This volume covers the high noon of the British Empire, beginning with the Zulu War of 1879 and ending with Kitchener's River War of 1898. Between these came the 2nd Afghan War, the first Boer War, and Wolseley's Egyptian and Nile campaigns. Also described in some detail is the Cavalry's part in the campaigns against Osman Digna in the Eastern Sudan.

• Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
  • Acknowledgments
  • Preface
  • I
    • i) The Cardwell reforms: rationalization of authorities; abolition of ‘dual control’; introduction of the short service system – the Stanhope Memorandum–deferred pay–side effects of short service
    • ii) Rank and file: recruits: physical standards: number required annually; types; social status; ages – fraudulent enlistments – the recruiting crisis of the early 1890s: less serious in the cavalry – the enlisting process – desertion
    • iii) Rank and file: living conditions – health – Christmas in barracks – daily routine – petty restrictions – funerals – care of souls
    • iv) Rank and file: troopers’ pay – stoppages – allowances – good conduct badges – officers’ servants – WOs’ and NCOs’ pay – special gratuities – pensions
    • v) Rank and file: increase in literacy – increase in those with ‘superior education’ – regimental schools – Certificates of Education – Corps of Army Schoolmistresses – the cost of army education
    • vi) Rank and file: ‘Field Punishment No. 1’ substituted for flogging in the field – the commanding officers’ powers of punishment – courts-martial – guard rooms – death penalty – the Curragh ‘disturbance’, 1877 – the Aldershot ‘disturbance’, 1893 – the Household Cavalry ‘mutiny’, 1892
    • vii) Rank and file: ‘gentlemen’ recruits – promotion from the ranks
  • II Officers: slower promotion after purchase – abolition – means of speeding it up – forced and voluntary retirements – pay – allowances – gratuities and pensions – ‘seniority tempered by rejection’ – Colonel Denne’s case – creation of Reserve of officers – competitive examinations – promotion of full colonels – exchanges – types – mode of life – the mess – marriage – training – crammers – RMC, Sandhurst – the Staff College – quartermasters, paymasters and riding masters – medical and veterinary – Valentine Baker – Hope Grant – Frederick Burnaby
  • III
    • i) India: size of the Indian army – number of European cavalry regiments in India – the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury – high, medium and low regimental establishments
    • ii) India: efficiency of the Indian army – European rank and file: high social and economic status – diet – daily life – health – drunkenness and temperance movements – nursing – wives – extra-regimental employment
    • iii) India: European officers: servants – cantonments – pay, allowances and expenses – sporting activities: pig-sticking – polo
    • iv) India: the native cavalry: most regiments irregular or silladar – establishments – States forces – extra-regimental employment of British officers – first Inspector-General of Cavalry in India – types of British officers – types of native officers, NCOs and sowars – terms of enlistment – Class Regiments and Troops – pay – differences between native and British regiments – regimental durbars – swords and swordsmanship – recreations and sports – field training – duties – abolition of the Presidential Army System
  • IV
    • i) South Africa: the nine Kaffir Wars – the Cape Mounted Riflemen – Boomplaats, 1848 – 7th Dragoon Guards arrive – Swartkopjes, 1845 – Gwanga river, 1846 – Sir Harry Smith’s ride to King William’s Town – 12th Lancers arrive – Berea Mountain, 1852 – volunteer mounted units, 1870s, 1880s
    • ii) Zulu War, 1879: the first invasion – Isandhlwana – Rorke’s Drift
    • iii) Zulu War, 1879: Inyezane – Wood and Buller – Inhlobane Mountain – Kambula – Gingindhlovu
    • iv) Zulu War, 1879: the second invasion
    • v) Zulu War, 1879: the battle of Ulundi – end of the war
    • vi) First Boer War, 1880–1881: Laing’s Nek – peace
  • V
    • i) The Second Afghan War: first phase, 1878–1879; three column invasion – action at Mausam – Kabul River disaster – battle of Fatehabad – actions at Matun, Shahjui, Saif-u-din and Khushk-i-nakhud
    • ii) The Second Afghan War: second phase, 1879; treaty of Gandamak – massacre of Cavagnari – Roberts’s march on Kabul – battle of Charasia
    • iii) The Second Afghan War: third phase, 1879–1880; action at Mir Karez – actions in the Chardeh Valley – siege of Sherpur
    • iv) The Second Afghan War: fourth phase, 1879– 1880; Stewart’s march to Kabul – battle of Ahmedkhel – action at Patkao Shahana
    • v) The Second Afghan War: fifth and final phase, 1880; battle of Maiwand – siege and battle of Kandahar – end of war
  • VI
    • i) The Egyptian campaign, 1882: causes – nationalist revolt under Arabi – bombardment of Alexandria – preparations for expeditionary force: mounted element – Sir Garnet Wolseley’s plan
    • ii) The Egyptian campaign, 1882: actions at Magfar and Mahsama, 24 and 25 August
    • iii) The Egyptian campaign, 1882: actions at Kassassin, 28 August and 9 September
    • iv) The Egyptian campaign, 1882: battle of Tel el-Kebir, 13 September – the race to Cairo – surrender of Arabi – end of campaign
  • VII
    • i) The Eastern Sudan – 1st and 2nd battles of El Teb, February, 1884
    • ii) The Gordon Relief Expedition, 1884–1885 (I)
    • iii) The Gordon Relief Expedition, 1884–1885 (II): Abu Klea – the River Column
    • iv) The Suakin campaign, 1885: engagement at Hashin
    • v) The Suakin campaign, 1885: engagement at Tofrek
  • VIII Rebuilding the Egyptian army 1883–1896 – the Omdurman campaign 1896–1898
  • IX Horses: Army Remount Establishment founded – registration system started – veterinary reforms – regimental establishments – forage supply – increase in numbers of walers in India
  • X Small arms: development of the cavalry sword – increased use of the lance – the new patterns of carbine – pistols and revolvers – saddles
  • Epilogue
  • Appendix
  • Chart showing stations of the British regiments of cavalry from 1872 to 1898
  • Abbreviations used in the footnotes and source notes
  • Source Notes
  • Index