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62-586: Kafr El Dawwar was the location of the famous Battle of Kafr El Dawwar between the Egyptian army, headed by Ahmed Orabi , and the British army, during the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882. For five weeks, Orabi was able to stop British forces from advancing toward the Egyptian capital of Cairo . Egyptian victory in the battle compelled the British to change their strategy, with British forces shifting to

124-568: A 40-pounder gun, a Nordenfelt , two Gatlings and two more nine-pounders. The whole force, including 200 sailors manning the train and the 9-pounders, numbered around 2,600 men. Facing them in the Egyptian forward lines were a battalion of the Second Infantry, a regiment 1,200 strong, and 900 men of the Mustaphezin Regiment. They could draw on artillery and other support from the main Egyptian position. The forces on

186-459: A battalion of Royal Marine Light Infantry and a substantial number of sailors from ships in the harbour, Alison's force numbered 3,755 men, seven 9-pounder and two 7-pounder guns, six Gatlings and four rocket tubes. He sent patrols in all directions to ascertain the strength and location of the Egyptians, but remained based within the city. Alison was reinforced on 24 July by the arrival of

248-538: A brief respite, Baskeyfield again came under heavy fire; he refused to cower. After crawling under enemy fire to another 6-pounder gun, he was killed by a shell from a supporting enemy tank. Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield's body was never found, but there is a memorial statue of him at Festival Heights in Stoke-on-Trent, which was erected in the early 1990s. The award of the Victoria Cross to both men made

310-415: A ditch running across their front, behind which was a thick covering of bush. The Rifles advanced in skirmish order using fire and movement tactics to draw closer to their enemy. The 9-pounder kept pace with them along the canal towpath , firing the occasional shrapnel shell into the Egyptian position. The Egyptians maintained a steady but inaccurate fire, with most of their bullets passing harmlessly over

372-894: A four-year posting in Pretoria , South Africa. The battalion returned to England in 1911. The 3rd, Militia battalion, was embodied in May 1900, and disembodied in December the same year. They were again embodied in May 1901, and the following month 500 men embarked for service in South Africa during the Second Boer War . The battalion returned in July 1902. The 4th, Militia battalion, was embodied in December 1899, and 650 men embarked in February 1900 for service in South Africa during

434-600: A milling plant, and injuring dozens more. Rioting spread to other centres, including the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in El-Mahalla. In the vicinity of the Kafr El Dawwar are a great number of ancient cemeteries (including Kom Ishu, Kom El Farag, Sidi Ghazi, Kom Defshu, Kom El Terfayeh, and Tell El Kanaies), where remains of pottery, and other items from Egypt's Ptolemaic era can be found. The city

496-441: A result, the British abandoned any hope they may have had of reaching Cairo from the north, and shifted their base of operations to Ismailia instead. After the bombardment of Alexandria on 11 July, the city was occupied by a mixed force of sailors and marines. The Egyptians withdrew to Kafr El Dawwar, where they began the construction of an entrenched camp which would block the route to Cairo. ‘Urabi demanded that one-sixth of

558-601: A system of flanking trenches while other units forward from B beach, Suvla Bay. It was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 and moved to Egypt before landing in France in July 1916 for service on the Western Front. The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 51st Brigade in 17th (Northern) Division in July 1915 also for service on the Western Front. The 9th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as pioneer battalion for

620-452: A volley before closing with fixed bayonets. The Egyptians fled in all directions, many being shot down or drowning in the canal as they attempted to reach safety. The British were now deployed in a diagonal line across both the canal and the railway. Whilst a strong Egyptian force on the East bank of the canal maintained a fierce fire fight with the marines, General Alison (who had accompanied

682-508: Is doubtful, with at least one account suggesting that he always expected the decisive battle to be fought at Tel El Kebir . Wolseley left a division at Ramleh to guard Alexandria, under the command of Sir Edward Hamley . This force was made up of two brigades . The first, under Sir Archibald Alison, comprised one battalion each of the Royal Highlanders , Highland Light Infantry , Gordon Highlanders and Cameron Highlanders ;

