Osman Digna
Burney joined the corvette HMS "Carysfort" in the Mediterranean Fleet in September 1880 and served ashore in command of a Gatling gun team as part of a naval brigade and saw action at the Battle of Tell al-Mahuta in August 1882 and the Battle of Kassasin also in August 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War. He then also accompanied Sir Charles Warren's expedition in pursuit of the murderers of Professor Edward Palmer and his associates. He went on to serve in operations against Osman Digna who was threatening Suakin in Spring 1884 during the Mahdist War.