A Soldier Regimental No: 1952 of the Xth Sudanese Battalion, Egyptian Army

[Vanuatu Blue]

A nice addition to the collection.

A Soldier of the Xth Sudanese Battalion, Egyptian Army.

Awards.

Khedives Sudan Medal 1896, clasps: SUDAN 1897, ABU HAMED,

THE ATBARA, KHARTOUM, GEDAREF, SUDAN 1899 and BAHRELGHAZAL 1900-02, named, 1952-10.

Khedives Sudan Medal 1910, clasp: S. KORDOFAN 1910, named 1952- 10.

Queens Sudan Medal 1896, un-named, as issued.

Operations of the Xth Battalion.

Khedives Sudan Medal 1896-1908.

Sudan 1897.

This clasp was not awarded for any particular action, but was given to those who had already received the medal and were south of Kerma and south of sixth station between 15^th July and November 1897, units present were the 3^rd, 8^th Egyptian and 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 13^th, Sudanese Battalions.

Abu Hamed.

Fought August 7, 1897, when the Dervish entrenchments outside Abu Hamed were stormed by a Soudanese Brigade, with 2 guns Royal Artillery, under Major-General Hunter. The Mahdist garrison was driven through the town, losing heavily, and their commander, Mohammed Zain, captured. The Egyptian loss was 80 killed and wounded, including 4 British officers 2 from the 10^th Battalion.

Troops earmarked for this operation were the 9^th, 10^th, 11^th Sudanese, the 3^rd Egyptian Battalion, an Artillery Battery and one troop of Cavalry.

Atbara.

Fought April 8, 1898, between the British and Egyptian army, 14,000 strong, under Sir Herbert Kitchener, and 18,000 Mahdists under Mahmad. The Mahdists occupied an entrenched zareeba on the Atbara, where they were attacked and utterly routed, with a loss in the zareeba of 5,000 killed and 1,000 prisoners, while many more fell in the pursuit. Mahmad was captured. The Anglo-Egyptian losses were 570 killed and wounded, including 29 British officers.

Egyptian Army units present were the Egyptian Cavalry, Camel Corps, 1, 2, 4, 5, Batteries Egyptian Artillery, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 7^th, 8^th Egyptian and 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, Sudanese Battalions.

Khartoum.

Fought September 2, 1898, between the British and Egyptians, 23,000 strong, under Sir Herbert Kitchener, and 50,000 Dervishes, under the Khalifa. The Dervishes attacked the British zareba, and were repulsed with heavy loss. Kitchener then advanced, to drive the enemy before him into Omdurman, and capture the place. In the course of the operation, however, the Egyptian Brigade on the British right, under General Macdonald, became isolated, and was attacked in front by the centre of the Dervish army, while his flank and rear were threatened by the Dervish left, which had not previously been engaged. The position was critical, but through the extreme steadiness of the Sudanese, who changed front under heavy fire, the attack was repulsed. The British and Egyptian losses were 500 killed and wounded. The Dervishes lost about 15,000.

Egyptian Army units present were Egyptian Cavalry, Camel Corps and the 5^th, 7^th, 8^th, 15^th, 17^th, 18^th, Egyptian and 9^th, 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 14^th, Sudanese Battalions.

Gedaref.

22nd December 1898, Battle of Gedaref. Egyptian and Sudanese reservists and some tribal “Friendlies” under Colonel Parsons defeat remaining Mahdist foces under Emir Saadullah and capture Gedaref. Lt Hore-Ruthven (later Earl of Gowrie) wins VC.

Egyptian Army units present were the Camel Corps, 16^th Egyptian and the 9^th, 10^th, 12^th, 14^th, Sudanese Battalions.

Sudan 1899.

This clasp was awarded to all those who served on the Blue and White Niles south of Khartoum during 1899.

Bahr-El-Ghazal 1900-02.

This clasp was awarded to 5 British and 11 Native Officers together with 350 Native troops for policing operations under the command of Sparks Bey, the first British Governor of the Bahr-El-Ghazal Province and also to those who formed the Shambe Field Force under El Miralai Lee Stack, mostly 10^th Sudanese.

Khedives Sudan Medal 1910-22

S. Kordonan 1910.

This clasp was awarded for operations in November-December 1910 against Mek (Chief) Gedeil of Gebel Tagoi near Rashad. The troops involved in the expedition included Cavalry, Mounted Infantry, Artillery, Camel Corps and the 10^th and 12^th Sudanese Battalions under the command of El Lewa Asser Pasha.

It was hoped that such a large force would persuade the Mek to surrender but he and his followers showed considerable fight. He escaped from the inevitable defeat by the Governments troops and later returned to kill the successor who had been nominated in his place, but in April 1911 he was captured and hanged. A smaller patrol under El Kaimakam Conry in the District also qualified for the clasp.

Queens Sudan Medal.

The medal was awarded to all Officers and Men of the British and Egyptian Armies who took part in the re-conquest of the Sudan 1896-98.

[Chris Boonzaier]

That is an impressive lot, Are all named to the same guy?

What is really amazing is when groups manage to stay together in a place like the Sudan.