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Alexandria Expedition - 10 Jun 1882 - 29 Aug 1882

After a lapse of seventy-seven years a detachment of Marines again demonstrated their efficiency and gallantry amid scenes of riot and bloodshed in the Land of the Pyramids. Much surprise had been excited by the apparent supineness of the French and English naval forces in the harbor of Alexandria on the occasion of a serious outbreak in that city on 11 June, 1882, and which resulted in the destruction of the greater part of the European quarter and the death or wounding of more than two hundred European residents. The importance of Egypt to Britain rose dramatically after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. At a stroke there was a new route from Europe to the Far East that halved the journey time between Britain and India. At this point Egypt was developing rapidly along western lines, but the following decade saw increasing tension between Britain and Egypt.

The erosion of Egyptian sovereignty, which provoked a nationalist mobilisation in the form of a demonstration by unpaid army officers under the leadership of Ahmad Urabi Pasha Al-misri (also known as Arabi). By September 1881, Urabi and his followers were powerful enough to force the new Khedive, Tawfiq, to replace his government with one more favourable to the nationalist movement. In January 1882 Urabi himself, who commanded huge personal popularity, became Minister of War.

The appearance of a popular nationalist movement inside Egypt and a defiantly independent government alarmed both Britain and France who were concerned about access to the Suez Canal and their financial investments in Egypt. In the hope that a show of force would help to undermine the nationalists, they sent a small joint fleet under the command of Admiral Sir F. Beauchamp Seymour (Commander-in-Chief of Britain's Mediterranean fleet) to Alexandria, on Egypt's Mediterranean coast. The fleet arrived on 19-20 May. Meanwhile, Egyptian forces had been busy shoring up Alexandria's defences in anticipation of an attack.

The outbreak in Junw 1882 was in no sense an ordinary disturbance of the peace. Its promoters and agents were Egyptian soldiers, its fury was directed almost exclusively against European residents, and included in its havoc civil and military functionaries of the very powers whose guns frowned voicelessly upon the scene. Whatever the reason, whether military or diplomatic, for the inaction of the forces, it was none the less a painful ordeal for the gallant men who lay in the harbor of Alexandria undergoing a harder battle with their knightly impulses than any that Egyptian fellaheen could have offered them.

The arrival of the Anglo-French naval force only served to heighten tension in the city of Alexandria. On 11 June 1882 a row over a fare between an Egyptian donkey boy and a Maltese man triggered a riot in the city in which several hundred people were killed, including about 50 foreigners. British officials thought (almost certainly wrongly) that Urabi and his supporters were responsible for these events.

As relations between Britain and Egypt broke down, Urabi ordered the strengthening of Alexandria's defences with modern Krupp cannon. On 10 July, Admiral Seymour demanded that the Egyptians remove these guns, but the Egyptian government on the whole refused: the forts and their guns "could not constitute a threat for the vessels which are in the western harbour….and the requirements of the Admiral are contrary to the laws of public international right. Nevertheless, in order to preserve the good relations which exist between the Khedive and the great British Empire, and to give manifest proof of the good intentions of the Egyptian government towards it, the council decides on dismounting three guns in the forts in which work may have been undertaken….If [the Admiral] refuses and persists in his intention to bombard the forts, these must not answer till after the fifth shot has been fired; they will then reply to the fire…"

At the same time, tension increased between Britain and France. The French refused to participate in this ultimatum and decided against armed intervention. The French ships duly withdrew, leaving Seymour in charge of 15 Royal Navy ships and under instructions from the British government to act as necessary.

The flag-ship Lancaster, Captain B. Gherardi, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral J. W. A. Nicholson, arrived on 27 June at Alexandria. It was found that the English admiral was making preparations to administer condign punishment to Arabi Pacha and his troops. The Lancaster became a refuge for men, women, and children, and her decks were crowded with those unfortunate and innocent foreigners residing in the city. On the 11th were enacted those scenes of horror so graphically described by the newspapers of the day,-pillaging, conflagrations, rapine, etc. It became necessary, therefore, that armed forces should occupy the city as soon as possible, and the naval representatives of the different nationalities responded promptly.

The Bombardment of Alexandria by the British Mediterranean Fleet took place on 11–13 July 1882. With the Egyptian government refusing to remove all the guns, Seymour gave the order for the bombardment of the gun emplacements in the forts around Alexandria. At 07:00 on 11 July 1882 the first shell in the bombardment was fired by HMS Alexandra and aimed at Fort Adda (or Ada). The whole fleet was engaged by 07:10 and the bombardment lasted until 17:30, a total of 10 and a half hours.

In many ways it is surprising that Britain allowed itself to be drawn into direct intervention in Egypt. The Prime Minister, William Gladstone, was well known for his reluctance to be drawn into imperial adventures. Historians have argued as to whether Admiral Seymour exaggerated the threat from the Egyptian batteries at Alexandria in order to force a reluctant government's hand. Whatever the truth, once the British had successfully attacked the city, a land invasion was their logical next step.

On 14 July detachment of naval artillery, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Goodrich, consisting of Lieutenants Hutchins and Graham, Midshipmen Dent and Capeau, sixty-nine sailors and two Gatlings; also a detachment of Marines, under the command of Captain H. C. Cochrane, consisting of Lieutenants F. L. Denny and L. W. T. Waller, and sixty non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, landed and marched through hot and smoky streets, filled with débris from fallen walls and merchandise from plundered shops, and lined with burning stores and dwellings. They finally reached the Grand Square of Mehemet Ali, and occupied the building containing the American consulate. Their presence was immediately felt and recognized. They were the first troops in the centre of the city, which they thoroughly patrolled, having sentinels posted at the bourse, telegraph offices, and banks that had not been pillaged.

On the morning of 15 July the majority of the force was withdrawn, leaving on shore Lieutenant Hutchins, Master Burnett, Midshipman Dent, two sailors, with one Gatling, Lieutenants Denny and Waller, in command of twenty-five Marines. This detachment was withdrawn on the 18th, with the exception of Lieutenant Denny and six Marines, who remained as a guard to the consulate until 24 July.

Information was received during the occupation that Arabi Pacha was returning with a large force to attack the city. The French and Italians hastened back to their vessels, leaving the English and American Marines and sailors to receive the rumored night attack.

The correspondent of the London Times, at Alexandria, telegraphed as follows: “Lord Charles Beresford states that without the assistance of the American Marines he would have been unable to discharge the numerous duties of suppressing fires, preventing looting, burying the dead, and clearing the streets.”

Colburn's United Service Magazine for September 1882 has the following note: “But the Americans did not limit their friendly actions to expressions of sympathy. After Arabi's retreat to Kafir Dowar, it was rumored that he intended to attack Alexandria in force; on learning which the other nationalities prudently withdrew to their ships. The American Marines, however, sixty in number, expressed their determination to 'stick by the British and take their chances, and, small as were their number, and great as was the risk, they did stick as long as was necessary."

Under date of October 24, 1882, the following letter was addressed to Lieutenant Denny, from Eaton Square, London: "It gives me great pleasure to testify to your very valuable services and true courage during those irksome, terrible days after the bombardment of Alexandria. I can confidently say without the services of American troops order could not have been restored, and the great fires in the city subdued. To Lieutenant Hutchins, and you, and your smart, faithful force great credit is due....I have represented these facts to my government. ..." (Signed) CHARLES BERESFORD.