Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Sudan campaign medal to Private H. Hunt, 21st Lancers, killed in the charge at Omdurman

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3569 Pte. H. Hunt. 21/L’crs.) extremely fine and a rare casualty £5,000-£6,000

Provenance: Bill and Angela Strong Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, May 2011.

3569 Private H. Hunt was a member of Captain Eadon’s “D” Squadron and was killed in action at Omdurman on 2 September 1898. “D” Squadron suffered the highest number of deaths at Omdurman, with 11 killed and 13 wounded, although “B” Squadron had the most casualties overall with 9 killed and 25 wounded, one of whom later died. These two squadrons were at the centre of the line and entered the Khor at its widest point where it was most densely packed with Dervishes. “D” Squadron survivors also suffered the most gruesome injuries. Sergeant Freeman, for example, was struck by a blow to the face that sliced through his nose, one cheek, and his lip, leaving these hanging from his face on bloody strings and blood covering his chin, neck and shoulders.

After the charge, the 21 bodies - Lieutenant Grenfell and 20 men - were recovered and laid in a row. All had suffered horrific, multiple wounds inflicted by several assailants at once, which gave rise to tales of ritual mutilation even though there had been no time for this. Grenfell’s body was sent back with the wounded but the 20 fallen men were buried together, not in the khor where they had died, but in the ground over which they had charged. Captain Cordeaux, the transport officer, was left in charge of the burial party while the regiment made ready to proceed south. When the burial was complete Cordeaux broke a lance, tied it in the shape of a cross, and stuck it in the sand so that its red and white pennon fluttered over the grave.