Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Mr. M. S. Kerruish. “Principia.”) slight scratch to reverse field, nearly extremely fine £360-£440

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Only Masters of Transports received the 1882 medal, making them unique to each of the 105 vessels employed.

The S.S. Principia was owned and launched by Newton Brothers of Burton on Trent & Hull, in November 1881. Captain M. S. Kerruish was his first master. The following is given in The Hull Packet, 29 September 1882:

‘Services of a Hull Contingent in Egypt.

Messrs Newton Brothers and Company steamship owners of 19 Billiter Street, London and Hull, send the following copy of a letter, dated Ismalia, 4th inst, and received by them from Captain Kerruish, of their steamer Principia, Indian troop transport, No. 27:

“we arrived from Bombay 1st inst. Without a single casualty to men or horses, and at seven o’clock the following morning disembarked at Ismalia 16 Officers, 500 Indian troops, and 187 horses, having still on board 600 tons commissariat stores. On the 2nd inst. I received an order from General Macpherson to deliver on the Sweet Water canal our steam launch and three cutters, with officers, engineer and crews. Within four hours of having received that order, we had all alongside the wharf, and I saw them taken over the land and launched in the Sweet Water Canal. This contingent from the Principia is manned entirely from our own crew, all properly armed and provisioned for three weeks. I naturally wished to take command, but the Admiral considered I ought not to leave my ship, and appointed a naval officer in charge. The men I selected were all anxious to go to the front. In fact, all the ship’s company wanted to join the expedition.

Our little flotilla has done really splendid service; yesterday towing up 19 boats laden with provisions, and bringing back despatches and sick men. Tomorrow they make another journey, and will no doubt be ordered to Cairo as soon as Arabi is settled with, which I do not think will taker long after he meets our troops. Out of the hundred and twenty transports here, we are the only ship that has the honour of supplying boats and armed crews for service on the Sweet Water Canal. This canal is but thirty feet wide and about three feet deep. The danger to be apprehended is from parties of these wandering Bedouins suddenly appearing where the banks of the canal are high, and then firing on our boats crews, but I am certain our men will give a good account of themselves if called upon....’

Sold with copied research.