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In the early 1880s, Britain intervened in independent Egypt and seized control of the Suez Canal. British forces were soon deployed to Egypt's southern colony, the Sudan, where they confronted a determined and capable foe amid some of the world's most inhospitable terrain. In 1881 an Islamic fundamentalist revolt had broken out in the Sudan, led by a religious teacher named Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who proclaimed himself al-Mahdi, 'The Guided One'. In 1884, Mahdist forces besieged the Sudanese capital of Khartoum; Colonel Charles Gordon was sent to the city with orders to evacuate British personnel, but refused to leave. Although the British despatched a relief column to rescue Gordon, the Mahdists stormed Khartoum in January 1885 and he was killed. British troops abandoned much of the Sudan, but renewed their efforts to reconquer it in the late 1890s, in a bloody campaign that would decide the region's fate for generations. Written by leading expert Ian Knight, this fully illustrated study examines the evolving forces, weapons and tactics employed by both sides in the Sudan, notably at the battles of Abu Klea (16–18 January 1885), Tofrek (22 March 1885) and Atbara (8 April 1898).

In the early 1880s, Britain intervened in independent Egypt and seized control of the Suez Canal. British forces were soon deployed to Egypt's southern colony, the Sudan, where they confronted a determined and capable foe amid some of the world's most inhospitable terrain. In 1881 an Islamic fundamentalist revolt had broken out in the Sudan, led by a religious teacher named Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who proclaimed himself al-Mahdi, 'The Guided One'. In 1884, Mahdist forces besieged the Sudanese capital of Khartoum; Colonel Charles Gordon was sent to the city with orders to evacuate British personnel, but refused to leave. Although the British despatched a relief column to rescue Gordon, the Mahdists stormed Khartoum in January 1885 and he was killed. British troops abandoned much of the Sudan, but renewed their efforts to reconquer it in the late 1890s, in a bloody campaign that would decide the region's fate for generations. Written by leading expert Ian Knight, this fully illustrated study examines the evolving forces, weapons and tactics employed by both sides in the Sudan, notably at the battles of Abu Klea (16–18 January 1885), Tofrek (22 March 1885) and Atbara (8 April 1898).

For war game players and writers, the MWSB provides basic historical information, including much hard to find detail that exists in no other source. By providing well researched facts on army organizations, tactics, weaponry, soldier and warrior dress and costume, it is possible to refight actual and "what if?" battles as miniature war games, learning how they were lost or won in ways not possible by reading about them alone. Volume 1 covers basic information on the Egyptian Army, the Bashi-Bazouks, and the many British and Empire units which participated from 1882 to the end of 1885. Besides organizational and uniform data, this volume principally covers the Hicks Pasha Expedition, the Siege of Khartoum, the death of Gordon, aspects of the Gordon Relief Expedition, the campaigns in the Eastern Sudan, and the Battle of Ginnis that marked the end of the first "half" of the war. Special effort has been made to provide regional maps to illustrate strategic issues, and detailed tactical maps of the battles covered to aid readers to understand the movements and maneuvers of the combatants. A wide selection of contemporary newspaper and magazine illustrations from such sources as the "Illustrated London News," and "The Graphic" have been culled for use based on their relevance to the text, as well as their visual details, and reproduced large enough for study. Effort has also been made to provide photos/drawings of as many of the principal participants, most notably British Officers, but also Egyptian, and even more rarely, Mahdist leaders of the opposition. Three pages of images of the British Warships, along with their basic stats, which participated in the defense and operations around the Red Sea port of Suakin have been for the first time with this edition. Several new maps of the harbor of Suakin (including one with depth soundings), and details of its defenses, along with contemporary photographs of these to aid the modeler, are another special feature of this edition. Both Volumes of the MWSB contain well researched articles on a wide range of aspects of the Mahdist Wars originally appearing over twenty years in the former "Savage And Soldier" magazine. Editor Emeritus, Dr. Douglas Johnson, wrote the bulk of the articles in both volumes, and has contributed much new information for this compilation. Bargain priced at $30.00, this 8.5" x 11" soft bound book, has 182 pages containing 21 color maps (many full and half page size), 9 color plans/schematics, 35 color illustrations/photos, 112 B&W illustrations/photos, 3 full pages of color uniform illustrations, and 21 pages of detailed Orders of Battle. Bibliography and notes follow at the end of each chapter. Many topics not covered in Volume One are covered in Volume Two, which will follow shortly.

A comprehensive history of the Irish soldier from ancient time to the present day.