After Egyptian army officers led by Ahmed Urabi rebelled against the Khedive (Egyptian ruler) in 1882, Great Britain reacted to protect its financial and expansionist interests in the country, and in particular the Suez Canal. An expeditionary force of 40,000 men under Lt Gen Garnet Wolseley was sent to Egypt. After landing at Alexandria and capturing the city in mid-July, the army marched south toward the capital, Cairo, 110 miles to the southeast. However, resistance was strong and progress was slow. As a result, the operation was abandoned at the end of August and the force directed toward capture of the Suez Canal Zone.

      This accomplished it was subjected to a surprise attack by the Urabi forces on 10 September which were decisively defeated and forced to retreat to Tel-el-Kebir to the north of Cairo. There the Urabi forces prepared defensive positions in anticipation of Wolseley's attack which came at dawn on 13 September. The Urabi forces were routed and Cairo was captured. Khedive power was restored as the authority of Egypt and a khedivial court sentenced Urabi to death. However the British intervened and the sentence was changed to exile to Ceylon.

      Of interest to Macphersons was the participation of the 1st Battalion of the 42nd Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) commanded by Lt Col Duncan Macpherson of Cluny, eldest son of 'Old Cluny'. The 42nd was part of the Highland Brigade which led the assault on the Urabi positions. Col Duncan personally led the bayonet charge of his battalion that overwhelmed and soundly defeated the Urabi forces.

      The Black Watch was reorganized in 1881 when it was amalgamated with the 73rd (Perthshire) Foot to form two battalions of the newly named Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch). The 1st Battalion then served in Africa taking part in the Highland Brigade's dawn assault on the Egyptian position at Tel-el-Kebir in 1882. Two years later it was in the thick of the fight with the Mahdi's fanatical tribesmen at El Teb and Tamai. The following year 1885, saw it taking part in the Nile Expedition and fighting at Kirbekan and Abu Klea in the Sudan.