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744-480: Is felt by all concerned to be satisfactory". US military observer Caspar Goodrich , who could take a slightly less partisan view, later expressed this opinion: Beyond the moral effect on the attacking force of a successful brush with the enemy, the reconnaissance in force was barren of results. The strength of the Egyptians was neither developed nor ascertained, nor was the position held from which they had been driven. The balance of advantages seems to be negative [for

806-451: Is renowned for electricity generation as well as textile and fruit packing industries. Misr for Weaving and Spinning is the largest company in Kafr El Dawwar. Other industrial activities include paint , silk fibers and chemicals . Agriculture is a major activity for the countryside that surrounds the industrial area. The Mahmudiyya Canal ( Arabic : ترعة المحمودية ) goes through Kafr El Dawwar north to Alexandria. It branches west from

868-629: The 23rd Division in August 1915 also for service on the Western Front before transferring to Italy in November 1917. The 1st Battalion served in Singapore and Burma before being deployed to India in 1925 and to Sudan in 1927. The 2nd Battalion moved to Cork in 1919, and was involved in the Irish War of Independence . It returned to England in 1923, where it remained until 1929 when it

930-746: The British Army of the Rhine in West Germany . In 1954, the battalion was posted to the Suez Canal zone, before being speedily dispatched to Cyprus where hostilities had broken out between the two communities on the island. The 1st Battalion moved to its final posting, in Germany, in September 1957. In July 1957, a defence review was announced. The South Staffords were to amalgamate with

992-594: The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry , a wing of the Royal Sussex Regiment and a battery of artillery — a total of 1,108 men. He immediately advanced to occupy Ramleh where he established a fortified base. Egyptian forces in the area were later estimated as four regiments of infantry, one of cavalry and several batteries of artillery — totalling 12,000 to 15,000 men and outnumbering the garrison of Alexandria by at least four to one. Seeking to ascertain

1054-644: The Nile , and is the main source of drinking water and irrigation. Kafr El Dawwar is classified by the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system as having a hot desert climate (BWh). Its highest record temperature, 45 °C (113 °F), was recorded on 30 May 1961, while its lowest record temperature, 0 °C (32 °F), was recorded on 31 January 31, 1994. Kafr El Dawwar has, on average, 38 rainy days annually. Rafah , Alexandria , Abu Qir , Rosetta , Baltim , Kafr El Dawwar, and Mersa Matruh are

1116-537: The North Staffordshire Regiment , and to become part of the new administrative Mercian Brigade . The amalgamation of the 1st Battalions of the two regiments took place on 31 January 1959 at Minden, Germany, to form the 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment . Following the 1959 amalgamation of the North and South Staffords, the 5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (TA) continued as

1178-576: The River Nile to Sudan in an unsuccessful attempt to lift the Siege of Khartoum . The battalion was subsequently involved in the defeat of Arab forces at Kirbekan . The 1st Battalion then entered a long period of garrison duty in Gibraltar , Egypt, England and Ireland. They arrived home from Gibraltar in early February 1900. With the outbreak of the Second Boer War the previous year, the regiment

1240-534: The Royal Artillery and converted into the 103rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery and trained in Scotland. However, the regiment was disbanded in August 1943. The 12th Battalion was converted to 91st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery and served with the 4th Infantry Division . Similarly, the 13th Battalion became the 104th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery . The 11th Battalion

1302-531: The Second Boer War . They returned in August 1901, when they disembodied. The 1st Battalion landed at Zeebrugge as part of the 22nd Brigade in 7th Division in October 1914 for service on the Western Front and then moved to Italy in November 1917. The 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division in August 1914 also for service on the Western Front. Both

