Battle of Gedaref

The siege lasted from early September to 22 October until Rundle's relief column arrived. The British had made makeshift fortifications around Gedaref, with artillery covering approaches. The besieged garrison had XVI Sudanese battalion which numbered 700 Sudanese troops commanded by British officers and NCOs, with about 150 camel troops and 4 field guns under the command of Colonel Parsons of the Royal Artillery, who had served under Kitchener in Hafir. ^[1] About 7,000 Mahdi warriors had surrounded the city and attacked it multiple times but failed. In mid October when the ammunition and supplies were running low the Mahdist horsemen attempted to break into Gedaref by striking at weak points and harassing the defenders. Parsons’ small cavalry countercharged, preventing a breakthrough.^[2]

On 22 October, Rundle's relief column had arrived. His column consisted of 1,100 men, including detachments of the Grenadier Guards and Royal Berkshire Regiment, the XV Sudanese Battalion, 250-300 camel mounted cavalry and 6 field guns. He broke through the besiegers outside the city by shelling on the Mahdists with counter volleys. Rundle's men linked up with Lt. Col Parsons’ garrison. The defenders had been holding out under constant pressure and were nearly exhausted. Upon having innumerous casualties the Emir retreated.

The defeat at Gedaref effectively ended Mahdist resistance in eastern Sudan. With the Khalifa's main army destroyed at Omdurman earlier that year, the collapse of Fedil's force removed the last significant threat to Anglo-Egyptian consolidation. Gedaref's security allowed the reconquest to be completed and the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium to be formally established in 1899, inaugurating joint British-Egyptian rule over Sudan.^[3]