YOUR VOICE
'Britain at War' Magazine, PO Box 100, Stamford, Lincolnshire, PE9 1XQ | contact@britainatwar.com
Mystified by medal pair
I enjoyed the August issue’s Hero of the Month entry on Major Richard Willis VC, but I am curious to know what two of the more unusual awards in the group are? I’m not familiar with the second medal nor the last.
Response: Lord Ashcroft is delighted to identify the two medals. The second medal in Major Willis’s group is the Queen’s Sudan Medal 1896-98, and the last is the Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1898-1908, with Khartoum clasp.
The former was authorised in March 1899 for award to British, Indian and Egyptian forces engaged in the Sudan campaign ( June 1896 and September 1898). It was mainly issued to members of the respective armies – although, 44 were bestowed on Royal Navy and Royal Marine veterans for their services in the gunboats of the Nile Flotilla, or on attachment to the Army ashore.
The related Khedive’s Sudan Medal 1896-1908, which was authorised in February 1897, was mainly awarded with clasps – the earliest being for Firket in June 1896 and the latest for Nyima in November 1908. In all, 14 different clasps were authorised – one of the mo…
