1898-1899
Scrapbook of John Grenfell Maxwell, Commander of the 2nd Egyptian Brigade in the Nile campaign of 1898, including copies of telegrams, diary, notes relating to British/French tensions arising from a French expedition to explore and claim for France the southern White Nile and its tributaries. (The ‘Fashoda Incident’ was settled peacefully and the French, under Major Jean-Baptiste Marchand, ordered to leave the Sudan in November/December 1898). The scrapbook also includes photographs of the building of the Halfa-Berber railway, 1898 and the visit of H.R.H. Duke of Connaught to Omdurman, 1899. Inscription on first page [SAD.401/1/1]: “JG Maxwell, made in Omdurman 3 Dec 1898.”

1898 Dec 22
Telegram [copy] Wingate to Macdonald with instructions for Maxwell and gunboat to Fashoda

1898 Dec 22
Instructions from Maxwell to O.C. Nasser [Nasir] re steps to be taken should the Marchand expedition appear at Nasir

1898 Dec 23
Copies of telegrams no. 2138 from Wingate to Macdonald and no. 2156 from Cromer to Maxwell with instructions for further exploration of the White Nile

1898 Dec 24
List of supplies and equipment to be sent to post at Nasir

1898 Dec 25
Statement of officers, men and arms at Nasir post, by F. Maxse, Commandant Sobat Sub-District

Memorandum by Maxwell on men, equipment and supplies, for a flying column to capture or kill the Khalifa

1898 Dec 9
Ink sketch of Shilluk warrior inscribed “á Jackson Bey, Gouverneur de Fashoda, souvenir d'amitié de la part de ?”

1898 Oct 29-31
Cromer to Maxwell ordering reconnaissance with gunboat up the Bahr el Ghazal

1898 Nov 13
Cromer to Maxwell re aims to consolidate the British position at Fashoda and district and French plans regarding Darfur

1898 Nov 14
Maxwell to Cromer re the need to organise a flying column to deal with the Khalifa

1898 Nov 17
Wingate to Maxwell ordering gunboats up the Juba River, as far as it is navigable

1898 Nov 17
Wingate to Maxwell re continuing gunboat reconnaissances and the possible reinforcement of the garrison at Fashoda by XIII Battalion

1898 Nov 18
Wingate to Maxwell re assistance to be given to Marchand to remove to Cairo

1898 Nov 20
Wingate to Maxwell warning that Marchand may still plan to rendezvous at the Bahr al Gebel with a French force from the Bahr el Ghazal, thus effectively blocking the Nile

1898 Nov 21
Wingate to Maxwell ordering Marchand's gunboat to be stopped until further instructions received

1898 Nov 25
Translation of letter from Marchand to Maxwell concerning the evacuation of his men and equipment from Fashoda, through Abyssinia

1898 Nov 26-27
Wingate to Maxwell enclosing instructions to Macdonald and Martyr should the French expedition under Marchand diverge toward Bohr and a possible meeting with French troops in the Bahr el Ghazal. No boats to be allowed to come to Fashoda from French provinces

1898 Nov 28
Maxwell to Cromer with instructions to facilitate Marchand's departure from Fashoda and journey through Abyssinia to the coast

1898 Dec 1
Maxwell to Cromer, describing the situation of the French at Fashoda. Germain, French second-in-command continuing exploration and planting of French flags in Dinka country. Relations with Jackson strained

1898 Dec 3
Cromer to Maxwell, ordering him to Fashoda to take command. Marchand and Germain to be told to carry out their instructions as quickly as possible; French flags to be removed. Camel Corps to be despatched to Fashoda

1898 Nov 13
Confidential instructions from Cromer to GOC Sudan concerning the French expedition under Marchand, its activities in southern Sudan and its proposed return to France via Abyssinia and the port of Jibuti. Two gun-boats are to proceed up the Sobat River to the junction of the Juba and Baro and establish a post there. Information on the conditions of the tribes is to be gathered and British Authority asserted in the region. Local tribes and the Abyssinians are to be reassured that France has no designs on either the Sudan or Abyssinia

1898 Dec 5-9
Diary of journey to Fashoda to carry out instructions re departure of French expedition under Marchand from the Sudan. Description of French camp; courteous reception; explanation of situation to Shilluk chief

1898 Dec 10-15
Account of departure of French boats and men from Fashoda, under the tricolour, with British band playing Marseillaise. Useful supplies left behind by French. British and French boats travelling south together. Ink sketch of back view of Shilluk on dorse of SAD.401/1/50

1898 Dec 16-26
Travelling up the river through the sudd, into Dinka country. French need to locate their exploring party. Nuer territory more densely populated; jungle and grasses were impenetrable. Left 200 men of XIII battalion at Nasir with guns and supplies. Nuer chief Yoyé, friendly and cooperative

1898 Dec 27-31
Intercepted letter from Arabi Dafalla dated weeks earlier, to the Amir of Serieh, sent by Khalifa. Proceeding up the White Nile; travel very difficult in swamp. Description of the sudd at Bahr el Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal and work that would need to be done to clear a channel. Returned to Fashoda where news of the capture of the Khalifa was reported

1899 Jan 1-7
Began return journey to Omdurman. News of Khalifa's capture not correct. Stop at Dueim. Arrived at Omdurman. Reported to Cromer and Kitchener. Went to Khartoum where Cromer laid foundation stone of Gordon College

1899 Jan 8-18
Movement of troops under Frederick Kitchener. Search for Khalifa. [Diary breaks off]

1898 Nov 20
Map of the White Nile and southern tributaries, showing Fashoda and areas south and east toward Abyssinia, including Sobat River and District
Egyptian Army Intelligence Department
scale:   2cm to 100 km
Size: 21 x 18.5 cm

Standing group: Bimb. Stevenson, Macaulay, Hall, Newcombe, and Pritchard, Miralai J.G. Maxwell, Bimb. Girouard and `Abd al-Azim Bey of Ababdeh

Group of Egyptian Railway Corps with Hall, Pritchard and Girouard [engineers]

Working parties at work in the desert

Construction train loaded with workers and equipment, row of officers in the foreground

Material train in desert

Water tanks and work parties

Work parties on train proceeding to work

Loco and material train

Rail carrying and laying

Rail laying: record 5,500 yards in one day

River front of Government House looking east

South view of old Government House. Gordon was killed on staircase on left of picture

View of interior of ruined Government House

Ruins of the Austrian Mission cloisters

View of ruined town; dervish fort in foreground

View of ruined town

View of old native cemetery

White Nile: view looking to the south from Khartoum

View of foreshore, Blue Nile looking west

Grandstand erected by the Greeks in honour of H.R.H.

Royal review

H.R.H. saluting base and first royal standard flown in Sudan

Infantry Egyptian Brigade under Col. Long passing H.R.H.

Infantry passing in column; royal standard in foreground

Cavalry passing

Cavalry under Colonel Broadwood passing; the Duchess on horseback at the saluting base

Artillery passing; Maxim Nordenfelt batteries

Camel corps passing

The Mahdi's tomb after destruction of the dome

South view of the Khalifa's house

The Duke and Duchess of Connaught riding through the town with H.E. Sirdar and staff

General view of battlefield, Kereri Hill

Tents at headquarter camp at Khor Shambat

Duke of Connaught's departure from Omdurman; guard of honour lined up before steamer

Execution of two murderers sentenced to death by general court-martial

“A further blue-book about Fashoda”, account of the French expedition under Major Marchand into territory already under British control, with letters relating to the “Fashoda Incident”, from The Times