Omdurman, The First Battle - 6.30 a.m. September 2nd 1898 (chromolitho)

One of two chromolithographs relating to the Battle of Omdurman, 2nd Sudan War (1896-1898); by A Sutherland, published by G W Bacon and Co, 1898. Imperial interest in North Africa grew after the construction of the Suez Canal in 1869, because of the swift access the waterway gave British shipping to India. To protect that interest the British government bought up shares in the Egyptian company that ran the canal, and in 1875 moved to take over Egypt’s financial administration. In 1881 a religious rebellion against Egyptian control broke out in neighbouring Sudan. A British attempt to withdraw Egyptian garrisons backfired: General Gordon was besieged and eventually killed at Khartoum along with the 7,000-strong Egyptian garrison. Although this illustration depicts the British wearing red uniforms, these had in fact been superseded by khaki by the time of the Omdurman battle.