Christmas Eve Battle

Christmas Eve Battle is located in Kenya
Thika
Thika
Christmas Eve Battle (Kenya)
Date24 December 1953
Location
Thika, Kenya
Result Mau Mau victory
Belligerents

 British Empire

  • Kenya
Mau MauCommanders and leaders British Empire Maj. Earl Wavell † Dedan KimathiUnits involved

 British Army

  • Black Watch
Kenyan Police unknownStrength unknown 60 insurgentsCasualties and losses 2 Europeans killed
1 African police killed
6 wounded
Total:
9 5 killed
4 captured
Total:
9 insurgents
  • v
  • t
  • e
Mau Mau rebellion
1952
  • Assassination of Waruhiu
  • Operation Jock Scott

1953

  • Ruck Family massacre
  • Lari massacre
  • Chuka massacre
  • Operation Mushroom
  • Christmas Eve Battle

1954

  • Operation Anvil
  • Swynnerton Plan

1956

  • Capture of Kimathi

1959

  • Hola massacre

The Christmas Eve Battle took place during the Mau Mau Uprising on the 24 December 1953 between British Empire and rebel Mau Mau forces and resulted in the death of Earl Wavell, the only son of Archibald Wavell.

It took place around 25 miles north of Nairobi. Wavell was leading a patrol of British troops and African police pursuing from Mau Mau who had beheaded a loyal Kikuyu tribesman in the Thaika area. They tracked down about 20 of the Mau Mau who opened fire, killing Wavell immediately.[1] The battle went for ten hours.[2]

Wavell had lost his left hand in Burma during World War II. He had no heirs so his death meant the end of the Wavell line.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Mau Maus Kill Wavell's Son". The Mirror. Perth: National Library of Australia. 26 December 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Earl Wavell killed in fierce terrorist battle". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 28 December 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Last of the Wavells of Cyrenaica". Sunday Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 10 January 1954. p. 18. Retrieved 17 November 2013.