A Fine Hadendowa Dagger
A Fine Hadendowa Dagger
Picked up by Lt. Col. F. M. Hext after the Battle of Tamai, 1884
Hadendowa / Beja
Mahdist, Sudan (Sudan)
Ca. 1880
Wood, silver alloy, iron, leather
Blade: 19,1cm
Hilt & Blade: 29,2cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 30,7cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 413
Ex. Antony Cribb: Newbury, United Kingdom (2024)
The traditional dagger of the Beja People along with the Hadendoa, Beni-Amir, and other numerous subtribes coming from the Eastern Sudan and Eritrea region. This example was picked up by Lt. Col. F.M. Hext after the Battle of Tamai on March 13, 1884 during the Mahdist uprisings. The battle led to a British victory. However, the British suffered their highest losses than in any other battle during the Mahdist War at 214 wounded and killed. The Mahdist suffering losses between 2,000 and 4,000 men. The British, composed of 4,500 men from the previous victory at El Teb, were against the Mahdist forces of 10,000 strong, mostly the Hadendowa under the great Hadendowa commander, Osman Digna. The battle is known for the Mahdist break through in the famous British infantry square, leading to brutal hand to hand combat between the opposing forces. This dagger would have been picked up from the scattered bodies of the battlefield the following day from an unlucky Hadendowa tribesman by F.M. Hext.
This example is a fine "dog-leg" shaped blade variation complete with its sheath. The hand forged steel blade is double- edged in the "dog-leg" form with a slight medial ridge. Wooden "X" hilt with finely wrapped silver wire on the central grip. Tooled red leather sheath with stamped designs and wire stitching. An attached old collection tag reads, “Battle of Tamamieh 1884 Capt. F.M. Hext”. A fine example with solid provenance.
Francis Marwood Hext (F.M. Hext) (b. 1860 - 1944) Born at St. Austell, Cornwall, England. His father, Thomas Hext (b.1809 - ?) held the office of the Justice of the Peace for Cornwall.
1880 (Oct.23) Date of 1st commission Divisional Ammunition Column from the Royal Cornwall Rangers (Possibly 3rd Battalion) (Duke of Cornwall's own Militia)
1888 (July 1) Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Possibly 1st Battalion).
1901 (Feb. 23) Retired from service.
Photograph 10: Hadendoa Warriors.