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1364-815: The Second World War , the regiment was amalgamated, in 1959, with the North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) to form the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) which was later, in 2007, amalgamated with the Cheshire Regiment and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment to form the Mercian Regiment . The regiment was formed as part of the Childers Reforms on 1 July 1881 by

1426-628: The Suez Canal to reach Cairo through Tel El Kebir. In the early months of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 , Kafr El Dawwar was the scene of industrial action that resulted in death sentences for two leaders of the strike. In September 1984, protests broke out in Kafr El Dawwar over efforts by Hosni Mubarak , Egypt's President , to raise food prices during a period of wage decreases. Thousands of demonstrators threw rocks, and occupied markets and roads. In response, security forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas, killing three persons at

1488-552: The invasion of Italy and were withdrawn to England to prepare for the invasion of France . They took part in Operation Market Garden , and played a significant part in the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The 5th, 1/6th, 2/6th and 7th battalions, all Territorials , all served as part of the 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division alongside battalions of the North Staffordshire Regiment . The 7th Battalion

1550-747: The " Chindits " campaign in Burma, the 1st Battalion was part of the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and were selected for conversion to the Chindits role and fought in Operation Thursday , the second Chindit expedition. During the expedition George Cairns , a lieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry attached to the battalion was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross . The battalion took part in jungle fighting against

1612-409: The 1916 Easter Rising . Soldiers from the regiment murdered 16 unarmed men and boys in the infamous North King Street Massacre. They then landed at Le Havre in February 1917 for service on the Western Front. The 7th (Service) Battalion landed at Suvla Bay as part of the part of 33rd Brigade in the 11th (Northern) Division in August 1915. The 7th (Service) Battalion moved off to the south to dig

1674-694: The 2nd Battalion the only British battalion to receive two VCs during one engagement in the Second World War. Following the granting of independence of India in 1947, line infantry regiments in the British Army were reduced to a single regular battalion. Accordingly, the 1st and 2nd Battalions amalgamated in Lichfield in 1948. The new 1st Battalion (38th/80th) travelled to Hong Kong in the following year, and thence to Northern Ireland two years later. Later that year, they were stationed with

1736-529: The 3rd Volunteer Battalion formed the 6th Battalion (TF) at Stafford Street in Wolverhampton . The 1st Battalion (the former 38th) was sent to Egypt in 1882 as part of the British invasion of the country. On landing in Alexandria , it carried its colours through the city – this was the last occasion on which a British Army unit carried colours on active service. In 1885, the battalion travelled up

1798-698: The 3rd and 4th Battalions remained in the UK training reinforcement drafts for the regular battalions. However, in October 1917 the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion landed at Le Havre to join 7th Brigade in 25th Division for service on the Western Front in the last year of the war. Both the 1/5th Battalion and 1/6th battalions landed at Le Havre as part of the Staffordshire Brigade in the North Midland Division in March 1915 for service on

1860-1039: The British made occasional sorties to reconnoitre their position. But the Alexandria front had become a side-show, the decisive fighting of the war was taking place along the Sweet Water Canal . ‘Urabi's army was decisively defeated at Tel El Kebir on 13 September, and Cairo surrendered to the British on the following day. The works at Kafr El Dawwar were given up without a fight to Sir Evelyn Wood on 16 September. They were found to be exceptionally strong, with successive lines of ditches and embankments, covered walkways, gun positions, redoubts and embrasures, well stocked with modern Krupp artillery and arms and ammunition of all kinds. Held by determined defenders, they would have been extremely difficult to take. South Staffordshire Regiment 2 Militia and Special Reserve battalions 2–3 Territorial and Volunteer battalions The South Staffordshire Regiment

1922-474: The British]; valuable lives were sacrificed, and the enemy regained the ground he had lost without suffering severely enough to be seriously affected. Subsequently, the action was described by one historian as a "British attempt to break through at Kafr Ed-Dawar [which] ended in failure" Most others, like Goodrich, describe it merely as a reconnaissance in force which was never intended as a serious assault on

