Somaliland Field Force

The Somaliland campaign, also called the Anglo-Somali War or the Dervish rebellion, was a series of military expeditions that took place between 1900 and 1920 in modern-day Somaliland. The British were assisted in their offensives by the Ethiopian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy.

The Dervish led by Sayid Muhammed Abdullah Hassan, continued independently from about (24–26) years between el:1896/1900–1921 1896/1900–1921 The Dervish movement had successfully repulsed the British Empire four times and forced it to retreat to the coastal region.,

With the defeat of the Ottoman and German empires in World War I, the Dervish movement lacked any allies. The British thus turned their attention to the Dervishes, who launched a massive combined arms offensive on their strongholds of the Taleh forts. The British also aerially bombed the Dervish capital of Taleh, bringing the conflict to an end.

Background

British Somaliland

Although nominally part of the Ottoman Empire, Yemen and the ''sahil'', including Zeila, came progressively under the control of Muhammad Ali, Khedive of Egypt, between 1821 and 1841.Clifford (1936), 289 After the Egyptians withdrew from the Yemeni seaboard in 1841, ''Haj'' Ali Shermerki, a successful and ambitious Somali merchant, purchased from them executive rights over Zeila. Shermerki's governorship had an instant effect on the city, as he manoeuvred to monopolize as much of the regional trade as possible, with his sights set as far as Harar and the Ogaden.Abir (1968), 18. Shermerki was later succeeded as Governor of Zeila by Abu Bakr Pasha, a local Afar statesman.Lewis (2002), 43, 49.

In 1874–75, the Khedivate of Egypt obtained a firman from the Ottomans by which they secured claims over the city. At the same time, the Egyptians received British recognition of their nominal jurisdiction as far east as Cape Guardafui. In practice, however, Egypt had little authority over the interior and their period of rule on the coast was brief, lasting only a few years (1870–84).

The British Somaliland protectorate was subsequently established in the late 1880s after the ruling Somali authorities signed a series of protection treaties granting the British access to their territories on the northwestern coast. Among the Somali signatories were the Gadabuursi (1884), Habar Awal (1884 and 1886),Lewis (1999), 19. and Warsangali.Laitin (1977), 8.

When the Egyptian garrison in Harar was eventually evacuated in 1885, Zeila became caught up in the competition between the Tadjoura-based French and the British for control of the strategic Gulf of Aden littoral. By the end of 1885, the two powers were on the brink of armed confrontation, but opted instead to negotiate. On 1 February 1888 they signed a convention defining the border between French Somaliland and British Somaliland.Ravenstein (1894), 56–58.

Italian Somaliland

The Majeerteen Sultanate within the northeastern part of the Somali territories was established in the mid-18th century and rose to prominence the following century, under the reign of the resourceful ''boqor'' (king of kings) Osman Mahamuud.Metz (1993), 10.

In late December 1888, Yusuf Ali Kenadid, the founder and first ruler of the Sultanate of Hobyo, requested Italian protection, and a treaty to that effect was signed in February 1889, making Hobyo an Italian protectorate. In April, Yusuf's uncle and rival, ''Boqor'' Osman, requested a protectorate from the Italians and was granted it.Hess (1964), 416–17. Both Boqor Osman and Sultan Kenadid had entered into the protectorate treaties to advance their own expansionist goals, with Sultan Kenadid looking to use Italy's support in his ongoing power struggle with Boqor Osman over the Majeerteen Sultanate, as well as in a separate conflict with the Sultan of Zanzibar over an area to the north of Warsheikh. In signing the agreements, the rulers also hoped to exploit the rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure the continued independence of their territories. The terms of each treaty specified that Italy was to steer clear of any interference in the sultanates' respective administrations.Issa-Salwe (1996), 34–35.

In return for Italian arms and an annual subsidy, the Sultans conceded to a minimum of oversight and economic concessions. The Italians also agreed to dispatch a few ambassadors to promote both the sultanates' and their own interests. The new protectorates were thereafter managed by Vincenzo Filonardi through a chartered company. An Anglo-Italian border protocol was later signed on 5 May 1894, followed by an agreement in 1906 between Cavalier Pestalozza and General Swaine acknowledging that Buraan fell under the Majeerteen Sultanate's administration.

Campaigns

1900–1902

The first offensive campaign was led by the Haroun against Ethiopian encampment at Jijiga in March 1900. The Ethiopian general Gerazmatch Bante reportedly repulsed the attack and inflicted great losses on the Dervishes, although the British vice-consul at Harar claimed the Ethiopians out of pride armed even children with rifles to inflate the size of their forces. The Haroun seized control over parts of the Ogaden but did not attempt to attack Jijiga again. Instead, he raided the non-Dervish Qadariyyah clans for their camels and arms.Hess (1964), 420.

