Battle of Suakin

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Battle of Suakin

| partof = the Mahdist War

| image = File:Battle of Gemaizah, Suakin, Sudan 1888.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Battle of Suakin

| date = 20 December 1888

| place = Suakin, Eastern Sudan

| casus =

| territory =

| result = Anglo-Egyptian victory

| combatant1 = {{flagicon|UKGBI}} United Kingdom
* {{flagcountry|British India}}Ernest Gambier-Parry, Suakin, 1885 : being a sketch of the campaign of this year (1885), (London : K. Paul, Trench & Co.)
{{flagicon|Egypt|1882}} Egypt

| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Mahdi_movement_in_Sudan.svg}} Mahdist State

| commander1 = {{flagicon|UKGBI}} Francis Grenfell

| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_the_Mahdi_movement_in_Sudan.svg}} Osman Digna{{WIA}}

| strength1 =

| strength2 =

| casualties1 = 12 killed

| casualties2 = 1,000 killed

| casualties3 =

| notes =

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Sudanese Mahdist Revolt}}

}}

The Battle of Suakin (also known as the Battle of Gemaizah), occurred on 20 December 1888 during the Mahdist War, when General Francis Grenfell defeated a Mahdist (Often called Dervishes by Europeans), force near Suakin, a chief port of Sudan.

The Mahdist force, under Osman Digna, had advanced on Suakin with an intention to invest it. From Suakin, General Grenfell launched a sortie against the Mahdists,{{Cite book|editor1-first=E. C. |editor1-last=Joslin |editor2-first=A. R. |editor2-last=Litherland |editor3-first=B. T. |editor3-last=Simpkin|title=British Battles and Medals|page=164|publisher=Spink |location=London |date=1988 |isbn=9780907605256}} who were attempting to capture the Water Forts.{{cite web|url=http://www.constantius.co.uk/index.php?id=506 |website=Constantius | title=Egypt Medal 1882–1889, 1 Clasp Gemaizah |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227061920/http://www.constantius.co.uk/index.php?id=506 |archive-date=27 February 2012}} After one and a half hours of fighting, the casualties were 12 on the Anglo- Egyptian side and 1,000 on the side of the Mahdists. After this, the Mahdists withdrew, removing any threat to Suakin.{{cite book |title= War Medals and Their History|last= Steward|first= W. Augustus|year= 2008|publisher= Read Books|isbn= 978-1-4086-9712-2}}

General Kitchener was present, commanding an Egyptian Army brigade comprising Sudanese troops, this being the first battle where units of the Egyptian Army played a significant part since its reform by the British. They performed well in battle, enhancing the reputation of both the reformed Egyptian Army and of General Kitchener.{{Cite book|first=Michael |last=Barthorp.|title=War on the Nile|page=134 |publisher=Blandford Press |location=Dorset |isbn=9780713718584 |date=1984}}

In the battle, three of the swords of the 20th Hussars broke short, an incident which later caused debate in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.{{Cite Hansard|house=House of Commons |title=Army—The Battle at Suakin—The Broken Swords of the 20th Hussars |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1888/dec/21/army-the-battle-at-suakin-the-broken |date=21 December 1888 |column=974 |volume=332}}

Egyptian and British forces present received both the Egypt Medal with clasp 'Gemaizah 1888' and the Bronze Khedive's Star.