Description

For sale is an original Egypt campaign Khedive’s Medal 1882, engraved to reverse 26447 GUNR. J. Smith 6-1ST SCO: DIV: R.A. Medal comes with extensive paperwork relating to the recipient.

Joseph Smith was serving with the 6th Battery, 1st Brigade, Scottish Division, Royal Artillery at Malta on 1 April 1882. Imprisoned through the Spring of 1883 he served attached to 1/1 Southern Division Royal Artillery in Egypt from 12 February 1884, stationed at Cairo and Abyssinia. Returning to 6/1st Brigade on 14 September 1884 he was with them when they travelled to Suakin in March 1885.

Here the Battery formed part of the ammunition column for General McNeill’s force at Tofrek on 22 March. They were likely within the defences during the Battle of Tofrek and as such would have been present when the Dervishes broke into the British zariba. They suffered losses of 1 officer killed and 4 other ranks wounded in the bitter melee which followed, the Dervish warriors were eventually driven off by the steady response of the Berkshire Regiment and Royal Marines.

Smith survived the Battle unharmed but was again imprisoned not long afterward on 23 May 1885, this time until September. He returned to England on 21 September of that year; sold together with a copied medal roll and handwritten research.