Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Uganda 1900 (336 Rifleman Sundar Singh. Uganda Rif:) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine £180-£220

Provenance: Richard B. Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003.

Magor states: ‘The Nandi had remained hostile and the situation was aggravated by the approach of the Uganda Railway. Persistent looting and attacks necessitated another expedition. This was commanded by Colonel T. J. Evatt, D.S.O., who was described as ‘brawny, thick and glaring, a bit grey and a face like an old walrus, running them all with an iron hand’. He was almost a prototype ‘C.O.’ ... Evatt’s camp was attacked and might well have been overwhelmed if the Nandi, who fought with great courage, had not been driven off by fire from the maxim gun ... the Army’s and auxiliaries’ casualties had been 103 killed, 4 died of wounds and 111 wounded. Sixty of the wounds were caused by arrows. Although the arrows were generally poisoned, none died of the toxic effects in spite of the fact the treatment consisted of injecting strychnine into the wound ...’