British merchant steamship Lydian Monarch hired for the Sudan campaign in 1885

Engaged by the British government for the new expedition to the Soudan. Gross tonnage 3,986 tons. Cavalry transport. 

Due to the despressed state of the shipping trade was the Admiralty able to hire troop transports towards Suakin, Sudan for just 17s 6 ton/month in contrary to the 28s ton/month in the 1882 campaign. The first Suakim expedition was in February 1884, the second one in March 1885. The campaigns were part of the Mahdist War (1881-189) between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Khedivate Egypt later the United Kingdom resulting in the condominium Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 1899-1956 and then succeeded by the Protectorate of Uganda, Italian Libya and the Republic of Sudan, nowadays Egypt, Libya, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda. On 26 January 1885 fell Khartoum and the British garrison was massacred. In March was a British expeditionary force sent to Suakin but lacking success and finally withdrawn.

Source

The Steamship dated 16 February 1885, p. 64.