Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar-Honours

Abyssinian War Medal (1867-1868)

From: Major L. L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals:

"This war was caused by the penchant of King Theodore for imprisoning foreigners, among whom were Captain Cameron, the British Consul, as well as missionaries and other British subjects. Most of them were put in chains and sent to Magdala, the capital, in November, 1864. In 1865 the British Political Resident in Aden, Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, together with Lieutenant Prideaux and Doctor Blane, negotiated for nearly a year with the Emperor, with the result that the prisoners were released in March, 1866, and are arrested the next month, together with the negotiators. At about this time, with amazing aplomb on the part of the Emperor and extraordinary imbecility on ours, workmen were asked for and sent from England as a result of a visit by Mr. Flad, the Emperor's representative. On his return, Mr. Flad was thanked and, like the workmen who arrived later, part in prison.

"Now came a period occupied in dispatching ultimatums or formal letters. The first, which apparently never arrived, was sent in September, 1867; then came a proclamation by Sir Robert Napier, commanding the Bombay army; then the Queen proclaimed war in a speech on 19th November. This was followed by another ultimatum from Sir Robert, who landed at Annesley Bay, below Massowah, in January, 1868.

"As soon as sufficient troops had arrived and the necessary arrangements had been made he started on the 300 or more miles to Magdala. The Battle of Arrogic was fought on 10th April, and Magdala entered on the 13th. It was found that Theodore had committed suicide, so that there was nothing more to be done, and the place was razed to the ground on the 17th and the return journey started.

"The Royal Navy supplied a Naval Brigade eighty-three strong, which manned twelve 12-pounder rocket tubes. Seldom have sailors served in such mountainous country. The heat by day was terrific, and the cold at night intense. It is recorded that no spirits were available in either bottles or jars, but the excellent quality of the human kind together with hard work brought the force on 8th April to the Talanta plateau, from which rose three mountains, the Fahla, Selasse and The highest of them all on which stood the fortress of Magdala. Prior to the assault the Abyssinians rushed out of their stronghold straight into a volley of rockets, which so unnerved them that they lost heart and bolted down the opposite side of the mountain from the attack. Soon after this the fortress was captured.

"On the conclusion of the war Commander Fellowes was promoted, and the brigade received the thanks of Parliament.”

"A good sidelight on the expense involved in even these small wars may be judged from the fact that this campaign necessitated the transportation of a total of 43,000 men (of whom only 14,683 were soldiers), 36,000 transport animals, 7,000 carnets, and last, but by no means least, 44 elephants."

From: Major L. L. Gordon, British Battles and Medals, Fifth Edition revised by Edward C. Joslin, London: Spink & Son, 1979.

		Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar Honours and Decorations
		Lord Roberts was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy while serving as a Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery (Indian Army) during the Indian Mutiny. The Victoria Cross is Britain's highest award for gallantry. In 1899, his son, Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts, was awarded the V.C. posthumously for his actions at the Battle of Colenso during the South African War.

		Background and short biography of Lord Roberts.
		In his autobiography, Forty-One Years in India, London, 1897, Lord Roberts recounts the Siege of Delhi (1857) during the Indian Mutiny (Chapters XIII through XIX).

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