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Auction: 19022 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 2208

Autographs
Sudan
Bertram Henry Samuel Romilly
A comprehensive correspondence from Bertram Henry Samuel Romilly (brother-in-law of Sir Winston Churchill) (29) from 1904-09 from his posting in the Sudan as Colonel in the Egyptian Army Camel Corps. All letters are addressed to his Father, come accompanied by their original cover and are written on Sudan Camel Corps or IX Sudanese headed letter paper where available.
Correspondence includes:
1904 (30 August) ALS from Foga mentioning that "I'm in an extraordinary place, the only Englishman, arrived two days ago after eight days on a camel, found most of No. 1 Company of the Camel Corps going on very comfortably under the command of an Egyptian Captain". With cover bearing double rate 2p. cancelled by El-Obeid c.d.s.
1904 (18 November) ALS written at El O'Dia mentioning that he had been preparing men to go on a five month patrol with Slatin Pasha and left the troops at El O'Dia resting the camels at a place called Sinnut on the way back. With cover bearing a pair of 5m. cancelled by El-Obeid c.d.s.
1905 (23 March) ALS written from Mazrub Wells "having left Odeiya on the 1st inst. With 84 men and 93 camels and reached El Odeib on the morning of the 7th", seeing El Obeid for the first time. With cover carried by camel to Nahud where it was postmarked.
1905 (10 April) ALS written from El Odliya with rough ink drawing illustration of a "mud-hut" indicating where the doors are located. With cover bearing 1p. cancelled at El-Obeid - the destination of his 6 day journey mentioned in this letter.
1905 (19 May) ALS written from the Camel Corps at Nahud. Letter is pre-empted by fine drawings of trophies from his hunting expeditions including the skulls of a "Hartebeeste", "Ril" and "Tiang". With cover bearing 1p. cancelled by Nahud c.d.s.
1906 (June) two ALS, one from El Oheid (2 June) the other from Gebel Kadugli (9 June) concerning the battle at Talodi "El Obeid … returned here day before yesterday … Too busy to write much - anyhow I can't as it's all Confidential" going on to write "Gebel Kadugli … you probably know by now that we had a Post cut up by Arabs at Talodi. Two Egyptian officers murdered … we hope to get a chance of going for these fellows & taking blood for blood, in order to re-establish prestige … Nubas from the mountains & Arabs are helping in hunting these fellows". With envelope bearing 5m cancelled by very fine and rare dotted retta cancel introduced for security reasons.
1909 (20 February) ALS written from Bara explaining to his father that he had been mentioned in Despatches for leading the Nyima Patrol mentioning also that he is "giving a delenka [native dance] next Thursday in commemoration of the Nyima Patrol".
A fascinating group with both historical and postal interest. Photo


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Sold for
£6,000