With the New South Wales Contingent in the Sudan

Separated into six parts, this image depicts the NSW Contingent in the Sudan in 1885. The first section shows Indian soldiers at their campsite, sitting or standing in front of their tents, cooking at fires or talking to one another. The second box depicts the NSW Contingent moving through a mountain pass, en route from Handoub to Debret. The ground is rocky and horses are used to carry the soldiers' gear. In the third section a soldier is sitting on a barrel at camp whilst another soldier cuts his hair. The fourth section shows a soldier standing guard as sentry, he stands straight and stares into the distance. A dog stands next to him. In the fifth image, the NSW Contingent reconnaissance force is resting, looking out from higher ground at those in the distance. The six box depicts the NSW Contingent marching in formation through a mountain pass on the road to Debret. This print was reproduced in the 'The Illustrated Sydney News' in 1885, p.13. Between March- June 1885, the NSW Contingent served in Sudan, Africa. The contingent, an infantry battalion of 522 men and 24 officers and an artillery battery of 212 men, was ready to sail on 3 March 1885. It left Sydney amid much public fanfare, generated in part by the holiday declared to farewell the troops; the send-off was described as the most festive occasion in the colony's history. The NSW contingent anchored at Suakin, Sudan's Red Sea port, on 29 March 1885 and were attached to a brigade composed of Scots, Grenadiers and Coldstream Guards. Shortly after their arrival they marched as part of a large "square" formation -on this occasion made up of 10,000 men - for Tamai, a village some 30 kilometres inland. Not having participated in any battles, Australian casualties were few: those who died fell to disease rather than enemy action. By May 1885 the British government had decided to abandon the campaign and left only a garrison in Suakin. The Australian contingent sailed for home on 17 May 1885, arriving back in Sydney on 19 June. It was generally agreed at the time that, no matter how small the military significance of the Australian contribution to the War in Sudan, it marked an important stage in the development of colonial self-confidence and was proof of the enduring link with Britain.