INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1895-1902

Hazara 1888. (22 Pte J. Mingary 1st Bn. Suff. R.) Naming is in engraved in script lettering, with patina, better than very fine condition.

An India General Service Medal to the  12th Frontier Force Regiment -  NORTH WEST FRONTIER 130-31 (7180 SEP. NETAR GHAND, 4-12 F.F.R.) Naming is impressed, very fine. 

Two Unofficial British Jubilee Medals - Queen Victoria 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Medal 1837-1897 (bronze, obverse engraver marked "10.SEP.95 M. GRUEBER", illustrating the left-facing busts of Edward VIII, George V, Edward VII, Queen Victoria, topped by the Victorian crown, surrounded by the inscription "FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY" and dated "1897" below, reverse with the Victorian crown, inscribed THE DIAMOND JUBILEE" above, the coats-of-arms of Ireland, England and Scotland below, surrounded by the inscription "TO COMMEMORATE THE 60th YEAR OF HER MAJESTY'S REIGN / 1837-1897", 32 mm, ring suspension); and King George V and Queen Mary Coronation Commemorative Medal 1911 (aluminum, obverse illustrating a left-facing Queen Mary fronted by King George V, surrounded by the inscribed "KING GEORGE V" on the left and "QUEEN MARY" on the right, reverse illustrating the royal coat-of-arms topped by the Georgian crown, enclosed in a leafed open-ended wreath, surrounded by the inscription "TO COMMEMORATE THEIR MAJESTIES CORONATION / CROWNED 1911", 38.7 mm, with bar suspension and original tri-colour ribbon). Near extremely fine.

Egypt Medal 1882-89; The Nile 1884-85, (104 . Boatman A. McDonald. Manitoba Contgt.). Naming is officially engraved in capital large block italics, strong naming, cleaned, suspension slightly askew, good/fine. Khedives Star dated 1884-6, unnamed. Swing mounted, cleaned, very fine. Footnote: A. McDonald is confirmed on the medal rolls. Footnote: The Expedition was put under the command of General Garnet Wolseley, who had seen service in the Crimean War, Canada, the Gold Coast and southern Africa. The Expedition was composed of two officers and 43 soldiers from each British Light Cavalry Regiment. Wolseley decided that the best way of reaching Khartoum would be to ascend the Nile River. Based on his favourable experience with them during his expedition along the Red River to Fort Garry (now Winnipeg) in 1869–1870 to suppress the Red River Rebellion, Wolseley asked the Governor General of Canada, the Marquess of Lansdowne,if it would be possible to recruit a contingent of Canadian voyageurs to help him navigate the Nile. He requested that they be commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Fred C. Denison, who had served as Wolseley’s aide-de-camp during the Red River expedition. The Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald, did not object once he was assured that the voyageurs were volunteers and would be paid by the British. Denison complied and on 15 September 1884, only 24 days after the request was received, 386 voyageurs set sail for Egypt. On 7 October 1884, the Canadians reached Alexandria and headed south by a combination of river steamer and train. On 26 October 1884, the Canadians met Wolseley and his force of 5,400 soldiers at Wadi Halfa. By November they were at the first of six cataracts and began their work of ascending the rapids. The southern progress of the expedition sped up with the experienced voyageurs manning the boats. The boats that Wolseley selected were modified Royal Navy whalers. They were almost ten metres long, two metres wide and three-quarters of a metre deep, and were equipped with twelve oars, two masts and a removable rudder. The boats had the capacity for a dozen men along with enough cargo to supply them for a hundred days. In mid-November, the expedition received word from General Gordon that he could only survive the siege for another forty days. The expedition was attacked by rebels at Abu Klea and Abu Cru, but was able to repel the rebels both times. Progress up the river was slow and often the boats had to be pulled through rapids by rope from shore. At several places the strength of the current necessitated several crews pulling one boat. They settled on a method of stationing the voyageurs at difficult stretches along the river, so that each group would become familiar with a particular stretch of water. Realising that time was running out for General Gordon in Khartoum, Wolseley split his force into two columns. He sent 2,400 men by camel on a 280 km shortcut across the desert to avoid the Great Bend of the Nile and reach the city sooner. The remaining 3,000 soldiers continued up the river. The Canadians’ six-month contracts were soon to expire and they were asked to re-enlist. Though offered generous inducements, only 86 of the voyageurs, including their commander, Denison, signed up for a second six-month contract. The rest elected to return to Canada, hoping to arrive in time for the spring logging season. This did not halt the expedition, as the worst of the river was already behind them and the smaller number of soldiers travelling by river reduced the need for the Canadians. Denison and his men continued piloting the small boats up the river. General Gordon’s last entry in his journal, dated 14 December 1884, read, “Now mark this, if the Expeditionary Force, and I ask for no more than 200 men, does not come in ten days, the town may fall; and I have done my best for the honour of our country. Good bye.” On 26 January 1885, Khartoum fell to the Mahdist army of 50,000 men. At that time of year the Nile was shallow enough to cross by wading and the Mahdists were able to breach the city’s defences by attacking the poorly-defended approaches from the river. The entire garrison was slaughtered, including General Gordon. His head was cut off and delivered to the Mahdi. Two days later the relief expedition entered the city to find that they were too late. (C:30).