The Suakin Expedition was either of two British-Indian[1] military expeditions, led by Major-General Sir Gerald Graham, to Suakin in Sudan, with the intention of destroying the power of the Sudanese military commander Osman Digna and his troops during the Mahdist War.
[4] Its purpose was to defeat Mahdist forces under Osman Digna in the region and to supervise and protect the construction of the Suakin-Berber Railway.
[6] The British force was later joined by the New South Wales Contingent, which arrived at Suakin on 29 March.
[7] However, within two months the Gladstone government decided to abandon both the railway and its military campaign in Sudan.
[9] Nevertheless, Britain maintained an ongoing presence in Suakin between 1886 and 1888, and the then brevet Lt. Col. Herbert Kitchener acted out the role of Governor General of Eastern Sudan.