Wingate joined the Egyptian Army in 1882 and played a leading role in Sudanese campaign of 1898. He wrote this book in collaboration with Ernest Ayscoghe Floyer, inspector-general of Egyptian telegraphs, although his name does not appear in print. It was published in 1891 as part of a propaganda campaign in which Wingate presented the Sudanese Mahdiyya movement as the embodiment of evil, with the purpose of encouraging the British public to support further military action in the region.

Later, in 1897, Wingate was made an extra ADC to Queen Victoria. She conferred on him the Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George the following year.

During the Sudan Campaign of 1898 Sir Reginald Wingate was Director of Military Intelligence of the Egyptian Army. Afterwards he visited Queen Victoria in Balmoral where, on 5 September 1899, he presented her with trophies from the Battle of Omdurman (see RCIN 71209).