The excessively rare East Africa Turkana Patrol 1918 Distinguished Conduct Medal and subsequent Aliab Dinka Revolt pair awarded to Shawish Abdel Rahman Ahmed, 6th Company, 2nd East African Equatorial Battalion, Egyptian Army. Towards the end of the Great War in the rank of Shawish (Sergeant), Ahmed found himself on active service as part of the Sudan Force during the North Turkana operations of February to June 1918, which is otherwise known as the Turkana Patrol, in what was then the Uganda Protectorate, and is now a part of Ethiopia and Eritrea on the southern Sudan boundary. He formed part of the force under Captain J.H.R. Yardley, D.S.O., Royal Inniskilling Fusilier. In all 200 rifles from the Equatorial Battalion participated in these operations of the Sudan Force, and receives mention in Yardley’s book ‘Parergon or Eddies in Equatoria’, where he is described as 'his excellent Sergeant’. He became one of only three men to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for these operations. He subsequently further distinguished himself during the Aliab Dinka tribal revolt of 8th November 1919 to 6th May 1920, for which his name was published in the Sudan Forces Special Army Order of 18th January 1921.
Distinguished Conduct Medal, GVR bust; (2006 SHAWISH ABDEL RAHMAN AHMED. 6/COY. EQUATORIAL BN); Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1910-1922, 1 Clasp: Aliab Dinka, unnamed as issued.
Condition: minor official correction to company number, otherwise Good Very Fine.
Abdel Rahman Ahmed saw service as a Shawish (No.2006) in the 6th Company of the 2nd East African Equatorial Battalion, Egyptian Army, his rank being equivalent to that of Sergeant. Towards the end of the Great War he found himself on active service as part of the Sudan Force during the North Turkana operations of February to June 1918, which is otherwise known as the Turkana Patrol, in what was then the Uganda Protectorate, and is now a part of Ethiopia and Eritrea on the southern Sudan boundary. For these operations, Ahmed saw service as a Sergeant (Shawish) with the Sudan Force under Captain J.H.R. Yardley, D.S.O., Royal Inniskilling Fusilier. In all 200 rifles from the Equatorial Battalion participated in these operations of the Sudan Force, that also comprised half a Company of Mounted Infantry and one section of Maxim Battery.
Abdel Rahman Ahmed would become on of only three men to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, his award being recommended on 3rd June 1919, and published in the London Gazette for 20th April 1920, ‘for distinguished service in connection with operations against the northern Turkana and kindred tribes’. Ahmed would also receive mention in Yardley’s book ‘Parergon or Eddies in Equatoria’, where he is described as 'his excellent Sergeant’.
The London Gazette of 18th December 1919 gives more detail on the actions of the Turkana Patrol of February to June 1918: In’December 1917 ‘A temporary base was established at Loyoro and an advanced base at Kabua, due east of Loyoro and near the shores of Lake Rudolf. Whilst these preparations were in progress the Sudan force executed a small patrol against Turkana who had recently moved to Mount Zingot, and captured a number of cattle. The East Africa Force meantime operated against Turkana South of the Turkwel River, capturing a quantity of stock.
Towards the end of February a somewhat serious situation arose owing to the dis-affection of a detachment of 1/6th King's African Rifles, who had proceeded to the advanced base at Kabua. It should be explained that this detachment, which was sent to relieve another King's African Rifles unit in Turkana, was composed of native ranks who had formerly served with the German forces, and had been recruited in the conquered territory of German East Africa, and was not drawn from an ordinary King's African Rifles battalion. This caused a certain delay, as it was necessary to relieve the dis-affected men and replace them with other troops from Nairobi. Further obstacles to progress were created by a serious outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis.
After further delays due to transport difficulties, the combined forces, which had concentrated at Kabua, moved off on the 20th April 1918, on concentrated patrols, which radiated from Lomogol round the Lorusia Mountains. Major Rayne's force met and dispersed a party of Turkana and Abyssinian marauders on May 6th, and a detachment of major White's column, under Captain Yardley, D.S.O., defeated a large force of Turkana on 8th and 9th May. Further patrols on 13th and 16th May encountered scouting parties including Abyssinian marauders near Lomogol, the enemy retreating on being attacked. A certain number of Turkana tribesmen moved into Abyssinian territory, while another body were reported as wishful of making peace. Numbers of stock, totalling 3,658 cattle and 1,810 donkeys, were captured, the enemy casualties numbering 141 killed and an uncertain number of wounded, as the result of these operations. The combined forces concentrated again at Katome, west of Lomogol.
