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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 398

Pair: Private G. Hammond, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (954. Pte. G. Hammond. 1/Rl. Berks: R.); Khedive's Star 1884-6 (Berks 954), sold together with an Army Temperance medal with two years clasp (L.Corpl. G. Hammond Berks. Malta 1888), minor pitting to first, very fine (2)

George Hammond was born at Newbury, Berkshire in 1863 and attested at Reading on 24 November 1883 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment on 15 February 1884. Seeing home service with them until October the following year he joined a draft of men posted to the 1st Battalion in Sudan, arriving with them not long before the withdrawal of the failed Gordon Relief Expedition to Egypt.

The bulk of British troops were stationed at Wadi Halfa under General Grenfell and when a Dervish force attempted to bypass them, the army sallied out to engage the enemy at Ginnis. The Mahdist's had occupied the town of Ginnis and constructed a camp on a hill nearby and as such the British formed into two Brigades. The Berkshires were with the first Brigade and had the job of taking the Dervish camp which they did handle, suffering losses of 3 killed and 16 wounded.

Notably many of the British troops at the action, with the exception of the Durham Light Infantry were wearing their red coats, the last time it is confirmed that a British unit did so in action. Remaining in Egypt into the next year Hammond joined half of the Battalion which embarked for Malta on 25 May 1886. There he was attached briefly to the Royal Engineers and joined the Army Temperance society.

Returning to Britain on 23 October 1891 he was transferred to the Army Reserve on 28 October and discharged entirely on 23 November 1895. Returning to Newbury, Berkshire Hammond died there in 1927; sold together with copied research including service papers, census data, certificate of marriage, medal roll and probate listing.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£130