ALS to Rennell.

£400 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

Written just a month before his death, Owen (1856-1869) had been ill for at least fortnight beforehand, this rich letter contains a detail description of the action at Firket . He commences this letter on a note of thanks for “plunging into the cauldron of cholera … to save me from the pangs of stomach aches.” Owen then turns to the battle at Firket which he calls “a distinct success,” noting that “They were undoubtedly surprised deservedly so, but collared they faced the music, though without cohesion and apparently without plan.” He then clarifies: “We had of course an overwhelming force of 5 to 1, to say nothing of horse artillery, Maxims [etc].” Furthermore, we gain insight into the intelligence made available to Owen, “Wingate’s or Slatin’s information of the numbers Emirs present … seems to have been very accurate (much I fancy to the regret of some of the purely military ‘know alls.’) It was decided I believe that the Special Service Officers should be passengers as much as possible, and so that have been made …” Notably, he ends with the following: “If the Khalifa don’t jump into the breach now strongly reinforce Dongola from Omdurman, he’s a juggins. I hear he intends withdrawing the Italian Army for this purpose but this may not be in time for the job.” Edward “Roddy” Owen combined a successful career in horse racing (he won the 1892 Grand National) with military action in the West African Jebu War. He saw action in Uganda during the Unyoro War, Chitral and the Afgh

• Year: 1896

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