Horatio Herbert Kitchener Biography and Timeline

Birth of Horatio Herbert Kitchener

Birth of Horatio Herbert Kitchener

Commissioned into Royal Engineers

Receives a commission in the Royal Engineers after returning from volunteer service in France.

Role range: 1871-1882

Palestine Survey Appointment

Joins the Survey of Western Palestine and works on detailed military and geographical mapping.

Role range: 1874-1878

Galilee Survey Work

Conducts survey work in Galilee as part of the wider mapping programme in Palestine.

Role range: 1874-1878

Palestine Mapping Programme Completed

Completes major stages of field survey work that improve British geographical knowledge of Palestine.

Role range: 1874-1878

Cyprus Survey Duty

Undertakes survey and administrative work in Cyprus after Britain assumes control of the island.

Role range: 1878-1882

Attached to Egyptian Army

Transfers to Egyptian service and begins the phase of his career that leads to command in the Sudan.

Role range: 1882-1892

Gordon Relief Intelligence Duties

Serves on intelligence and reconnaissance duties during the expedition attempting to relieve Gordon at Khartoum.

Role range: 1884-1885

Nile Expedition Staff Service

Supports the Nile expedition with local knowledge, reconnaissance and staff work during the advance south.

Role range: 1884-1885

Suakin Command Assumed

Takes command at Suakin and becomes responsible for defending the Red Sea base against Mahdist pressure.

Role range: 1886-1888

Wounded at Handub

Is wounded during fighting near Handub while commanding forces based around Suakin.

Role range: 1886-1888

Egyptian Brigade Command Assumed

Takes command of an Egyptian brigade as his responsibilities within the reorganised Egyptian Army expand.

Role range: 1889-1892

Sirdar of Egyptian Army Appointed

Becomes Sirdar, placing him in overall command of the Egyptian Army.

Role range: 1892-1898

Egyptian Army Training Reorganised

Strengthens training, discipline and staff organisation within the Egyptian Army.

Role range: 1892-1898

Nile Frontier Defences Strengthened

Improves frontier garrisons and communications in preparation for possible operations farther into the Sudan.

Role range: 1892-1898

Sudan Reconquest Expedition Opened

Begins the Anglo-Egyptian advance designed to recover the Sudan from Mahdist control.

Role range: 1896-1898

Battle of Firket Victory

Defeats a Mahdist force at Firket and clears the way for the advance toward Dongola.

Role range: 1896-1898

Capture of Great Britain

Leads an Angloian force which begins to reconquer the Sudan

Role range: 1896-1898

Battle of Dongola

Captures Dongola

Role range: 1896-1898

Dongola Province Occupied

Consolidates British and Egyptian control of the Dongola region after the campaign's first major advance.

Role range: 1896-1898

Akasha Forward Base Secured

Establishes Akasha as a forward logistical base for the opening phase of the reconquest.

Role range: 1896-1898

Desert Railway Construction Ordered

Makes railway construction central to supplying troops, guns and stores during the Sudan advance.

Role range: 1896-1898

Dongola Supply Line Consolidated

Strengthens rail, river and depot arrangements before pushing the campaign farther south.

Role range: 1896-1898

Nile Steamer Supply System Expanded

Uses river steamers alongside the railway to sustain the Anglo-Egyptian army moving south.

Role range: 1896-1898

Abu Hamed Advance Supported

Supports the operation that captures Abu Hamed and opens the next stage of the Nile advance.

Role range: 1896-1898

Berber Occupation Consolidated

Consolidates control of Berber and prepares the army for operations against the Atbara position.

Role range: 1896-1898

Desert Railway Extended toward Abu Hamed

Pushes railway construction across the desert to shorten the route toward the Mahdist heartland.

Role range: 1896-1898

Railway Reaches Berber Sector

Extends the military railway to support troops operating deeper inside the Sudan.

Role range: 1896-1898

Mahmud Force Located near Atbara

Concentrates against Emir Mahmud's army after intelligence identifies its fortified position near the Atbara.

Role range: 1896-1898

Atbara Camp Assault Prepared

Completes preparations for a dawn assault against the strongly defended Mahdist camp on the Atbara.

Role range: 1896-1898

Battle of Atbara

Horatio Kitchener defeats the Khalifa, leader of the dervishes in Sudan, at the Battle of Atbara. Angloian forces crush 6,000 Sudanese

Role range: 1896-1898

Emir Mahmud Captured

Takes Emir Mahmud prisoner after the Anglo-Egyptian victory at Atbara.

Role range: 1896-1898

Atbara Victory Opens Road to Omdurman

Uses the Atbara victory to prepare the final advance against the Khalifa's main army.

Role range: 1896-1898

Fashoda Incident

Ordered to Fashoda to oppose French claims

Role range: 1896-1898

Ordered to Fashoda to oppose French claims

Ordered to Fashoda to oppose French claims

Role range: 1896-1898

Final Nile Advance Begun

Leads the reinforced Anglo-Egyptian army south for the decisive campaign against Omdurman.

Role range: 1896-1898

Gunboat Flotilla Supports Omdurman Advance

Coordinates river gunboats with the army to bombard positions and protect the advance toward Omdurman.

Role range: 1896-1898

Kerreri Position Selected

Forms a defensive position near Kerreri before the Khalifa's army launches its main attack.

Role range: 1896-1898

Battle of Omdurman

Results in British control of the Upper Nile. Counter-attacks the Dervishes & marches into Omdurman. Attacked by Abdullah at Egeiga 4 miles from Omdurman

Role range: 1896-1898

Capture of Omdurman

Results in British control of the Upper Nile

Role range: 1896-1898