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1984-547: The Eastern bank of the canal advanced with the mounted infantry leading the way under the command of Captain Parr and Lieutenants Pigott and Vyse. When these three officers, accompanied by six men, rode ahead to reconnoitre, they chanced upon a large body of Egyptians who immediately opened fire - mortally wounding Vyse, killing another man and wounding two others. Private Frederick Corbett stepped forward and attempted to staunch

2046-412: The Egyptian batteries. The 9-pounders then accompanied the marines in their advance, whilst the 40-pounder continued to give supporting fire from the armoured train. As the marines drew ahead of the halted left column, they came under fire on their left flank from Egyptian soldiers posted along the banks of the canal. Seeing they were unsupported, the marines charged across the intervening ground, firing

2108-596: The Egyptian lines. British troops continued to arrive at Alexandria over the following days, with the Commander-in-Chief Sir Garnet Wolseley himself arriving on 15 August. Two days later, Wolseley ordered the re-embarkation of many of his troops, and let it be known that he planned to land his forces in Aboukir Bay from where they could take the Egyptian works in the flank. On 19 August the fleet set sail, and 18 ships anchored in

2170-537: The Japanese forces. After serving as Chindits, they were transferred to the Parachute Regiment , becoming parachute infantry , and converted to the 16th Parachute Battalion . The battalion joined 50th Indian Parachute Brigade , part of the 44th Indian Airborne Division . The 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment was initially serving in the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade until 1941 when it

2232-598: The South Staffordshire Regiment was granted the distinction of a badge backing of buff-coloured Brown Holland material. This commemorated the 57 years of continuous service by the 38th Foot in the West Indies from 1707 to 1764, and recalled the fact that their uniforms became so threadbare during their service in the tropics that they had to be repaired with pieces of sacking. The regular battalions found themselves fighting in new roles: During

2294-610: The South Staffordshire and Duke of Cornwall's regiments (800 men in all), accompanied by a naval 9-pounder gun and 80 mounted infantry who would operate on the East bank. On the West bank were six companies of Rifles (500 men) and another 9-pounder. The right wing would follow the railway line and was made up of 1,000 marines. It was supported by an armoured train , the brainchild of Captain Jacky Fisher , which sported

2356-735: The Western Front before transferring to Egypt in January 1916 and then returning to France in February 1916. They crossed the St Quentin Canal to break through the strongest sector of the Hindenburg Line during the Battle of St. Quentin Canal in September 1918. Both the 2/5th and 2/6th battalions, part of the 176th (2/1st Staffordshire) Brigade of 59th (2nd North Midland) Division , were involved in hostilities in Dublin during

2418-472: The amalgamation of the 38th and 80th regiments of foot, which became the regular 1st and 2nd battalions of the South Staffordshire Regiment. Militia and Rifle Volunteers of south Staffordshire were also incorporated in the new regiment. The battalions formed in 1881 were as follows: The reserve battalions of the regiment were reorganised in 1908 by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 , with

2480-473: The armoured train leading the way and the marines riding in a second train behind. Just beyond Mahalla Junction the railway line was broken, so the Marines disembarked and advanced under the cover of the railway embankment. The Egyptians, having trained their artillery on the break in the line in advance, opened fire on the armoured train. The British 40-pounder and two 9-pounders replied until they had silenced

2542-632: The battalion by King George V on 31 January 1912. The battalion returned to South Africa in 1913. The 2nd Battalion (the former 80th) was stationed in British India in 1881, soon moving to Tralee in Ireland, where it was involved in actions against Irish nationalists . It returned to England in 1883. It was then posted to The Curragh from 1889 to 1891, before travelling to Egypt, via Aldershot , in 1893. The battalion subsequently served in southern India and Burma until 1907, when it started

