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Auction: 8029 - Soldiers' Rates of the BE - Gerald Sattin Collection
Lot: 72

Sudan The Gordon Relief Expedition 1885 (23 Jan.) envelope "From 2221 Pte. C. Smith 18th. Hussars Light Camel Regt." at Dongola to England, countersigned by the Commanding Officer and bearing 1d. lilac with Dongola "Star and Crescent" c.d.s. and "T" h.s. alongside, both the adhesive and tax mark cancelled "F" in bars at the Foreign Branch in London, part Camborne arrival c.d.s. (Feb.) on reverse; opened-out, part of flap torn away and other faults though a rare cover written just three days before Gordon was killed in Khartoum. Photo Estimate £ 700-800 Note: The force assembled for the Nile Expedition was intended for the relief of Major-General Charles Gordon who, as Governor of Sudan, had been besieged at Khartoum by forces of the Madhi since the end of April 1884. He was murdered in Khartoum on 26 January 1885. On 26th. October 1884, Lord Wolseley, in command of the expedition, ordered the raising of a special Camel Corps consisting of four Camel Regiments. The Light Camel Regiment was employed on the forward Lines of Communication between Dongola and Korti. Private Smith was with the section operating between Debneh and Dongola. His letter is signed by Major C. Gould, in command of the troop of 18th. Hussars and who died from heat stroke in April 1885

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£500