A History of the Coldstream Guards, from 1815 to 1895

1.
BRITISH FORCES EMPLOYED IN THE EGYPTIAN
CAMPAIGN, 1882.^[491]

• General Sir Garnet Wolseley, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., Commander-in-chief.
• General Sir John Adye, K.C.B., Chief of the Staff and Second in Command.
• Cavalry Division. Major-General D. C. Drury Lowe, C.B.
  • 1st Brigade. Brigadier-General Sir Baker Russell, K.C.M.G., C.B.
    • Three Squadrons of Household Cavalry (Lieut.-Colonel Ewart), one each from 1st and 2nd Life Guards, and from Royal Horse Guards; 4th Dragoon Guards; and 7th Dragoon Guards.
  • 2nd Brigade. Brigadier-General H. C. Wilkinson.

    13th Bengal Lancers; 2nd and 6th Bengal Cavalry.

  • Divisional Troops. One Battery Royal Horse Artillery; Royal Engineers; Mounted Infantry; Commissariat and Transport; Medical Department.
• First Division. Lieut.-General G. H. Willis, C.B.
  • 1st. Brigade. Major-General H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G.

    Brigade-Major, Captain Ivor Herbert, Grenadier Guards.

    • 2nd Grenadier Guards (Colonel P. Smith); 2nd Coldstream Guards (Colonel Wigram); 1st Scots Guards (Colonel Knox).
  • 2nd Brigade. Major-General G. Graham, V.C., C.B.
    • 2nd Royal Irish (18th); 1st West Kent (50th); 2nd York and Lancaster (84th); 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers (87th).
  • Divisional Troops. Two Squadrons 19th Hussars; 2nd Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry (46th); two Batteries Royal Artillery; one Company Royal Engineers; Commissariat and Transport; Medical Department.
• Second Division. Lieut.-General Sir Edward Hamley, K.C.M.G., C.B.
  • 1st Brigade. Major-General Sir Archibald Alison, Bart., K.C.B.
    • 1st Royal Highlanders (42nd); 2nd Highland Light Infantry (74th); 1st Gordon Highlanders (75th); 1st Cameron Highlanders (79th).

  2nd Brigade. Major-General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., G.C.M.G., K.C.B.

  • 1st Sussex Regiment (35th); 1st Berkshire Regiment (49th); 1st Staffordshire Regiment (38th); 1st Shropshire Light Infantry (53rd).
  • Divisional Troops. Two Squadrons 19th Hussars; 3rd Kings Royal Rifle Corps (60th); two Batteries Royal Artillery; one Company Royal Engineers; Commissariat and Transport; Medical Department.
• Corps Troops. One Battery Royal Horse Artillery; three Batteries Royal Artillery; Siege Train; Pontoon and Telegraph Troop; Field Park; three Companies Royal Engineers; Railway Section; two Companies Madras Sappers and Miners; Commissariat and Transport; Medical Department.
• Indian Contingent. Major-General Sir H. T. Macpherson, V.C., K.C.B.
• Infantry Brigade. Brigadier-General O. V. Tanner, C.B.
  • 1st Seaforth Highlanders; 7th and 20th Bengal Native Infantry; 29th Company Beluchi Native Infantry; one Mountain Battery.
  • Additional Troops. 1st Manchester Regiment.
  • Reserve at Aden. Two Native Regiments Infantry.

“The following telegram has been received from Her Majesty by the General Officer the Commander-in-chief:—

“‘The Queen sends Her warmest congratulations, and thanks God for victory. Express to all my admiration, and sympathy and sorrow for heavy loss.’”

“1. Her Majesty desires to convey to Her Army hearty congratulations on the bloodless occupation of Cairo, on the capture of Arabi, and other rebels against the authority of the Khedive, and on the termination of a campaign in which Her brave troops have so greatly distinguished themselves.

“2. The General Commander-in-chief directs the following orders be read and explained to the men at three consecutive parades:—

“The Army-Corps in Egypt will shortly be assembled in Cairo. Its discipline will now be subjected to a scrutiny the more searching because fatigue and privation nobly borne and victory brilliantly achieved will naturally direct upon it the attention of the civilized world.

“The General Commander-in-chief therefore appeals to all ranks to show, by a strict attention to duty and discipline, that it is not only in the field that the British Army is distinguished.

“It must be remembered that the Army is here in Cairo as the friend of the people of Cairo, whom it has relieved from the despotism of rebellion.

“3. The police and gendarmerie are not to be disarmed, but, on the contrary, are in every way to be assisted and supported in their authority.

“The soldiery has already been disarmed so far as is considered necessary.

“4. No soldier will be allowed to leave barracks, except on duty, until 4 p.m. Sergeants must be posted at the gates to see that no one goes out improperly dressed. Belts must be pipeclayed. Tattoo will be sounded at 8 p.m., and patrols sent out until all men are brought to barracks. Passes are not to be given for any hour later than 10 p.m., and very sparingly. In the event of any drunkenness or outrage or breaking into houses being reported, the regiment complained of will be immediately marched two miles outside the town to Abrasia, and there quartered as long as the Army is at Cairo.”

“The General Commanding-in-chief congratulates the Army serving in Egypt upon the brilliant success which has crowned its efforts in the campaign terminated on the 14th inst., by the surrender of the citadel of Cairo and of Arabi Pasha, the chief rebel in arms against the authority of His Highness the Khedive. In the space of twenty-five days the Army has effected its disembarkation at Ismailia, has traversed the desert to Zagazig, and has occupied the capital of Egypt. It has fought and defeated the enemy five times: on the 24th of August, at El-Magfar; on the 25th of August, at Tel el-Makhuta and at Mahsama; on the 28th of August and on the 9th of September, at Kassassin; and, finally, on the 13th of September, at Tel el-Kebir, where, after an arduous night march, it inflicted upon him an overwhelming defeat, storming his strongly entrenched position at the point of the bayonet, and capturing all his guns, about 60 in number. In recapitulating the events which have marked this short and decisive campaign, the General Commanding-in-chief feels proud to place upon record the fact that these brilliant achievements are to be ascribed to the high military courage and noble devotion to duty which have animated all ranks under his command. Called upon to show discipline under exceptional privations, to give proof of fortitude in extreme toil, and to show contempt of danger in battle, the General Officers, Officers, Non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Army have responded with zealous alacrity, adding another chapter to the long roll of British victories.”^[492]

3.
EXTRACT OF REPORT ON ARMY SIGNALLING IN EGYPT.

“To Lieutenant Lovell, Coldstream Guards, and Sergeant Dunster and men, my thanks are due for their willing and most efficient help rendered on more than one occasion. With the assistance of Lieutenant Lovell and a party of signallers, Coldstream Guards, to whom I am much indebted for most efficient help, communication was opened from Kassassin Lock to Ismailia. Sergeant Dunster, in charge of this party, rendered very good service, both on this station and later at Cairo.”