Orders, Decorations and Medals

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (5 Corpl. W. T. Marchant, A.P.O. Corps) some edge bruising, contact and scratch marks, about very fine £600-800

On 8 August 1882 the newly created Army Post Office Corps (formed 17 days previously) under the command of Major Sturgeon (Army Postmaster) embarked aboard the Black Prince for its first overseas expedition, and landed at Alexandria on 19 August. Stationary Army Post Offices were established at Alexandria, Ramleh, Cairo, Port Said and Ismaila, while mobile Field Post Offices were attached to the divisional headquarters.

On 9 September 1882, during the battle of Kassassin, the Army Post Office, under the command of Sergeant F. J. Inwood, attached to H.Q. 2 Division, came under fire. In the action, Private H. F. Yardley and Corporal W. T. Marchant, both of the A.P.O. Corps, were mentioned in despatches.

The A.P.O. Corps as a whole received high praise from the C-in-C, who wrote, ‘The formation of a purely military postal department has been tried for the first time in this war. It has been very successful ... I have much pleasure in bringing to the notice of the Secretary of State the admirable manner in which the Post Office Corps discharged its duties in Egypt. ... Their services have been so valuable that I hope a similar corps may be employed on any future occasion ...’