The War in the Soudan: Departure of the Australian Contingent from Sydney, NSW

Depicts both paddle-steamers and the two troopships, the 'Iberia' and the 'Australasia' packed with soldiers and civilians preparing to embark for the war in the Soudan. In the foreground, civilians and soldiers with bayonets are watching two long columns of infantry filing towards a ship. In the background, mounted infantry are lined up neatly, possibly awaiting embarkation on the same ship. The scene has a festival atmosphere, and the civilians on the crowded dock are dressed in their finest - many of the men have silk top hats, and the women are wearing ornate bonnets. The most visible ship, which is a paddle-steamer in the middle-ground, is packed with people, with men standing shoulder to shoulder on the flat roof of the steamer, as well as being crowded together below on the deck. A string of flags bisects the engraving; one banner reads 'WELL DONE N.S.W. GOD SPEED'. The engraving is workmanlike, focusing on accurate historical details, rather than aesthetic concerns. The Sudan Contingent was the first army contingent to be raised and dispatched by an Australian colony - previous to this, the British had provided 'defense' services for Australia. The murder of General Gordon at Khartoum on 26 January 1885 horrified the civilised world and prompted the New South Wales Government to offer assistance to the British in the Egyptian Sudan. The British Government dissuaded the other Australian colonies from doing the same. Despite these offers from the other colonies that went unheeded by England, public excitement over the Sudan campaign led it to be called "the great adventure". The hastily formed force of 734 men of the New South Wales contingent for the Sudan were given an enthusiastic Sydney farewell on March 3, 1885. By the time the Australian Sudan Contingent landed at Suakin in the Red Sea on 29 March 1885 the first Sudan War was nearly over. The British Government was then completing plans to withdraw into Egypt, leaving the Mahdi to his conquests. The Australians joined two British brigades under General Graham at Suakin. This force operated against Oman Digna, the Mahdi's commander of the eastern tribes, with considerable success until it was withdrawn. The troops, however, were in the Sudan for only seven weeks and saw little action, only being involved in two actions of note. Three soldiers were wounded and two died of illness during the campaign, while three later died of illness at Colombo during the voyage back to Australia. But the affair set a precedent for Australia's involvement with Britain in future overseas wars.