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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 95

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Tamaai (F. Hall, Pte R.M.), polished, pitting, very fine

Provenance:
D.N.W. April 2006.

Frederick Hall was born at Salford, Lancashire on 3 February 1858 and enlisted at Manchester on 1 October 1873. He had a poor start with service, being thrice imprisoned between 1875-1882 however was eventually posted to Orontes in December 1883 after which his performance improved. This vessel was one of those which provided troops from its Marine compliment to support the Royal Marine Battalion forming at Suakin in 1884.

Hall joined that unit, based out of H.M.S. Euryalus in February 1884 and was with them for the Battle of Tamaai in March of that year. Here the Royal Marine Battalion were part of the rear facing rank of General Davis' square. This formation famously broke during the Battle when a gap opened and Dervish warriors poured in, it was only thanks to the arrival of General Buller's square and the cavalry that Davis' formation was able to reform.

The Marines suffered heavily in the fighting as the Dervishes had struck them in the rear and they couldn't properly target their enemy for fear of hitting their own men in the melee. They had losses of 3 killed and 15 wounded, although Hall was not amongst them. The British Government had no desire to be committed to Sudan and they withdrew soon after Tamaai, with Hall leaving on 30 March aboard Jumna.

Arriving at Chatham on 21 April he was issued his medals there and was discharged the next day on 26 March 1886 with his character described as 'good' and his intended residence being New Brompton, Kent. He later joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 16 August 1901 and served for seven years before being discharged; sold together with census data, service papers and medal rolls.

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Sold for
£200

Starting price
£200