In 1901, the British joined with the Ethiopians and attacked the Dervishes with a force 1,500 strong. The Haroun was driven across the border into the Majeerteen Sultanate, which had been incorporated into the Italian protectorate. The Ethiopians failed to get a hold on the eastern Ogaden and the British were eventually forced to retreat, having accomplished none of their goals. In this campaign, "borders were ignored by both British and Somali."

Lt-Col. Alexander Cobbe of 1st (Central Africa) Battalion, King's African Rifles, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his action at Erego, on 6 October 1902.

February–June 1903

The British became convinced of their need of Italian assistance. In 1903, the Italian Foreign Ministry permitted the British to land forces at Hobyo (Obbia). An Italian naval commander off Hobyo feared "that the expedition will end in a fiasco; the Mad Mullah will become a myth for the British, who will never come across him, and a serious worry for ... our sphere of influence."

The relationship between Hobyo and Italy soured when Sultan Kenadid refused the Italians' proposal to allow British troops to disembark in his Sultanate so that they might then pursue their battle against Diiriye Guure's Dervish forces. Viewed as too much of a threat by the Italians, Kenadid was exiled first to the British-controlled Aden Protectorate, and then to Italian Eritrea, as was his son Ali Yusuf, the heir apparent to his throne.Sheik-ʻAbdi (1993), 129

In May, the British Foreign Office realised the error, and had Kenadid's son appointed regent, just in time to forestall an attack in Mudug by the Sultan's army.Hess (1964), 421.

In early March 1903 the operation began: 5,000 Ethiopians left Harar to head towards Gheledi, along the course of the Shebelle River river, in order to cut off the Dervishes' retreat towards the south, while the British columns starting from Obbia and Berbera (composed mainly of Sudanese, Indian and Yao troops), under the command of William Manning (colonial administrator) moved towards Galkayo to trap the Mullah's forces in a pocket; the more agile Dervishes however managed to escape the trap by moving towards Gumburu Cagaarweyne and Ual Ual, in the Ogaden region, forcing the British to advance into a territory covered in thick bush and without water On 17 April a British advance detachment was charged by Dervish cavalry under the command of Sultan Nur near Gumburu, but was almost completely annihilated with the loss of 9 British officers, 187 Yao African soldiers and some machine guns, while a few days later a second column was attacked at Daratoleh and put to flight after losing a quarter of its men. The expedition ended in failure soon, the Dervish annihilated the British detachment near Gumburru and Daratoleh. For trying to save a fellow officer during the fighting withdrawal three officers John Gough, George Rolland, William George Walker were awarded Victoria Crosses. When the fight was over, a lone Dervish horseman galloped to the Dervish camp and announced that the English had been wiped out. The Mullah immediately mounted his horse, Dodimer and rode hard to the field of battle.

With 1,200–1,500 rifles, 4,000 ponies and some spearmen, the Dervish occupied the Nugal Valley from Halin in the British protectorate to Eyl (or Illig) on the Italian-held coast. The main British force near Galad (Galadi) under General William Manning retreated north along the line Bohotleh–Burao– Sheekh. This "old-established line" had already been breached by the Dervish when they invaded the Nugal. By the end of June, the withdrawal was complete.

January–May 1904

Attack on

Jidali

After the failure of General Manning's offensive, General Charles Egerton was entrusted with a response. Following extensive preparations, he united his field force at Bacaadweeyn (Badwein) on 9 January 1904 and defeated the Haroun at Jidali the next day. The British and their allies from Hobyo harassed the Haroun along their retreat, and lost many of his camels and livestock throughout February.

Battle of

Eyl

In early March, the second phase of operations began. The Ethiopians advanced as far as Gerlogubi but turned back in early April. The Italian Navy bombarded Eyl in the winter to no effect. On 16 April, three ships of the East Indies Station under Rear Admiral George Atkinson-Willes left Berbera planning to capture Eyl in cooperation with an advance overland. The attack on Eyl took place on 21 April. A Royal Naval detachment, reinforced by three companies of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, stormed and captured the forts at Illig, the ships' guns supporting the attack. The British lost 3 men killed and 11 wounded, and the Dervishes 58 killed and 14 wounded. The naval detachment remained ashore for four days, assisted by an Italian naval detachment that arrived on 22 April. Control of Ilig was finally relinquished to Ali Yusuf of Hobyo. Having defeated his forces in the field and forced his retreat, the British "offered the Mullah safe conduct into permanent exile at Mecca"; the Haroun did not reply.

Pestalozza peace treaty in

Eyl 1904–1905

The initiatives for negotiations, was started by the Mullah himself who wrote three letters in March 1904 to Lt. Vessel Spagna, commander of the Italian squad in Bosaso.

