Original SUDAN MILITARY TELEGRAPHS 27-5-98 with a message from the SIRDAR (Kitchener, Commander -in- chief) at Abadia to The Commandant of Wadi Halfa, Major Sandbach R.E. with Fine ARMY/HL (Halfa) 27-V-98/TELEGRAPHS datestamp.

SANDBACH, ARTHUR EDMUND, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, was born 30 July 1859, at Hafodunos, Llangerniew, Denbighshire, son of Henry Robertson Sandbach, JP, DL, and Elizabeth Charlotte, daughter and co-heiress of Martin Williams, of Bryn Gwyn, Montgomeryshire. He was educated at Eton and at the RMA, Woolwich, and joined the Royal Engineers as Lieutenant 6 April, 1879; Egypt, 1882; the Sudan Expedition (Suakin) in 1885, being present at the affair at Thakool (clasp). In 1886-87 he served in the Burmese Expedition (horse shot; Medal with clasp), and in 1888 in the Sikkim Expedition. He became Captain 1 April, 1889, and was ADC to Major General, Bengal, 27 December 1890, to 25 September 1892. In 1891 he served in the Hazara Expedition as ADC to the GOC; received a clasp, and was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 20 October 1891]. He was promoted to Major 23 November 1897, and was employed with the Egyptian Army 31 December1897 to 30 November

1898. In the Nile Expedition of 1898 he served as Commandant, Wady Haifa, and AAG of Communications; afterwards as AAG, Headquarters Staff, Battle of Khartoum.

He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898]; received the Egyptian Medal with clasp, the Medal, and was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 16 November 1898; was Military Secretary to Lord Curzon of Kedleston, Governor-General of India, 1898 to 1899. He served in the South African War, 1899-1900; was Special Service Officer, afterwards on the Staff (AAG for Intelligence). He was present at the relief of Ladysmith, including operations of 17 to 24 January 1900, and action at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 February 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz; operations on the Tugela Heights 14 to 27 February 1900, and action at Pieter's Hill; operations in Natal, March to June, 1903, including action at Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June); operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to October 1900, including actions at Belfast (26 and 27 August) and Lydenburg (5 to 8 September). He was mentioned in Despatches (by Sir R H Buller, 30 March, 19 June and 9 November 1900 [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]); received the Queen's Medal with six clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "Arthur Edmund Sandbach, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Engineers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The DSO was awarded for services in Natal, during the South African War, and specially for reconnaissance duty in finding a crossing over the River Tugela at Pieter's Hill, where the pontoon bridge and approaches were entirely protected from hostile fire. The Insignia were presented to him by the King. He was specially employed (Mobilization), Headquarters of Army, 1 April, 1901, to 25 September 1902; was given the Brevet of Colonel 10 February 1904; became Colonel 9 April, 1910; was created a CB in 1910; was Chief Engineer, Irish Command, 7 October 1910 to 4 August 1914, and 5 August to 5 October 1915 and was promoted to Major General 26 October 1914. He served in the European War from 1914, as Chief Engineer, 2nd Army, BEF, 26 February 1915 to 11 May 1915; Inspector of Royal Engineers 18 May to 14 November 1915; Divisional Commander, 68th Division, 15 November 1915, to 12 February 1916; Home Forces; Divisional Commander, British Armies in France, 15 February 1916, to 10 April, 1917. He was three times mentioned in Despatches; was wounded, and promoted to Major General for distinguished service in the field. He was DL and JP for Montgomeryshire; High Sheriff, 1919; Chairman of the County Territorial Force since 1908. Major General Sandbach married, 15 January 1902, at St Paul's, Knightsbridge, the Honourable Ina Douglas-Pennant, daughter of the 2nd Baron Penrhyn, and they had one daughter, Geraldine Pamela Violet. Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book)

Horatio Kitchener was born on 24 June 1850 in County Kerry, Ireland.

Kitchener was a British military leader and statesman who, as secretary of state for war in the first years of World War One, organised armies on an unprecedented scale. He was also depicted on the most famous British army recruitment poster ever produced.

He was educated in Switzerland and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. In 1871, he joined in the Royal Engineers.

He took part in the unsuccessful operation to relieve General Charles Gordon at Khartoum in 1884-1885, and in 1886 was appointed governor general of eastern Sudan.

Six years later he became Sirdar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Egyptian Army with the local rank of brigadier in April 1892.

In 1896, he began the reconquest of Sudan from the forces of al-Mahdi, culminating in the Battle of Omdurman and the reoccupation of Khartoum in 1898. Kitchener was then made governor of Sudan, having become a national hero.

In 1900, Kitchener was appointed chief of staff to Lord Roberts, British commander in the Boer War. When Roberts returned to England, Kitchener was left to deal with continuing Boer resistance. His ruthless measures - including the use of camps to imprison civilians (the origin of the term 'concentration camp') - were much criticised.

On returning to England in 1902, he was created Viscount Kitchener (he was made an earl in 1914) and was appointed commander in chief in India. In 1911, he became the proconsul of Egypt, serving there and in the Sudan until 1914. When war broke out, Kitchener reluctantly accepted the appointment of secretary of state for war. Unlike many in government and the military, he foresaw a war lasting for years, and planned accordingly. He rapidly enlisted and trained huge numbers of volunteers for a succession of entirely new 'Kitchener armies'.

But his cabinet colleagues did not share the public worship of Kitchener and he was gradually relieved of his responsibilities. His support for the disastrous Dardanelles operation, combined with the 'shell crisis' of 1915, eroded his reputation further. Sent on a mission to Russia in June 1916, he drowned on 5 June when his ship, HMS Hampshire was sunk by a German mine off the Orkney