Egypt Suakin 1885 with Khedives Star pair. 1Bn Coldstream Guards. Pyle. Rothbury, Northumberland.
£370.00
Availability: 1 in stock
Egypt Medal correctly named 5370 Pte E Pyle Coldm Gds
Khedives Star 1884-5 unnamed as issued
Edward was born to Edward and Isabella in Rothbury, Northumberland in 1861. In 1861, we find the family living at 76 Prospect Place, Rothbury. A later address found for his widowed mother is 33 Hedley Terrace, Newcastle on Tyne.
He enlisted into the 1Bn Coldstream Guards aged 21 in November 1882. Records show him at the time to be a mason.
Second Suakin Expedition
Following the fall of Khartoum on 26 January 1885, Graham led a second expedition in March 1885. This expedition is sometimes referred to as the Suakin Field Force. Its purpose was to defeat Mahdist forces under Osman Digna in the region and to supervise and protect the construction of the Suakin-Berber Railway. A week after its arrival in Suakin, the expedition fought in two actions: the Battle of Hashin or Hasheen on 20 March, and the Battle of Tofrek on 22 March.
The British force was later joined by the New South Wales Contingent, which arrived at Suakin on 29 March. However, within two months the Gladstone government decided to abandon both the railway and its military campaign in Sudan. General Graham and his Suakin Field Force were evacuated from the port city on 17 May 1885. Nevertheless, Britain maintained an ongoing presence in Suakin between 1886 and 1888, and the then brevet Lt. Col. Herbert Kitchener acted out the role of Governor General of Eastern Sudan.
He was released form service with the 2Bn Coldstream Guards with a weakened state of health in November 1886.
Medals are court mounted on card for display. Please note there is pitting marks on the Egypt Medal as usual when the pair have been worn together.
