War Medals

SERGEANT W. LONGHURST, M/1ST. BDE., ROYAL ARTILLERY

Egypt Campaign Medal 1882-89, undated reverse, bar, 'Tamaai' correctly engraved naming - 11595 Sergt. W. LONGHURST, M/1st. Bde. RA.; Khedive's Bronze Star, dated '1884', unnamed as issued : (WILLIAM LONGHURST - Enlisted in the Royal Artillery, in February 1872 and in 1884 was serving with 'M' Battery, 1st. Brigade. In February 1884 the Battery was aboard the troopship 'Jumna' sailing from India home to England when it was diverted for service in Sudan. The Battery disembarked at Suakin, where it acquired four naval 9-pounder field guns which were then mounted on Egyptian carriages, but was not ready for action at the Battle of El-Teb fought on 29 February 1884. The Battery was subsequently posted for service with 2nd.Brigade under the command of Major-General John Davis, and went into action at Tamaai on 13 March 1884 where the British advanced in two squares, the first commanded by General Davis which was ahead of the square of the 1st Brigade, commanded by Colonel Redvers Buller. General Davis' square became broken when a bayonet charge by the Black Watch opened a gap through which the Dervishes poured into the square. 'M' Battery was outside the square when the Dervish attack crashed home, and found itself isolated by the Mahdist advance, but was able to rake the enemy flanks with case shot, this with the fire from Buller's Brigade and the Cavalry Brigade forced the Dervishes to retire and the Davis square was able to re-form. The Battery sailed from Suakin in 'Jumna' on 30 March 1884 and disembarked at Portsmouth on 22 April 1884. On 15 November 1884, at Woolwich,the recipient was 'Discharged at his own request at the end of his first period of limited engagement'.) : Sold with verification and copy Discharge document. According to 'British Battles & Medals' it is unusual to find a medal with this single bar. Only sixty-nine medals with 'Tamaai' bar awarded to the Battery: Slight contact pitting but generally better than VF & Scarce - £695