1879
26 June Tewfik becomes Khedive of Egypt
1881
1 February Egyptian Army mutiny
9 September Palace confrontation between Khedive and Arabi. Ministers resign office.
1882
January Arabi appointed Minister for War
March Arabi made a Pasha
April Circassian officers, plotting to kill Arabi, are arrested and tried. Court-martialled, their punishments drastically reduced by the Khedive.
5 May French propose that six English and six French warships be sent to Alexandria.
15 May The combined fleet leaves Suda in Crete
20 May The fleet arrives at Alexandria. The Egyptian Ministry resigns in a body, protesting against foreign interference.
21 May Arabi Pasha holds a demonstration, demanding to be reinstated as Minister of War.
26-7 May Egyptian soldiers attack Europeans and threaten to storm Alexandria.
28 May Arabi Pasha becomes virtual dictator. Orders Alexandria forts to be put in state of defensive readiness, despite contrary orders from Khedive and British Admiral.
11 June Massacre of Europeans in Alexandria.
7 July Admiral Seymour threatens bombardment if defensive work does not cease.
10 July 24-hour ultimatum sent by Admiral Seymour. Last Europeans leave Alexandria. French withdraw their warships.
11 July British fleet bombards Alexandria forts.
12 July Egyptian soldiers and Bedouin sack Alexandria.
13 July Alexandria on fire. Arabi and his forces withdraw outside city.
14 July Naval landing-parties go ashore. Rescue Khedive who had been threatened by armed soldiers.
15 July Sailors and Marines go through city suppressing marauders.
17 July Tamar (bringing Royal Marines), Agincourt and Northumberland arrive, bringing South Staffordshire Regiment and King’s Royal Rifle Corps. General Sir Archibald Alison arrives from England, takes command of this force.
22 July Discovers Arabi’s force entrenched at Kafr ed-Dauar. First skirmishes occur.
23 July Malabar arrives bringing Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and a wing of the 38th. These join Alison’s force and move out to occupy Ramleh.
24 July Contact made with Arabi and the two forces confront each other, within artillery range, in hastily fortified positions.
25 July In England the Army Reserve is called-up.
30 July Brigade of Guards leaves England.
2 August General Sir Garnet Wolseley leaves England.
3 August Marines from the fleet occupy Suez.
5 August A reconnaissance-in-force, including armoured train, moves over area Ramleh – Kafr ed-Dauar. Engages and defeats enemy force at Mahalla Junction.
6 August General Graham takes command of British position at Ramleh.
8 August Troops from India arrive at Suez, others and units from Britain continue arriving during next two weeks.
10 August Duke of Connaught, with Chief-of-Staff Sir John Adye, arrive at Alexandria.
12 August Brigade of Guards arrives at Alexandria.
15 August Sir Garnet Wolseley arrives at Alexandria. Two infantry divisions, plus cavalry, artillery and Staff Corps, leave Britain. Mounted Infantry, under Captain Parr, carry out reconnaissance towards enemy positions; minor engagement ensues.
16 August General Wolseley, Sir Evelyn Wood and Sir Edward Hamley, accompanied by the Duke of Connaught and other generals, inspect British positions, and view Arabi’s formidable entrenchments.
17 August Orders issued for troops to prepare to embark. Units of 1st Division that have landed re-embark.
18 August Work of embarkation goes on.
19 August Ships sail from Alexandria for Ismailia. Considerable enemy activity, with firing, in front of British position at Ramleh.
20 August General Sir Evelyn Wood sends Berkshire Regiment out on a reconnaissance. Port Said occupied.
21 August General Sir Edward Hamley sends out the Black Watch on a reconnaissance towards Kafr ed-Dauar. Fleet off Ismailia, embarkation begins. Last of British Expeditionary Force lands at Alexandria. Sir Garnet Wolseley and Admiral Seymour at Ismailia. Nefisha occupied by General Graham. General McPherson, commanding India Contingent, with his Staff, arrives at Suez
22 August Graham takes a strong force towards Ramses, Magfar and Tel el-Maskhuta; engages enemy throughout day.
23 August Opposed advance continues.
25 August General advance against Tel el-Maskhuta begins; found to be deserted. Drury Lowe, with cavalry, makes wide circuit and takes Mahsama. Force encamps at both places.
26 August General Graham takes and occupies Kassassin.
27 August Mahmoud Pasha Fehmy, Arabi’s Chief-of-Staff, falls into British hands.
28 August Battle of Kassassin. Infantry of the Indian Division, with artillery and commissariat corps, lands at Ismailia 28–31 August.
29 August Orders received at Alexandria for the Highland Brigade, under General Alison, and General Sir Edward Hamley and Staff, to embark for Ismailia. Sir Evelyn Wood remains in charge of the city and lines at Ramleh.
30 August The force embarks; sails on 31st, arriving Port Said 1 September. Remain in transports off Ismailia until 9 September, then land and march to Kassassin, arriving 13 September.
5 September War Office in London issue orders for dispatch of 4,000 more troops from Great Britain.
6 September Egyptian force reconnoitres British positions at Kassassin.
7 September Indian cavalry and Mounted Infantry make close reconnaissance of Egyptian lines at Tel el-Kebir. General Willis and Staff arrive at Kassassin, as does General Drury Lowe and the cavalry; Guards on their way there.
8 September Strong British reconnaissance of south bank of canal and adjacent area.
9 September Arabi personally present at strong Egyptian reconnaissance of British position at Kassassin. Egyptian attack on Kassassin beaten off.
11–12 September General Sir Garnet Wolseley and other senior officers reconnoitre both sides of enemy’s position. Royal Irish Fusiliers (87th) and Pontoon Train arrive in camp.
13 September Battle of Tel el-Kebir. Defeated Arabi flees to Cairo. Indian Cavalry and Household Cavalry pursue fleeing Egyptian Army, arriving at Belbeis in evening.
14 September This cavalry force arrives at Abbassiah Barracks outside Cairo in early evening. Town and garrison of Cairo surrender. Egyptians at Kafr ed-Dauar make overtures for the surrender of the position.
15 September Finding lines at Kafr ed-Dauar abandoned, British troops from Ramleh take possession. Via the re-established telegraphic communications system, Arabi and his officers offer submission to the Khedive, who refuses to accept them. General Sir Garnet Wolseley enters Cairo.
17 September General Sir Evelyn Wood and Staff enter lines of Kafr ed-Dauar. Arabi Pasha a prisoner in Cairo.
18 September Egyptian garrison of the Aboukir Forts march to Kafr ed-Dauar and surrender. Egyptian force at Tantah surrenders to Seaforth Highlanders.
20 September The Khedive, escorted by Bengal Lancers, drives through Alexandria.
25 September Khedive leaves for Cairo.
27 September Special Commission appointed by Khedive to consider all acts performed by civil and military persons during the rebellion. Arabi and his followers to be court-martialled.
30 September Great Review and March Past of British troops in Cairo.
2 October Valentine Baker Pasha arrives in Cairo from Constantinople; has audience with Khedive concerning re-organization of Egyptian Army.
5 October Arabi Pasha and Toulba Pasha handed over to Egyptian Government, brought before court and charged with treason.
20 October Horse Guards return to London, disembark at West India Docks.
21 October March through streets to Albany Barracks. Life Guards arrive home and march through City on following day. Royal Marines land at Portsmouth. Four hundred officers and men receive from the Queen at Windsor the Egypt Medal announced in a General Order on 17 October 1882.
18 November Great Review of troops marching through London before the Queen.