Page 28 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

THE DEATH OF COLONEL FRED BURNABY

Metemmeh at dawn. A position was adopted on which the
Mahdist forces opened fire but after an interval the Column
formed square and advanced to the Nile at Gubat, still under
heavy fire. During this operation Major General Stewart
sustained injuries, that later proved fatal, and command of the
Column passed to Brigadier Wilson.

The Times (London) of January 22 1885 published a report
nd
on the British Battle of Abu Klea from its correspondent, who in
the fourth paragraph, informed readers of the death of Colonel
Burnaby thus – 'Colonel Burnaby, fighting hard, was killed with a
spear thrust.'

On January 21 1885 four Nile steamers arrived from Khartoum
st
at Gubat where two days later Brigadier Wilson embarked with
soldiers of the Sussex Regiment and headed for Khartoum,
th
arriving there on January 28 1885 only to learn that the Mahdi’s
forces had taken the city two days earlier, massacring the
24