7000 man.. One of the local sub clans lost nearly their entire male population... others half! Only one Battle! May Allah grant them Jannah http://article.archive.nytimes.com/...780973&Signature=uwB8JonJsTN0UXrifsRZGSqm7f4=
Battle of Jidbaale
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1,000 DERVISHES SLAIN; British Rout the "Mad" Mullah's Forces in Somaliland.
[ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]
LONDON, Jan. 12. -- The War Office last night gave out the following dispatch from Major Gen. Egerton, commanding the Somaliland expeditionary force, dated Jidballi, Somaliland, Jan. 11:
[ DISPLAYING ABSTRACT ]
LONDON, Jan. 12. -- The War Office last night gave out the following dispatch from Major Gen. Egerton, commanding the Somaliland expeditionary force, dated Jidballi, Somaliland, Jan. 11:
At 0500 hours on 10th January Egerton left a supply and baggage protection party under Major W.B. Mullins, 27th Punjabis, at his bivouac and then marched towards the enemy position. The British force marched in two parallel columns with the right hand column forward and leading; the flanks were protected by No 5 (Somali) MI Company and the Gadabursi and Tribal Horse. Captain C.G.W. Hunter, RE, was tasked with maintaining the correct compass bearing to Jidballi.
The dervishes had been alerted by their scouts and they opened fire on the square. The two mountain guns were ordered to move a few yards forward of the Sikhs and to engage the enemy. The gunners fired shrapnel over the depression and case (shells filled with small metal pieces) into bushes that dervishes could be seen using as cover. The Hampshires and the Punjabis then dashed a short distance forward in order to attract dervish attention.
The enemy skirmished forward in short rushes from one group of bushes to the next one, but the disciplined rifle fire particularly of the Sikhs and the KAR prevented the square from being charged. The Mullah was not at Jidballi, and without his presence and exhortations the dervishes did not make fanatical charges. The dervish fire was mostly high, missing the front face but hitting several of the 2nd KAR in the rear face.
Battle of Jidballi
On the right flank No 5 MI Company and the Gadabursi Horse had dismounted and approached the enemy too closely; the dervishes rushed them, causing confusion and dispersing the Gadabursi Horse, whose mounts, along with those of No 5 MI Company, bolted. During this action Lieutenant Clement Leslie Smith, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and No 5 (Somali) Mounted Infantry Company, displayed gallantry that earned him a Victoria Cross with this citation:
At the commencement of the fight at Jidballi, on 10th January, 1904, the enemy made a very sudden and determined rush on the 5th Somali Mounted Infantry, from under cover of bushes close at hand. They weresupported by rifle fire, advanced very rapidly and got right amongst our men.
Lieutenant Smith, Somali Mounted Infantry,and Lieutenant J. K. Welland, M.D., Royal Army Medical Corps, went out to the aid of Hospital Assistant Rahamat Ali, who was wounded, and endeavoured to bring him out of action on a horse, but the rapidity of the enemy's advance rendered this impossible, and the Hospital Assistant was killed. Lieutenant Smith then did all that any man could do to bring out Doctor Welland, helping him to mount a horse, and, when that was shot, a mule. This also was hit, and Doctor Welland was speared by the enemy. Lieutenant Smith stood by Doctor Welland to the end, and when that Officer was killed, was within a few paces of him, endeavouring to keep off the enemy with his revolver. At that time the dervishes appeared to be all round him, and it was marvellous that he escaped with his life.
The dervishes attacking the square attempted to charge the left face and then the front and right faces, but both charges were stopped in their tracks by rifle fire and by very effective Maxim gun fire from the corners of the square. Armourer Sergeant A. Gibb, firing from the right front corner, was seen to drop nine dervishes with one burst of fire. This defensive fire kept the attackers at a distance of 350 metres from the square. After 20 minutes of fighting the dervish resolve suddenly broke and a rapid retreat began which turned into a rout. The Mounted Infantry companies were ordered to pursue. The two British guns engaged the fleeing enemy up to a range of 2,000 metres when fire was checked to avoid hitting the MI.
On the right flank No 5 MI Company and the Gadabursi Horse had dismounted and approached the enemy too closely; the dervishes rushed them, causing confusion and dispersing the Gadabursi Horse, whose mounts, along with those of No 5 MI Company, bolted. During this action Lieutenant Clement Leslie Smith, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and No 5 (Somali) Mounted Infantry Company, displayed gallantry that earned him a Victoria Cross with this citation:
At the commencement of the fight at Jidballi, on 10th January, 1904, the enemy made a very sudden and determined rush on the 5th Somali Mounted Infantry, from under cover of bushes close at hand. They weresupported by rifle fire, advanced very rapidly and got right amongst our men.