On 27th May further patrols were organised with a view to sweeping the Lorusia Mountains, lying roughly between Lomogol and Katome, and ridding them of the enemy. The column under Captain Yardley, D.S.O., encountered a strong hostile force in thick bush at Kangala, and immediately attacked. After five hours' fighting the enemy retired from hostilities, having suffered heavily, and, in view of the strength of the enemy force, Captain Yardley did not further engage him. The force consisted of some 400 rifles, mostly Abyssinian marauders, with some mounted men who took no part in the fight, and suffered casualties to the number of 33 killed and an unknown number of wounded. Five rifles were captured, our casualties amounting to three native officers killed, also three other ranks and two followers. The other two columns under Major Rayne and Major White hastened to get into touch with Captain Yardley's column, but were unable to do so prior to the enemy's retirement. The whole force concentrated at Lomogol.
It had been considered whether a post should be provisionally established at Lomogol, but in view of the danger of troops stationed there being cut off by Abyssinian marauders, it was eventually decided to evacuate the Lomogol line, and to hold a line to the south. The decision was confirmed by this Government on the ground that it was inadvisable to take further military action at the northern end of Lake Rudolf until the Sudan Government were able to administer the territory lying north of th Sudan-East Africa boundary, in the proximity of the lake, since no large reinforcements could be supplied at the time to enable the northern line to be held.
The combined force proceeded to lodwar on June 18th, and on 19th the Sudan force under Major White marched off north, the operations being concluded.
The result of the operations may be described as successful in that it was demonstrated to the Northern Turkana that their forces, even when supported by Abyssinian marauders, were liable to defeat at the hands of British troops whenever encountered, this causing large numbers of Nyisirr and Ngamatak Turkana to approach the Political Officer with offers of peace. It was further shown that the Government was able to regain large numbers of cattle from them to compensate tribes whom they had raided, and, in consequence, that raiding was always liable to meet with punishment.'
For his services during the operations of the Turkana Patrol, Ahmed is also entitled to the Africa General Service Medal with clasp ‘East Africa 1918’. Ahmed’s boss, Captain Yardley, would be awarded the only Military Cross for these operations, and in all, one Distinguished Service Order, one Military Cross, three Distinguished Conduct Medals, four Military Medal’s and one Army Meritorious Service Medal would be awarded.
Ahmed was then further present during the Aliab Dinka tribal revolt of 8th November 1919 to 6th May 1920, for which the clasp ‘Aliab Dinka’ was issued to the Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1910-1922. The clasp was awarded to those who saw service against the Aliab Dinka, Bor Dinka and Mandari tribes, who unexpectedly rebelled and attacked the post at Menhaden.
Two columns commanded by Major R.F. White, Essex Regiment, and Major F.C. Roberts, V.C., D.S.O., M.C., Worcestershire Regiment, were despatched. The latter column was surprised by the Dinka and, owing to the mortal wounding of three officers and the stampeding of its carriers, it was forced to make a fighting retreat to Tombe, which it reached on 13th December 1919. In March 1920, a further force under Lieutenant Colonel R.H. Darrell, Royal Marines, composed of mounted infantry, cavalry and Sudanese Infantry, established itself at Pap, and gradually cleared the country.
The Aliab Dinka mainly live in the Lakes State of South Sudan, in the Awerial County, to the west of the White Nile. The Aliab Valley is a low floodplain to the west of the Bahr-el-Gebel (Nile) between Tombe in the south and Lake Papiu in the north. The valley is between 2.5 miles and 6 miles wide and perhaps 37 miles in length. The Bahr-el-Gebel flows well above the east side of the valley between high banks. During the rainy season, usually starting in June, the river overflows its banks and floods the whole valley, which becomes a huge swamp. It would be into this huge swamp that Sawish Abdel Rahman Ahmed would find himself once again engaged.
In 1919 there was an uprising of the Aliab Dinka. 3,000 Dinka men attacked the police post at Mingkaman, near Bor, and killed several policemen. Mandari tribesmen in the region to the south attacked at the same time and killed some telegraph linesmen and police. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Finch White took several companies of the Egyptian Army Equatorial Battalion to the area to handle the situation. The Mongalla province Governor Chauncey Hugh Stigand went on patrol himself, and on 8th December 1919 was killed at Pap, between the Lau River and the White Nile. Two other officers and 24 soldiers and porters were speared to death by 1,000 Dinka warriors. The rising was put down harshly in 1920. A force under Colonel Robert Henry Darwall led the punitive expedition, which killed over 400 Dinka, Atwot and Mandari tribesmen, burnt many villages and took about 7,000 cattle.
For the Aliab Dinka operations, Shawish Abdel Rahman Ahmed would be further noted for his actions when serving with the Equatorial Battalion, his name being published in the Sudan Forces Special Army Order of 18th January 1921, his name being brought to notice ‘for good services rendered in connection with the operations agains the Aliab Dinkas in 1919 to 1920.
