Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(Summer 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
Along the same lines!
I have just finished reading a book with the title "Omdurman"
(ISBN 0394489365) written in 1973 by the excellent British
author Phillip Ziegler, which describes acts of "barbaric
proportions" performed by British forces against Dervish
forces at the battle of Omdurman, (Sudan), in revenge for
the killing of General Gordon in Khartoum.
 Before
I go any further let me leave you with no doubt what-so-ever
that the British soldiers acted with extreme heroism and
gallantry under what apparently can be qualified as the
doubtful leadership of such an high ranking personage as
General Lord Kitchener.
The battle was fought in the area of Omdurman, Sudan, on
September 2nd 1898.
I don't think Mr. Ziegler would mind me quoting, (in part),
one excellent descriptive paragraph: "On one side,
the massed spears, swords and the frenzied courage of the
Dervishes under the fanatical leadership of the Khalifa,
(successor to the Mahdi who had conquered all of Sudan).
On the other side, representing the power of Queen Victoria's
Empire were the Grenadier Guards, the kilted Highlanders,
the Rifle Brigade, together with 17,000 Egyptian troops
and the mighty Camel Corp".
For any military history buff, British or otherwise, this
very well written book is highly recommended.
Perhaps I may be forgiven if I use the words of my correspondent
from the previous paragraph, "British military force
was used to subdue recalcitrant natives" and also use
my correspondent's words "That the acts of barbaric
proportions could have occurred when the British Forces
came across bodies mutilated beyond recognition by their
Islamic warrior foe". !!!
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