=Omdurman.=--This battle quieted the Dervishes until August, when preparations were made to give them the _coup de grâce_. This happened on September 2nd, 1898, at Omdurman--made famous by the maiden charge of the 21st Lancers under Captain Martin against enormous odds--when the enemy lost 11,000 killed, 16,000 wounded, and 4,000 made prisoners. The British infantry division was again commanded by General Gatacre, the Brigadiers being Generals Wauchope and Lyttleton. The 1st Brigade consisted of the Camerons, Seaforths, Lincolns, and Warwicks, and a Maxim Battery. The 2nd Brigade comprised 1st Grenadier Guards; 1st Northumberland Fusiliers; 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, and 2nd Rifle Brigade. Macdonald, Maxwell, and Lewis again commanded three brigades of the Egyptian army, and Collinson Bey a fourth. There were 7,500 Britishers, and 12,000 Egyptians. [Illustration: VICTORIAN VOLUNTEER OFFICER'S DECORATION. EDWARDIAN COLONIAL AND AUXILIARY FORCES DECORATION. VOLUNTEER OFFICERS' DECORATIONS FOR LONG SERVICE.] On April 2nd the Dervish army advanced against the British, their front extending for about 3 miles. The British formed an obtuse angle, and at 6.30 a.m. opened fire upon the advancing hosts with such precision that hundreds were mown down, but the Dervishes did not falter. As Steevens said, "No white troops could have faced that torrent for five minutes, but the Baggara and the blacks came on." There was no fear; the black-eyed houris were waiting with outstretched arms to receive such doughty warriors. Still they could not stand against their foe, but they retired with such caution that they were able to re-form. The pressure of their well-drilled enemy, however, was too great, and they began to flee. The bravest of them, however, planted their standards as rallying-points, and stood their ground until they were killed; the others appeared to be making for Omdurman, 5 miles from the scene of battle, and to prevent this the 21st Lancers were ordered to charge. They hacked their way through the dense mass of men who feared nothing. Then the Khalifa's stalwarts made a last effort, but Macdonald's Sudanese steadily met the onslaught; repulsed it, sent the Dervishes flying in all directions, and the battle of Omdurman was won. Mahdism was worsted, but Osman Digna had again eluded the victors. At last Khartoum was taken, the captives set free, and the dominion of the rebel slave-trader overthrown. =Khartoum.=--To those who took part in this battle, which ended in the taking of Khartoum, a bar for KHARTOUM was added to the Khedive's medal, and a bar for GEDAREF to all engaged in the capture of the place, and the fighting which followed in the district.