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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 66

'In the melee of the Cavalry charge Colonel Barrow was saved only by the brilliant courage of two sergeants and a trooper of the 19th Hussars, and that their deed was one of daring may be inferred from the fact that no other wounded man escaped alive. One unfortunate trumpeter was so gashed by spears, that he was brought out only to expire. When Colonel Barrow fell, Sergeant Marshall seized a loose horse, and was attempting to place him on it, when Private Bosley, to whom it belonged, and who had been thrown out of his saddle, came up on foot, and under a heavy fire supported his officer into the Infantry lines, assisted by Sergeant Fenton, while Marshal rejoined his troop.'

Cassell's History of the War in the Soudan refers to the astonishing bravery which saw Sergeant Marshall earn the V.C. and Private Bosley take his D.C.M.

The Egypt and Sudan Medal awarded to Private J. Bosley, D.C.M., 19th Hussars, who won his decoration at the Battle of El-Teb alongside Quartermaster-Sergeant Marshall, who was awarded the V.C. for the action

Egypt 1882-89, 4 clasps, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (2235. Pte. J. Bosley. 19th Hussars), minor pitting, overall very fine

[D.C.M.] confirmed in the appendix of the Regimental History along with The Times of 6 March 1884.

M.I.D. London Gazette 6 May 1884.

Note, the 19th Hussars received 410 Abu Klea clasps.

Joseph Bosley was born at Newbury, Berkshire in 1860 and attested with the 3rd Hussars on 19 August 1878. He did not appear to thrive with this unit, being imprisoned by the C.O. on 6 July 1882 and released 10 July then transferred to the 19th Hussars on 25 July 1882.

This was a fortunate move for Bosley however as it placed him perfectly to earn his laurels in the upcoming Anglo-Egyptian War. Entering the country on 10 August he was present at the Battle of Tel-El Kebir and later the twin battles of El-Teb and Tamaai.

It was at El-Teb that Bosley was to distinguish himself, when the British cavalry charged a force of Dervishes only to discover their capacity for halting cavalry. Armed with spears and muskets-or worse yet knives to hamstring the horses- they were able to bring down horses and men equally handily.

One of those unhorsed was Colonel Barrow who was also wounded into the bargain and- like so many of those spilled from their horses- defenceless on the ground. He was fortunate however that three members of his Regiment were nearby and in a position to give aid, the boldest of these was William Marshall.

The Quartermaster-Sergeant forced his way through the press and managed to get Colonel Barrow upright, leading him to an unoccupied horse. The horse in fact which belong to Bosley, however as Marshall was mounted and the Colonel still dazed, getting him into the saddle no easy feat.

Fortunately, at this point Bosley, who having been thrown from his saddle during the charge and landed some distance away, reappeared. Seeing the Colonel in need of aid Bosley at once supported the officer into the saddle and along with Sergeant Fenton brought him safely to British lines, Marshall meanwhile re-joined his unit. Marshall was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions while Bosley, despite it must be said exposing himself to no less danger and giving up his horse in the process, earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

This was not the end of Bosley's service however as the Regiment saw action at Tamaai, not long later. His final major action of the war was Abu Klea, where the 19th formed the only conventional cavalry Regiment, with the rest of those present mounted upon camels. There they took their place at the edges of the British Square however when the formation broke they were ill placed to provide help. The Regiment did see action however after the main force of the Dervishes was routed, advancing to take the wells and drive off the remaining Mahdists.

Bosley returned to Britian on 6 June 1886 and joined the Army Reserve on 19 August 1886, he was finally discharged in August 1890. His D.C.M. is known to exist, appearing in an article Alec. A. Purves entitled Nearly a Victoria Cross; sold together with copied service papers, an extract from Cassell's History of the War in the Soudan and an article by Alec. A. Purves entitled Nearly a Victoria Cross as well as London Gazette extracts and extracts from the Regimental History further confirming the recipient's award of the D.C.M..

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Estimate
£1,400 to £1,800

Starting price
£1100