Following the outbreak of war between Britain and Germany in the summer of 1914, British forces in neighboring Nigeria mounted an attack on the German forts at Garua in northern Kamerun.

After failing to take the forts and suffering heavy casualties at the First Battle of Garua, British forces in the border regions adopted a defensive strategy.

The German commander at Garua, Von Crailsheim gained confidence and mounted a raid across the border which was repulsed at the Battle of Gurin in April 1915.

Due to heavy rains however, Cunliffe chose to take part in the Siege of Mora instead of making an advance southward to the German base at Jaunde (today Yaoundé).

[3] In preparation for the battle, German forces built approximately 300 sangars between these boulders and constructed numerous entrenchments on the slopes of the hill.

[1] While British forces had occupied the town of Banjo since late October, fighting did not start until an attempt was made to capture the fort.

On the morning of 4 November, a British company under Captain Bowyer-Smijth launched an assault on the German defenses with the support of three artillery pieces that had been brought.

[7] When Nigerian troops finally reached the summit, fighting at close quarters ensued that cost both sides heavy casualties.