of British Battles', by Richard Simkin, published by George Routledge and Sons, 1884 (c).

Tel-el-Kebir lies at a strategic point on the railway between Ismailia and Cairo. On 13 September 1882 it was the scene of the final, decisive action of the Egyptian War, fought between the British (then joint rulers of Egypt, with France) and Arabi Pasha, an Egyptian Army officer and leader of the revolt against foreign rule.

Lieutenant-General Sir Garnet Wolseley (1833-1913), commanded the Expeditionary Force which was outnumbered two to one. However, in a bold operation, he led a long night march to make a surprise dawn attack upon the heavily-fortified Egyptian position at Tel-el-Kebir.