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

Casualties and losses

2 Europeans killed
1 African police killed
6 wounded

5 killed
4 captured

Mau Mau Uprising

Assassination of Waruhiu Operation Jock Scott Ruck Family Massacre Lari Massacre Chuka Massacre Christmas Eve Battle Capture of General China Operation Anvil Operation Mushroom Swynnerton Plan The Pipeline Capture of Kimathi Hola massacre

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

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

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