Lieutenant Smith, Somali Mounted Infantry,and Lieutenant J. K. Welland, M.D., Royal Army Medical Corps, went out to the aid of Hospital Assistant Rahamat Ali, who was wounded, and endeavoured to bring him out of action on a horse, but the rapidity of the enemy's advance rendered this impossible, and the Hospital Assistant was killed. Lieutenant Smith then did all that any man could do to bring out Doctor Welland, helping him to mount a horse, and, when that was shot, a mule. This also was hit, and Doctor Welland was speared by the enemy. Lieutenant Smith stood by Doctor Welland to the end, and when that Officer was killed, was within a few paces of him, endeavouring to keep off the enemy with his revolver. At that time the dervishes appeared to be all round him, and it was marvellous that he escaped with his life.
The dervishes attacking the square attempted to charge the left face and then the front and right faces, but both charges were stopped in their tracks by rifle fire and by very effective Maxim gun fire from the corners of the square. Armourer Sergeant A. Gibb, firing from the right front corner, was seen to drop nine dervishes with one burst of fire. This defensive fire kept the attackers at a distance of 350 metres from the square. After 20 minutes of fighting the dervish resolve suddenly broke and a rapid retreat began which turned into a rout. The Mounted Infantry companies were ordered to pursue. The two British guns engaged the fleeing enemy up to a range of 2,000 metres when fire was checked to avoid hitting the MI.
Apart from Lieutenant J.R. Welland, Royal Army Medical Corps, two other British officers were killed during the action:
-Lieutenant C.H. Bowden-Smith, Hampshire Regiment, was killed during the fighting.
-The Remount commander, Captain Honourable T. Lister, 10th Hussars, was employed as Kenna’s Orderly Officer during the action and he was reported missing whilst delivering a message; his dead body was recovered the following day.
Seven British officers were severely wounded:
-Major F.B. Young, Cheshire Regiment, commanding 2nd KAR;
-Brevet-Major G.T.M. Bridges, RA, commanding the Tribal Horse;
-Captain G.C. Shakerley, KRRC, commanding No I Corps MI;
-Captain E.H. Llewellyn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Adjutant of 2nd KAR; Lieutenant H.H.R. White, KRRC, Adjutant of No I Corps MI;
-Lieutenant H.E. Reinhold, 27th Punjabis;
-Lieutenant A.E. Andrews, Hampshire Regiment.
Two other officers were slightly wounded:
-Lieutenant Colonel G.T. Forestier-Walker, RA, AQMG-I;
-Captain G.R. Breading, Worcestershire Regiment, commanding the company of the 3rd KAR.
Six Indian soldiers (including one gunner), 10 Somali Levies and 1 Indian Follower were killed. Five British rank and file, 2 Indian officers, 13 Indian and African rank and file, 7 Somali Levies and 2 Followers were wounded. Egerton’s order to the square to fire from the prone or kneeling positions had saved many infantrymen and sappers from death or wounds. After the battle Egerton bivouacked his force at a well 3 kilometres beyond Jidballi. The Sappers & Miners were tasked with clearing the Jidballi wells that were now clogged with dead dervishes, their beasts and battlefield refuse.
This is the kind of thing you teach children in elementary school. It is a story of great sacrifice and patriotism. Sad to hear of there having been Somalis on the other side of that battle.
I knew that the British used recruits from the tribes of Hargaysa and Burco, but seeing that the Gadabursi were also lackeys is surprising.
I knew that the British used recruits from the tribes of Hargaysa and Burco, but seeing that the Gadabursi were also lackeys is surprising.
This is the kind of thing you teach children in elementary school. It is a story of great sacrifice and patriotism. Sad to hear of there having been Somalis on the other side of that battle.
I knew that the British used recruits from the tribes of Hargaysa and Burco, but seeing that the Gadabursi were also lackeys is surprising.
They recruited from Dolbahante too. I know its shocking isn't
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damn , reading this i feel emotional
.....the irony is i'm 'happily' living amongst the people whose ancestors were behind this slaughter
https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet...llah-Of-Somaliland-1916-1921#page/n1/mode/1up
Xooshdheere
how do i use this
AUN.
Xooshdheere
how do i use this
The British recruited from the Isaac clan the most, and were also the "nicest"They recruited from Dolbahante too. I know shocking isn't
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Genie
The last suugo bender
i shall read awayMajority were Ogaden. Dolbahante like Isaaq used to switch alliance when ever it suits them. Mad Mullah was a powerful leader however, he was not admired by majority of Somali clans.
Tribal force lead by Xaji Warabe was composed of HY, HJ and Dolbahante
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