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2604-432: The battalions were broken up and sent to other units. The regiment raised six other battalions before and during the war but these were used mainly in home defence roles or training units for the battalions overseas, or converted to other roles such as the 14th Battalion which was raised at Hereford racecourse in July 1940 was sent to guard the beaches at Great Yarmouth and Caister-on-Sea . In late 1942, it transferred to

2666-501: The bay in preparation for the supposed attack. At 8pm, though, a signal was given and the fleet proceeded eastward to Port Said . The whole affair had been a ruse, intended to draw ‘Urabi's forces towards Alexandria, and to distract him from Wolseley's real intended base of operations on the Suez Canal . It succeeded admirably, and the British were able to establish themselves at Ismaïlia without incident. Whether Wolseley ever seriously intended to advance on Cairo direct from Alexandria

2728-474: The bleeding of the officer's wounds whilst under a constant fire from the Egyptians, but to no avail: Vyse had been shot through the femoral artery and bled to death in 10 minutes. The party was ordered to retire, and did so carrying Vyse's body with them. Corbett was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions. On the West bank of the canal, facing the Rifles, a large number of Egyptian troops occupied

2790-401: The enemy attacks and although he was suffering from a perforated ear-drum and multiple wounds, he refused medical attention. Major Cain's conduct throughout was highly respected, both in terms of personal actions and leadership ability, and for this he was awarded the Victoria Cross; the only living man to receive this medal at Arnhem. Lance-Sergeant John Daniel Baskeyfield of 2nd Battalion

2852-535: The force - Colonel Thackwell of the South Staffordshires - had been ordered to advance until he reached a white house on the canal bank, which marked the closest point of the canal to the railway. Unfortunately for the British, there was another white house a mile short of their target which Colonel Thackwell mistook for his objective. The mistake would have serious consequences for the other British column. The right wing came into position by rail, with

2914-429: The heads of their attackers. When the Rifles got to within 100 yards of the ditch, Egyptians could already be seen creeping off in twos and threes into the bush behind their position. When the order was given for the Rifles to fix bayonets and charge, the remaining defenders took flight, many throwing away their arms in the process. At this point, the British left wing was ordered to halt. The commander of this part of

2976-564: The male population of every province should be sent to Kafr El Dawwar. All old soldiers of every description were called upon to serve again, and horses and provisions were everywhere requisitioned for the army. On 17 July, Sir Archibald Alison landed in Alexandria with the leading elements of the British expeditionary force: the South Staffordshire Regiment and a battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps . Combined with

3038-419: The right column) was able to survey the Egyptian fortifications. This he did for a period of about 45 minutes. At about 6:30pm, with the light failing and Egyptian reinforcements visibly appearing, a general withdrawal was ordered and carried out with great coolness and precision. By 8pm, all were out of action. British casualties were one officer and three men killed and 27 wounded, 24 of the latter being from

3100-444: The right hand column. Egyptian losses, according to a deserter taken four days later, were three officers and 76 men killed and a large number wounded. An Egyptian officer and 14 men were taken prisoner Total Egyptian casualties have been estimated at 200 men. The action was reported by ‘Urabi as a battle, and Cairo was full of the news that the advancing British had been repulsed. In London, The Times reported that "the result

3162-519: The second, under Sir Evelyn Wood , comprised one battalion each of the Sussex Regiment , Berkshire Regiment , South Staffordshire Regiment and King's Shropshire Light Infantry . On 29 August Hamley, Alison and his brigade were ordered to join the main British force, leaving Wood's brigade to garrison Ramleh alone. Fighting around Kafr al-Dawar broke out several times in August 1882. The Egyptians continued to menace Alexandria, whilst

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3224-566: The strength of the Kafr El Dawwar position, and to test local rumours that the Egyptians were retreating, Alison ordered a probing attack on the evening of 5 August 1882. The line of attack would follow the Cairo railway line and the Mahmoudiyah Canal which led, roughly parallel to each other, towards ‘Urabi's trenches. The British force was split into two wings: The left wing would follow the canal. It comprised four companies each of

