Battle of Erego

The Battle of Erego (also known as Beerdhiga) occurred on October 6, 1902, in Hodayo, about 70 miles north of Galkacyo. The battle involved British colonial forces, led by Colonel Swayne, and Somali troops (known as Dervishes) under the command of Haji Muhammad Abdullah Hassan. The Dervishes won by ambushing the British forces.^[6] The battle was an early conflict of the Somaliland campaign.

Battle of Erego
A charge of Somali horsemen at Erego
Date October 6, 1902 Location Erego (modern-day Somalia) Result Dervish victory[1]
Belligerents
Dervish Movement	British Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mohamed Abdullah Hassan	Colonel Swayne (WIA)
Strength
600 or more riflemen accompanied by spearmen.[2]	2,360 British troops 1,189 reinforcements[3]
Casualties and losses
15 riflemen killed 200 wounded Heavy amount of spearmen killed or injured[4]	Hundreds of troops killed or wounded 2 high-ranking officers killed 99 levy and communication troops killed[3] 2 maxim guns lost[5]

Battle

The British forces were on a mission to locate Hassan, who was known as "the Mad Mullah" for his resistance to colonial rule. This search led them to Erego, where they were ambushed by Hassan's forces.^[7]

At the beginning, Colonel Swayne, who was leading the British column, believed that he had defeated the Dervishes. Certain that Hassan's capture was within reach, he dispatched triumphant messages of victory to London. However, the Dervishes launched an attack from the rear that cut off Colonel Swayne's communication with the coast, destroyed the Zariba on which he relied for supplies, and ultimately forced him to retreat.^[8]

A British officer's letter describes the situation during the battle:

"No one will appreciate this business until it is too late. We are in a regular trap, and how we are going to get out we do not know. We have had stiffish fights, and have lost many men. The worst is that our blacks are flunking and our camels have nearly all been killed or captured. We have next to no water, and we are miles from any wells. We have no supplies, and nearly no ammunition. They have captured two of our Maxims. I do not suppose they care at home what happens to us. It is a brutal shame to send us blind into an ambush like this."^[6]

The battle ended in a decisive Dervish victory.^[9]

Aftermath

This expedition cost the British Empire more than $300,000 and resulted in a considerable loss of lives. It proved to be a failure.^[10] In response, the House of Commons offered Muhammad Abdullah Hassan $15,000 per year on the condition that he cease the war. However, he declined the offer.^[11]

Colonel Swayne, who spearheaded the operations against the Dervishes, was recalled by The War Office for consultations.^[12]

The victory at Erigo brought considerable recognition to the Dervish cause. Frederick Quelch who fought in Somaliland, reported:

"If the Mad Mollah wins a victory, the other Mohammedans are at once more impressed with the divine character of his leadership, and they flock to his standard where they might otherwise have remained passive. The recent victory of the Mad Mollah over Colonel Swayne's detachment presages, therefore, large fanatic hordes to his forces. The trouble the British will have in subduing him will be proportionately increased by each victory." ^[13]

Muhammad Abdullah Hassan was commonly referred to as the 'Mad Mullah' by the media until the defeat at Erego. Following this event, there was a shift in perception.^[14] The Daily News noted that:

'the "Mad Mullah"... seems to be showing increasing signs of sanity', and that, 'for a mad man, the Mullah planned his tactics skilfully... he is no fool, this Mad Mullah'.^[15]

References

1. Sanderson, Edgar (1910). King Edward VII, His Life & Reign: The Record of a Noble Career. Gresham Publishing Company. p. 114.
2. Moyse-Bartlett, Lieutenant-Colonel H. (2012-02-10). The King's African Rifles - Volume 1. Andrews UK Limited. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-78150-661-5.
3. Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-8108-6604-1.
4. "SOMALILAND". Daily Telegraph. 1902-11-18. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
5. Parliament, Great Britain (1903). The Parliamentary Debates. Reuter's Telegram Company.
6. Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji (2003-02-25). Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6604-1.
7. The Speaker. Mather & Crowther. 1904. p. 97.
8. The chronicle (1911-02-10). J. Mewhort. 1911-02-10.
9. Aguiar, Marian (2005-04-07), "Somali Songs and Poetry", African American Studies Center, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.43443, ISBN 978-0-19-530173-1, retrieved 2023-11-01
10. Littlefield, Walter (1910-04-10). "MAD MULLAH TURNS AGAIN TO FANATIC SLAUGHTER; English Evacuation of Somaliland and the Death of King Menelik Encourage Him to Go on the Warpath". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
11. The chronicle (1911-02-10). J. Mewhort. 1911-02-10.
12. Beckett, Ian Frederick William (1989). Johnnie Gough, V.C.: A Biography of Brigader-General Sir John Edmond Gough, V.C., K.C.B. Tom Donovan. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-871085-01-3.
13. "War on Mad Mullah | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
14. Wilkinson, G. (2002-12-13). Depictions and Images of War in Edwardian Newspapers, 1899-1914. Springer. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-230-59837-9.
15. Wilkinson, G. (2002-12-13). Depictions and Images of War in Edwardian Newspapers, 1899-1914. Springer. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-230-59837-9.