The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A rare Egypt Medal awarded to Captain F. G. Todd Thornton, Royal Sussex Regiment, who served in the Mounted Infantry Regiment of the Camel Corps at Abu Klea, and who died while serving as an Assistant District Commissioner in West Africa in March 1897

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 4 clasps, Suakin 1884, El-Teb-Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (Lieut. F. G. Todd Thornton, 1/R. Suss. R.), the clasps all tailor’s copies, but sold with unmounted originals of each, contact marks, nearly very fine or better £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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One of the small contingent comprising just two officers and 25 other ranks of the 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who served with the Mounted Infantry Camel Regiment at Abu Klea.

Frederick Geale Todd-Thornton was commissioned into the Royal Sussex Regiment in August 1879 and was advanced to Lieutenant in July 1881. He subsequently served in the Egyptian campaign 1882-84 with the Mounted Infantry, Cavalry Brigade, under Sir Herbert Stewart, including operations at Ramleh, surrender of Kafr-el-Dowar and occupation of Damanhour (Egypt Medal and Khedive’s Star); and in the Sudan in 1884, with the Mounted Infantry, at the battles of El-Teb and Tamaai, where he acted in support of Lieutenant Percival Marling’s Mounted Infantry section on the occasion that the latter won the V.C. (2 clasps). Todd Thornton also served in the Nile Expedition 1884-85, with the Mounted Infantry Regiment of the Camel Corps, and took part in the operations of the Desert Column under Sir Herbert Stewart, including the action at Abu Klea and the engagements at Metammeh and Abu Klea Wells (2 clasps).

Advanced to Captain in October 1886, he transferred to the Dorsetshire Regiment in March 1890 and was placed on the Retired List in November 1895. Thereafter gaining appointment as an Assistant District Commissioner, he died at Sapele in West Africa in March 1897.

Sold with copied Medal & clasp roll confirmation and other research.