The Battle of Tepe (or Tebe) on 25 August 1914 was the first skirmish between

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

and British forces during the Kamerun campaign in of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. The conflict took place on the border between

British Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain a ...

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

towards the German colony of Kamerun.Buchan 1922. 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 The Benue River (french: la Bénoué), previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is the major tributary of the Niger River. The river is approximately long and is almost entirely navigable during the summer months. The size of its bas ...

on 25 August. After sharp fighting German forces withdrew and the British occupied the station. 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 The First Battle of Garua took place from 29 to 31 August 1914 during the Kamerun campaign of the First World War between German and invading British forces in northern Kamerun at Garua. It was the first significant action to take place in the c ...

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. {{DEFAULTSORT:Tepe, Battle of 1914 Battles of World War I involving Germany Battles of World War I involving the United Kingdom African theatre of World War I Battles of the African Theatre (World War I) Military history of Cameroon Kamerun Battles of the Kamerun campaign Conflicts in 1914 1914 in Africa August 1914 events 1910s in Kamerun