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The 10th Hussars, who were sailing home after 11 years in India, were ordered off their troopship in the Red Sea to join a British Expeditionary Force.
In 1884, the 10th Hussars, who were sailing home after 11 years in India, were ordered off their troopship Jumna in the Red Sea to join a British Expeditionary Force. A former commanding officer of the 10th Hussars, Colonel Valentine Baker, was appointed to command the Egyptian army and given the task of suppressing the Mahdi’s forces, who were led by their general, Osman Digna. The 10th Hussars had handed over their horses to another regiment in India, and so they borrowed some Egyptian army horses. The 10th Hussars and 19th Hussars formed the British cavalry brigade and saw heavy fighting against a fanatical enemy. The British defeated the rebels at the Battle of El Teb on 29th February 1884. Following this victory, the British pursued Osman Digna to his camp at Tamai where a further battle took place on 13th March. Although present, the cavalry played little part in this action and suffered no losses. By April the 10th were back in England. Forty five soldiers volunteered to return to Egypt in October to serve in the Light Camel Corps on the Nile Expedition which was sent to relieve General Gordon in Khartoum.