Giulio Pestalozza in his second meeting with the dervish October 17, 1904 was accompanied by Sylos and Paladini, two fellow Italians. After the second meeting the Mullah declared to Sheri and Pestalozza the following:
After a long, three-way negotiation between the powers of Britain, Italy, Ethiopia and the Dervish, the British received a dervish delegation for a peace agreement:
On 5 March 1905, the treaty of Ilig or the Pestalozza agreement was signed between the dervish and the powers, the dervish represented by The Mullah and Sultan Nur along with Diria Arraleh and other Dervish representatives signed the final agreements Dervish peace treaty with the British, Ethiopians and Italian colonial powers on 5 March 1905, became known as the Ilig Treaty or the Pestalozza agreement.

Between 1905 and 1920

Takeover of

Beledweyne and Southern Somalia from Italian Somaliland

In 1912 the Dervishes received intelligence that the Italians were gradually expanding in South Somalia and were closing in on Hiraan, an area free of colonial presence. The Italians most forward positions were in Mahaday (just above Jowhar).

This was alarming as this meant their southern borders was threatened. An army of 900 men were sent out commanded by Mujahid Xaaji Maxamuud Macalin, famously known as "Cagadhig" towards Doh and Ceelgaab (above mahaday) and was told to meet up with the Dervish forces based there who were commanded by the Sayid Maxameds brother Khaliif Sheekh Cabdille. When they came together they continued their mission to capture Hiraan and set up a temporary camp outside of Beledweyne in a place called Qollad. The Hiraan region was finally put under the Dervish banner in 1913.

The Dervish controlling Hiraan was major news and worrying to the Italians and reinforced their positions in Mahaday in case a southern advance by the Darawiish ever occurred. They also made new bases in Tiyeeglow and Buqcabaqle to inforce their dominions. The Italians also made emergancy talks with the leader of the Majeerteen Hobyo Suldaan Cali Yusuf.

On March 3, 1915, the armies marched from their positions into Beledweyne. The Italians marched from:

- Buuloburde

- Buqcaqable

- Tiyeeglow

The Hobyo sultanate army marched from:

-Mudug

- Ceelbur

The Dervish were facing a siege from all directions that lasted 3.5 days. Under heavy artillery bombardments and fierce gun fights the Beledweyne forts did not suffer any major destruction due to Cali Jalax's great engineering skills. Isma'il Mire took part in the defence of the forts and forever immortalised the battle of Geeraar in his poem.

The defeated Italians back peddled and left their bases for the taking cancelling their plans to move into the upper shabelle valleys. The Dervishes strengthened their foothold on south Somalia by building two new forts: Aammiin and Laba Mataanood. Ever since the massive victory over the Italians and their Somali allies the Italians never attacked again leaving the darawiish to rule over the south freely.

while the attention of the European powers was absorbed by the events of the First World War, the "Dervish State" reached its maximum expansion: on 9 August 1913 a Dervish column clashed with the only British mobile force remaining in the colony, Colonel Richard Corfield's Camel Constabluray, near th e hill of Dul Madoba, destroying it and also killing its commander. And on 5 September of the following year, 60 mounted Dervishes entered western Somaliland and sacked the town of Burrao, while between 12 and 13 March 1914 a small Dervish force penetrated 500 kilometres into the colony to attack the outskirts of the capital Berbera, then sacking several villages on the way back.

Siege of Las Khoray

In late April 1916, the Warsangeli a protectorate of Italian Somaliland under the orders of king Mohamoud Ali Shire attacked the Dervish forces based at the Jidalifort, besieging them and looting their stock. With news of the assault having reached the Dervish of Cershida and Surut, reinforcements were sent to Jidali to repulse the attackers, where the Warsangeli were defeated and the Dervishes managed to recover their stock. On the evening of Saturday the 6th, the Dervishes set out to punish the Warsangeli with a force composed of 2,000 Dervishes led by Ibrahim Boghol who swept down on the Las Khorey. Ibrahim's forces captured the eastern portion of the town, killing many Warsangeli fighters. The force managed to surround the settlement and capture the only source of water, causing many to die of thirst. While Las Khorey was being besieged, the Warsangeli were able to secretly send a dhow to Aden to request help from the British Navy, and on May 10 Lancelot Turton commanding HMS ''Northbrook'' arrived at Las Khorey and commenced to shell Ibrahim and his forces with Lyddite explosives, forcing them to retreat to the mountains and thus ending the deadly siege.The Scramble in the Horn of Africa. The History of Somalia (1827-1977). pp. 451-457

1920

Following the end of World War I, British troops once again turned their attention to the disturbances in British Somaliland. The Dervishes had previously defeated British forces at the Battle of Dul Madoba in 1913. Four subsequent British expeditions against Hassan and his soldiers had also failed.Baker (2003), 161–62.

In 1920, British forces launched a final campaign against Hassan's Dervishes. Although the majority of the combat took place in January of the year, British troops had begun preparations for the assault as early as November 1919. The British forces were led by the Royal Air Force and the ground component included the Somaliland Camel Corps. After three weeks of battle, the Dervishes were finally defeated, bringing an effective end to their 20-year resistance.

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