Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Egypt D.C.M. group of three awarded to Colour Sergeant C. E. Walkley, York and Lancaster Regiment, who was awarded the D.C.M. for saving the life of a fellow N.C.O. at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, 13 September 1882, and later received his Egypt medal from the hands of Queen Victoria

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (7th. Bde. 3... Sergt. C. E. Walkley. 2/Y &... 13 Septr. 1882); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (344. Cr. Sgt. C. Wakeley [sic]. 2/York & Lanc: Regt.); Khedive’s Star 1882, reverse impressed ‘84 344’ heavy contact marks, especially to tip of star, good fine (3) £3000-4000

Provenance: Spink, April 1999.

D.C.M. Recommendation submitted to the Queen 4 January 1883.

Charles Edmund Walkley was born in Brixton, London, in 1858 and attested for the 84th Regiment of Foot at Aldershot on 21 January 1876 under the alias of Joseph Burges. Promoted Corporal on 12 July 1877, and Sergeant on 1 April 1878, he reverted to his true name on 13 January 1879, and was advanced to Colour Sergeant on 4 August 1882. He served with the 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment in Egypt from 5 August 1882, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for saving the life of Sergeant F. Smith at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, 13 September 1882. He is also recorded as ‘destroying an enemy gun which had been holding up the advance.’ (hand-written note included with lot refers).

Returning home on 7 November 1882, Walkley received his Egypt Medal from the hands of Queen Victoria on 29 November 1882, and had further postings to Bermuda; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and the West Indies, between October 1883 and December 1889. He was discharged on 26 April 1897, after 21 years and 96 days’ service, having regularly been court-martialled and reduced to the ranks for drunkenness over the course of his service. He died on 29 July 1931.