Sudanese soldier

[Harry Fecitt]

A group of Sudanese

Happy Valentine's Day Gentlemen

This is a Library of Congress photograph kindly sent by Per Finsted in Denmark.

Can anybody speculate as to the soldiers' unit and awards?

Harry

Edited February 14, 2009 by Harry Fecitt

[Chris Boonzaier]

What a fantastic photo!!!!!!!

[Verdun16]

Can't see the medals clear enough to ID them but as Chris said before a fantastic photo!!!!!!!

Bryan

[Ed_Haynes]

Yes, a lovely photo, but way too small for me to get any sort of medal identification. Here's the best closeup I can do from what was posted.

Maybe: Egypt Star (clasp?), Sudan Medal with 4 (?) clasps, British Egypt medal with 2 (?) clasps, British Sudan Medal?

Edited February 14, 2009 by Ed_Haynes

[Ulsterman]

Do you have the LOC#?

Is he an Askari?

We can get clearer/larger images from the LOC.

That is a ripping photo!!

[Harry Fecitt]

Gentlemen

If you go here: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query

and type in A group of Sudanese

you come to the image at:

Africa - Sudan(?) - warriors

[between 1900 and 1927] 1 photographic print. Veniery, M, photographer.

LOT 11356-44 [item] LC-USZC2-6347(color film copy slide)

Harry

[Naxos]

Do you have the LOC#?

Is he an Askari?

We can get clearer/larger images from the LOC.

That is a ripping photo!!

Edited February 14, 2009 by Naxos

[Mike Huxley]

Maybe: Egypt Star (clasp?), Sudan Medal with 4 (?) clasps, British Egypt medal with 2 (?) clasps, British Sudan Medal?

I think Ed has hit the nail on the head. In the closer view from the site, those do seem to be the medals. Strange order of wearing them though??

Fantastic photo. Would be interested in finding out more about this guy.

Mike

[Ed_Haynes]

I think Ed has hit the nail on the head. In the closer view from the site, those do seem to be the medals. Strange order of wearing them though??

Fantastic photo. Would be interested in finding out more about this guy.

Mike

Normal order of wearing for an Egyptian (Sudanese) soldier. They would wear medals from their ruler first and those from some foreign queen last.

[Mike Huxley]

Normal order of wearing for an Egyptian (Sudanese) soldier. They would wear medals from their ruler first and those from some foreign queen last.

Of course. Kadives star and then Kadives medal. I should have thought of that. Thanks Ed.

Mike

[Harry Fecitt]

Thank you Gentleman

What I like about this Senior NCO is that he demonstrates authority in every action, even a pose.

We built our Empire and Protectorate Territories upon the backs of lads like this.

Harry

[MREID]

Hi Gents;

Great image, and my apologies for taking so long to add my two-cents' worth. Ed Haynes is absolutely correct about the Egyptian order of precedence for this fellow's medals. This is exactly how they should be worn by someone in Egyptian government service. I don't just limit it to the Egyptian Army (EA) because I'm pretty sure that the central figure in this photo is in the Police. A couple of reasons why;

1) He wears a coloured collar, not worn by Sudanese soldiers.

2) He carries a whistle and cane.

3) His tarboosh cover bears a diamond-shaped flash with an additional badge. A diamond flash was only worn by the 1st and 3rd Infantry Bns. of the EA. These two units were composed of Egyptians, and Sudanese could not have been members, they were only allowed in the IXth to the XVIIth Bns.

I have no doubt that this fellow had been in the EA but had probably transferred to the Police on the reduction of the Army after 1898. Sudanese soldiers generally served for life, unlike their Egyptian counterparts, and it is quite possible that he was selected for more responsible service than stamping about a Khartoum parade square. I agree that he seems to exude authority, not a bad characteristic for a native constable, or any constable for that matter! An impressive looking individual anyway.

Cheers,

Mark