Egyptian Expeditionary Force 1882

Part of the Aden garrison was involved in the expedition sent to Egypt in 1882, which included a division from India.

In early September that year the Admiral at Suez asked Bombay for a small cavalry force to be sent as soon as possible to help protect Suez from attack by Bedouins. On the 9^th the Aden Resident was asked if he could spare the Aden Troop, with a second British officer to be attached. He was happy to send the Troop, which at this time was only equipped with horses. The Commandant, Lt Col. Stevens, was given permission to take 10 camel-mounted Arab Levies as well. The Troop, 90 strong including the Levies, embarked from Aden on 17 September, taking in addition 88 camp followers (25 ‘public’ and the remainder ‘private’). The animals were 92 horses, 64 baggage animals and 10 riding camels. The Troop’s stay at Suez was very short as it was back in Aden on 5 October, General Wolseley having approved India’s request to send it back.

In August the Resident, Brigadier General Blair, had sent Captain Sealy, who was acting as his 1^st Assistant, to Berbera in a chartered steamer, the Operculum, to buy maximum numbers of sheep, goats and cattle to provide fresh meat supplies for the Indian Division under Major General Macpherson. The target was 200 cattle and about 600 sheep (or goats) but Sealy was only able to purchase just over half the number of cattle required, the balance being provided by acquiring a total of over 900 sheep, all being taken to Suez in the Operculum. Whilst he was in Berbera Sealy was presented with two ostriches by the local Governor. Etiquette demanded that he give something in return; Sealy suggested a gold watch or other suitable gift from Aden’s Toshakhana. (This being a Hindu word for a treasure chest).

Between 10 July and 18 August a total of 46 ships were hired as transports to take Macpherson’s force of one cavalry and two infantry brigades, plus divisional troops, to Egypt. These would have called at Aden. As with the Aden Troop, considerable impedimenta was to be taken: followers, servants and baggage were to be according to the ‘Kabul scale’, but without grass cutters or bill hooks, for obvious reasons!

Two of the Division’s infantry battalions, the 4^th and 31^st Madras Native Infantry, were landed in Aden as a reserve. The 4^th left Madras on 18 August and was sent to the Isthmus on arrival in Aden. The 31^st left for Aden a week later. Orders for the 4^th to return to India were received on 22 September.