Christmas Eve Battle

Christmas Eve Battle
Part of Mau Mau Uprising
Date 24 December 1953 Location Thaika, Kenya Result Death of Earl Wavell
Belligerents
United Kingdom Black Watch Kenya Police	Mau Mau
Commanders and leaders
Maj Earl Wavell  †	Dedan Kimathi
Strength
	60
Casualties and losses
2 Europeans killed 1 African police killed 6 wounded	5 killed 4 captured

The Christmas Eve Battle took place during the Mau Mau Uprising on 24 December 1953 between British, African and 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 an arm 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.