Role of the Artillery at Tel el Kebir?

[swordcollector1]

Hi All,

Searching previous threads has already given me some pointers here, but can anyone direct me to a good reference work on the Battle of Tel el Kebir, and in particular the role of the Royal Artillery in that action? Reason is that I'm on the point of acquiring an RA sword which from its owner and dates would seem to have been carried in the battle, and I'd like to know more before starting work on the write-up for my Collector's Showcase!

Many thanks!

John

[Mark A. Reid]

Hi John;

I've been waiting for some of our Artillery experts to answer this but, in their absence, perhaps I can offer a few thoughts?

I presume that your sword belonged to a member of one of the following units that participated in the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir;
A/1 Battery, D/1 Battery, I/2 Battery, N/2 Battery, H/1 Battery, C/3 Battery and J/3 Battery? All of these formed the Artillery Brigade under Brigadier W.H. Goodenough RA at the action while G/B Battery and N/A Battery were attached to the Cavalry Division. The very nature of the battle, a surprise attack after a night march, precluded any lengthy bombardment before the action so artillery participation was rather limited, with the notable exception of the Broken Wheel Battery who actually entered the Egyptian positions and " stole the headlines. " In total, 87 officers and about 2,400 OR's of the RA took part in the battle so there were certainly of gunners present.

I had a look through my books to see if there were any accounts of the action through a gunner's eyes but the best one seems to be With the Gunners at Tel-el-Kebir by Driver James Wickenden, RHA which is found in Told From The Ranks, Andrew Melrose, London, 1897.This is a collection of soldier's reminicences gathered by E.M. Small and is a real treat for Victorian military historians. As you would expect, Wickenden's account doesn't deal with Wolseley's strategy or the Brigade Fire Plan but it does provide a lively account of what is was like to fight in the battle as a member of G Battery, B Brigade RHA.

Good luck with the research, I look forward to hearing more about the sword.

Cheers,

Mark

[swordcollector1]

I presume that your sword belonged to a member of one of the following units that participated in the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir;
A/1 Battery, D/1 Battery, I/2 Battery, N/2 Battery, H/1 Battery, C/3 Battery and J/3 Battery? All of these formed the Artillery Brigade under Brigadier W.H. Goodenough RA at the action while G/B Battery and N/A Battery were attached to the Cavalry Division. The very nature of the battle, a surprise attack after a night march, precluded any lengthy bombardment before the action so artillery participation was rather limited, with the notable exception of the Broken Wheel Battery who actually entered the Egyptian positions and " stole the headlines. " In total, 87 officers and about 2,400 OR's of the RA took part in the battle so there were certainly of gunners present.

Very useful info, Mark, and just what I was looking for - I've just obtained a copy of the July 1882 Army List (can't get much closer to the date of the battle than that!), and found that my man was indeed in H/1 Battery.

I had a look through my books to see if there were any accounts of the action through a gunner's eyes but the best one seems to be With the Gunners at Tel-el-Kebir by Driver James Wickenden, RHA which is found in Told From The Ranks, Andrew Melrose, London, 1897.This is a collection of soldier's reminicences gathered by E.M. Small and is a real treat for Victorian military historians. As you would expect, Wickenden's account doesn't deal with Wolseley's strategy or the Brigade Fire Plan but it does provide a lively account of what is was like to fight in the battle as a member of G Battery, B Brigade RHA.

That book sounds just my kind of thing - I'll check my usual sources and see if I can get a copy! I should get the sword itself in a few days and will start on the write-up straight away. Thanks for all your help,

Cheers,

John

[Mark A. Reid]

Hello again;

If you can't find a copy of the book, send me a private message with a postal address and I will send you a photo-copy of the chapter. Of course this may take a few weeks because Canada is in the grip of a postal strike at the moment ( snarl! )

All the Best,

Mark

[swordcollector1]

If you can't find a copy of the book, send me a private message with a postal address and I will send you a photo-copy of the chapter. Of course this may take a few weeks because Canada is in the grip of a postal strike at the moment ( snarl! )

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the offer, but I think I found the only second-hand copy in the UK on Abebooks, and purchased it this afternoon! I thought it sounded a good book to have quite apart from the Tel-el-Kebir section, so thanks again for tipping me off on that!

John

[marnie]

Hi Mark
I can't believe my luck, I have just started to try and find out more about my G Grandfather and his Military Career.
All I knew of him was that he went to Tel el Kabir in c1882 as a Driver attached to G Battery B Brigade.
I see you have given information to another poster re a Book that a Driver had written about that Battery and I wonder if you know where I might be able to obtain a copy in Australia.
I live well away from the Major Capital Cities and I know you are overseas but thought you may have some ideas where I could find out more about this Brigade.

Thank You
Marnie

[swordcollector1]

I see you have given information to another poster re a Book that a Driver had written about that Battery and I wonder if you know where I might be able to obtain a copy in Australia.
I live well away from the Major Capital Cities and I know you are overseas but thought you may have some ideas where I could find out more about this Brigade.

Hi Marnie,

I found my copy on www.abebooks.co.uk (there's also www.abebooks.com) - it's a world-wide network of second-hand book dealers, and I haven't met one yet who wouldn't be happy to ship anywhere in the world!

John

[Mark A. Reid]

Hi Marnie;

Thanks for your private message. As John ( sword collector ) mentioned, there are a number of companies that will be happy to sell you a copy but if this option isn't ideal then please send me a message and we'll see what we can do.

Cheers,

Mark

[Maureene]

Hi Marnie

You could ask your local library whether it is possible to arrange an inter-library loan, as this book is held in two libraries, according to the following Trove entry.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/24716468

Cheers
Maureen

[marnie]

Thank you John and Maureen for your reply, Mark is trying to help me out so I will see how that goes and if I need too. at least I have some other options now.
I would appreciate any help with sites that I could search for any further information on the Drivers with the RHA at Tel el Kabir.
I have virtually no information on my Ancestor so anything would help.