3286-600: The two militia battalions becoming the 3rd (Reserve) and 4th (Extra Reserve) battalions of the Special Reserve . The three Volunteer Battalions transferred to the Territorial Force (TF); the 1st Volunteer Battalion formed the 1st North Midland Field Company , Royal Engineers , a few of the men joining with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion to form the 5th Battalion (TF) at Whittimere Street in Walsall , while

3348-505: The wettest places in Egypt . Kafr El Dawwar, like many other cities in Egypt, has a city council, which takes care of issues related to building permits and zoning. Battle of Kafr El Dawwar Egyptian victory. 79 Killed, many wounded, 15 Captured The Battle of Kafr El Dawwar was a conflict during the Anglo-Egyptian War near Kafr El Dawwar , Egypt . The battle took place between an Egyptian army, headed by Ahmed ‘Urabi , and British forces headed by Sir Archibald Alison . As

3410-417: Was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for only 68 years. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot and the 80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot . The regiment saw service in the Second Boer War , World War I and World War II . Reduced to a single Regular Army battalion after

3472-409: Was also awarded the Victoria Cross. On 20 September 1944, Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield was the NCO in charge of a 6-pounder anti-tank gun at Oosterbeek. When their battalion was attacked, Baskeyfield was badly wounded in the leg, and the rest of the crew were either killed or badly wounded. He refused an offer of transport to the Regimental Aid Post, in order to stay at his gun and encourage morale. After

3534-406: Was converted to a Glider infantry role, serving as part of the 1st Airlanding Brigade in the 1st Airborne Division . As such, they landed in Sicily in 1943 where they, along with the rest of the brigade, which was temporarily down to two battalions, suffered heavy casualties during the disastrous Operation Ladbroke . Because of heavy casualties during Ladbroke the brigade did not participate in

3596-485: Was cut off from the battalion and throughout the whole of this time was closely engaged with enemy tanks, self-propelled guns and infantry. The Major was everywhere danger threatened, moving among his men and encouraging them to hold out. By the end of the Battle, Cain had reportedly been personally responsible for the destruction or disabling of six tanks, four of which were Tigers, as well as a number of self-propelled guns. By his leadership he not only stopped but demoralized

3658-406: Was ordered to South Africa , arriving as part of the 8th Division in 1900. The battalion was mostly involved in minor skirmishes with the Boers, but suffered casualties due to disease and poor nutrition. In 1904, the 1st South Staffords returned to the United Kingdom, being stationed in Ireland and England until 1911, when it moved to Gibraltar. While in Gibraltar, new colours were presented to

3720-528: Was part of 176th Brigade and the 5th, 1/6th and 2/6th were in 177th Brigade . The division was sent to France in late June 1944 to fight in the Battle for Caen . The division performed well and was considered by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery as one of the best in the 21st Army Group . However, due to a severe shortage of infantrymen in the British Army at the time, the division was broken up in August 1944 and its units were used as replacements for other British divisions who had suffered heavy casualties and

3782-434: Was posted to Palestine . It then moved to India in 1932. The 3rd and 4th (Special Reserve) battalions were placed in "suspended animation" in 1921, eventually being disbanded in 1953. The Territorial Force was reconstituted as the Territorial Army in 1920, and the 5th and 6th battalions were reformed. In 1939, the size of the Territorial Army was doubled, with duplicate 2/6th and 7th battalions being formed. In 1935,

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3844-449: Was raised in 1940 and joined the 209th Infantry Brigade as a training battalion. Following the end of the war, the 11th Battalion was posted to the Middle East where it was disbanded. Major Robert Henry Cain seconded to B Company, 2nd Battalion of the regiment from the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was awarded the Victoria Cross for his participation during the Battle of Arnhem . From 17 to 25 September 1944, Major Cain's company

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