A member of the Sudan Defence Force, 1950

Photograph, Sudan, 1950.

The Sudan Defence Force was a British-raised military unit formed in 1925 during the period of Anglo-Egyptian rule of Sudan. Around 150 British officers were transferred from the Egyptian Army to command the new force. Consisting of around 6000 officers and men, the SDF was made up of four principal corps, the Camel Corps, Eastern Arab Corps, Western Arab Corps and Equatorial Corps. These were supported by artillery, engineer, armoured car and machine-gun units, medical, signals and transport services. In addition to maintaining order in the Sudan, the SDF fought in the East African Campaign during the Second World War, expanding to 25,000 officers and men in the process. When Sudan became independent in 1956 the SDF was abolished.

From a collection of 28 photographs collected by Major M Budd, Sudan Defence Force, 1950.