The Egyptian Army
The Egyptian Army during the early Sudan campaigns (1881–1885) was an institution in the midst of a painful and total transformation, serving as the fragile front line against the Mahdist uprising while the country itself transitioned into British occupation.
In these early years, the force was still very much the "Old Army"—visually striking in their clean white cotton uniforms and red tarbushes (fezzes), yet struggling with morale following their defeat by the British at Tel El Kebir in 1882.
As the British began the monumental task of disbanding and rebuilding the Egyptian military from the ground up, many of these original battalions were dispatched south to the Sudan to hold the line. Often poorly led and under-equipped, these troops faced the terrifying zeal of the Mahdi's forces in a series of desperate engagements.
From the doomed expedition of Hicks Pasha to the frantic defenses of the Red Sea ports, they represented the final, flickering chapter of the Khedive’s old-world military tradition.
On the tabletop, they provide a brilliant visual contrast—their bright white ranks standing in sharp relief against the desert sands and the drabber khakis of their British allies.
The Egyptian Army Bundle ( 21 MB) Contains:
- Egyptian Commad Foot & Horse
- Bashi Bazouks
- Irregulars Bazingers
- Egyptian Battalion & Skirmish
- Sudanese Battalion & Skirmish
- Turkish Battalion & Skirmish
- Cuirassiers
- Cairo Gendarmes Regular Cavalry
- Cairo Gendarmes Dismounted & Horse Holders
- Bashi Bazouks Mounted
- Artillery 3D & Crew
- Artillery 2.5D & Crew
- Artillery 2D & Crew
- Casualties Sheet
Notes
Once downloaded, the sheets can be printed as often as you like, which means you can build up Large Egyptian Armies very cheaply.
You will need scissors, a craft knife, glue, appropriate paper and some stiffer card for bases, all of which are described in the how-to section.
The figures are laid out in A4 format, which will print onto US legal sized paper, or will fit US letter size printed at 93%.
You can, of course, print the figures in any scale you choose, making them uniquely flexible in this respect.
You will need to make a stiff Card Base for each stand. Dimensions of the stand is up to you and your preferred rule system.
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