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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 74A

(x) Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (E. Bonifacio., Lg. Stkr., H.M.S. "Helicon."), light edge bruising, good very fine

85 'Alexandria 11th July' clasps to H.M.S. Helicon, aboard which ship Admiral Seymour was present at the bombardment. His subsequent dispatch, signed and dated aboard the Helicon on 19 July 1882, is quoted in Egypt 1882 Dispatches, Casualties and Awards, by Peter Duckers:

'I have the honour to report, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that having received a declaration from Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien, that guns were being mounted at Fort Silsili, I sent a communication to the Military Commandant at Alexandria, to the effect that I would open fire on the forts at sunrise on the 11th unless, prior to that hour, the batteries on the isthmus of Ras-el-Teen and on the southern shores of Alexandria, were temporarily surrendered to me for the purpose of dismantling, thereby carrying out their Lordships' instructions which had reached me on the 10th.

Early on the morning of the 11th, the Helicon was observed making for the Invincible, at anchor in Boghaz Pass, and on board which my flag was flying ... On ascertaining that the officers had landed safely, I opened fire on the forts, which was soon briskly returned from the Meiks lines and batteries within the Reefs, also from Ras-el-Teen and Forts Ada and Pharos on the offshore squadron. Having succeeded in silencing the forts at 5.30pm., I made a signal to stop firing ... On another shot being fired into the Meiks Barracks Battery Earthwork, a truce flag was once again hoisted and on my sending in Lieut. and Commander Morrison of the Helicon to the Khedive's yacht Mahroussa, he found no-one on board and reported the town had been evacuated.'

The ship then transported the Admiral as Naval Commander-in-Chief during the fleet movement to Ismailia, 19-23 August 1882.

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Sold for
£230