Battle of Erego

Battle of Erego

A charge of Somali horsemen at Erego
DateOctober 6, 1902
Location
Erego (modern-day Somalia)
Result Dervish victory[1]
Belligerents
Dervish Movement  British Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mohamed Abdullah Hassan British Empire 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]

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.

  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. ^ a b 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.