Orders, Decorations and Medals

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb-Tamaai (1720 Pte. J. Pilbeam, 1/York & Lanc. R.) minor scratches to obv., good very fine £800-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for the Egypt and Sudan Campaigns from the collection of Colin Narbeth.

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Ex D.N.W. 2 July 2003, lot 534.

1720 Private John Pilbeam, 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, was killed in action at the battle of Tamaai, 13 March 1884. Pilbeam was posthumously mentioned in the despatches of General Graham, V.C. as one of the men who gave their lives in trying to stem the Sudanese attack on the broken British square.

The 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment formed part of the 2nd Brigade of General Graham’s army. The Brigade whilst advancing in a square at Tamaai was suddenly attacked by the forces of Osman Digna. The rush of the attack was so great that the square was broken. On the right front face of the square, some 30 or 40 men of the York and Lancaster Regiment made a desperate and detirmined stand before having to give way, loosing sixteen men, including Private Pilbeam, in the process. At length order was restored and the square reformed. By the end of the day the regiment had suffered one officer and 31 men killed and two officers and 22 men wounded. British casualties for the day totalled 217 officers and men killed and wounded.

Sold with copied roll extract and other research.