Battle of El Herri

Location of the battle shown on a 1953 map of the area

Date	13 November 1914
Location	El Herri, near Khénifra, Morocco
Result	Decisive Zaian victory

Belligerents

France

Zaian Berber confederation

Commanders and leaders

René Laverdure †

Mouha ou Hammou Zayani

Strength

43 officers and 1,187 men

Estimated by the French at 5,000 tribesmen

Casualties and losses

590 men and 33 officers killed
5 officers and 171 men wounded

182 killed

Coordinates: 32°51′25″N 5°37′23″W / 32.857°N 5.623°W / 32.857; -5.623

The Battle of El Herri (also known as Elhri) was fought between France and the Berber Zaian Confederation on 13 November 1914. It took place at the small settlement of El Herri, near Khénifra in the French protectorate in Morocco. The battle was part of the Zaian War, in which the confederation of tribes sought to oppose continued French expansion into the interior of Morocco. Having captured the strategic town of Khénifra earlier in the year, the French, under General Hubert Lyautey, entered negotiations with Mouha ou Hammou Zayani, who led the Zaian. Lyautey thought that peace could be achieved and ordered Lieutenant-Colonel René Laverdure, who commanded the garrison in Khénifra, to not launch any offensives.

Laverdure became frustrated with the lack of action and, on 13 November, led almost his entire garrison in an attack on the Zaian encampment at El Herri. The attack initially went well, with his artillery and cavalry clearing the tribesmen from the camp, looting the Zaian tents and capturing two of Hammou's wives. However, the French encountered a significant Zaian force during its withdrawal to Khénifra. This force engaged the French with harassing fire, forcing them to move only under the cover of their artillery. Laverdure then ordered his wounded back to Khénifra with a guard of a company of infantry, which were joined by large numbers of other troops who broke ranks to join the column. Whilst making a river crossing, Laverdure's rear guard and artillery were overrun and annihilated. Laverdure's remaining troops then formed square and fought a desperate last stand against several thousand tribesmen before they were also overrun and killed.

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