It was the deadliest engagement of German general Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's campaign into Mozambique; 209 of the British and Portuguese died.

[2] Namacurra, also spelled Nhamacurra, was a town that had a newly established supply depot for British and Portuguese armies, which contained "vast warehouses stuffed full of arms and ammunition, food, wine, and whiskey".

It was connected by railroad to the nearby port town of Quelimane, where the British feared the Germans would seize vessels and escape from Africa.

The Portuguese units were steadily pushed back, until they were forced to retreat across the Namacurra River.

Von Lettow started losing his men for various reasons, and eventually turned back into German East Africa.

[2][3][5][6][7] Namacurra and a native revolt against Portuguese misrule in Angoche effectively ended Portugal's involvement in World War I's East African theater.