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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 93

(x) The Egypt and Sudan group of three awarded to Sergeant-Major C. Duffin, King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was wounded at the Battle of Tamaai on 13 March 1884

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai (4220. Corpl. C. Duffin. 3/K.R. ---); British War Medal 1914-20 (R-5733 W.O. Cl.1. C. Duffin. K.R.R.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (4220. Mil:S:Maj: C. Duffin. K.R.R.C.); Khedive's Star 1882, unnamed as issued, heavy wear and contact marks to first partially obscuring naming, good fine, the remainder nearly very fine (4)

C. Duffin served as one of the thirty men of the 3rd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps who fought in the Mounted Infantry Company under the Command of Lieutenant Percival Scrope Marling. As the British advanced in two squares to attack Mahdist skirmishers hidden in a ravine, Marling's men were sent forward to reconnoitre and were joined by the Royal Sussex Mounted Infantry under Lieutenant F. G. Todd Thornton. A sudden onslaught of enemy troops created significant difficulties, Private Morley of the Royal Sussex M.I. being shot in the stomach and placed on Marling's horse. For risking his life to save that of the Private, Marling was awarded the Victoria Cross, his citation reading:

'For his conspicuous bravery at the battle of Tamaai, on 13th March last, in risking his life to save that of Private Morley, Royal Sussex Regiment, who, having been shot, was lifted and placed in front of Lieutenant Marling on his horse. He fell off almost immediately, when Lieutenant Marling dismounted, and gave up his horse for the purpose of carrying off Private Morley, the enemy pressing close on to them until they succeeded in carrying him about 80 yards to a place of comparative safety.' (London Gazette 21 May 1884, refers)

The Black Watch then soon found themselves under intense attack from the Soudanese. The square was flooded with a rush of tribesmen and a brutal hand-to-hand fight resulted, the Black Watch eventually winning the contest and driving the Soudanese out (The War in Egypt and the Sudan. An episode in the history of the British Empire, refers). The Mounted Infantry joined in and fired on the enemy who had made entry into the square, forcing them to retire towards the hills beyond Tamaai. Duffin was wounded in the action, one of 214 British casualties that day. Recovered from his wounds, he was recommended for the L.S. & G.C. Medal on 1 April 1897 and served at home during the Great War; sold with copied research and MIC.


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Sold for
£400