Battle of Tepe

Battle of Tepe Part of the Kamerun Campaign in World War I Date 25 August 1914 Location Tepe, German Kamerun Result Minor British victory Belligerents British Empire British Nigeria Germany German Kamerun Commanders and leaders Colonel MacLear O.Ltn. Milbrat † [1] Units involved West African Frontier Force Schutztruppe (West Africa) Casualties and losses 2 officers [2] 5 officers [3]

Kamerun Campaign Tepe Lai 1st Garua Mora Nsanakong Ukoko Kusseri Jabassi 1st Edea 2nd Edea Gurin 1st Jaunde 2nd Garua Ngaundere Banjo 2nd Jaunde Naval operations Bussa uprising Adubi War

The Battle of Tepe (or Tebe) on 25 August 1914 was the first skirmish between German and British forces during the Kamerun Campaign in of the First World War. The conflict took place on the border between British Nigeria and German Kamerun, ending in British victory and German withdrawal from the station.

Prelude

On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on the German Empire at the beginning of the First World War. On 8 August, a mounted detachment from the West African Frontier Force embarked from Kano in northern British Nigeria towards the German colony of Kamerun.^[4] These first British forces crossed the border into German territory on 25 August.

Battle

British cavalry came into contact with German forces at the border station at Tepe on the Benue River on 25 August. After sharp fighting German forces withdrew and the British occupied the station.^[3] Few casualties resulted from the battle. The British occupation of the station gave their forces the opportunity to push further east to the German stronghold at Garua. The British were defeated in their attempt to take the forts there at the First Battle of Garua only days after the conflict at Tepe.

Notes

References

• Buchan, John. A History of the Great War. Vol. I. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1922

• Reynolds, Francis J., Churchill, Allen L., and Miller, Francis T. "Chapter 77 - The Cameroons." "The Story of the Great War". Vol. III (of VIII). 1916.

Coordinates: 9°20.47′N 12°52.39′E / 9.34117°N 12.87317°E / 9.34117; 12.87317