Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Leading Stoker G. Osborne, Royal Navy, who saw further service in H.M.S. Dolphin at the Battle of Tokar in February 1891

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (G. Osborne, Sto., H.M.S. Myrmidon); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, with Tokar clasp, unnamed as issued, good very fine and a rare combination of awards (2) £400-£500

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Egypt Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Collection

Approximately 81 no clasp medals awarded to H.M.S. Myrmidon.

Only two ships were engaged in operations at Tokar on 19 February 1891, H.M.S. Dolphin and H.M.S. Sandfly, with approximately 115 men from the Dolphin and 69 men from the Sandfly entitled to the Khedive’s Star with clasp. Of these 184 recipients, only 19 men from the Dolphin (including Osborne) and 13 men from the Sandfly had already received a dated Khedive’s Star (as well as an Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-89); the remainder received just the undated Khedive’s Star with clasp, without any British campaign medal.

George Osborne was born in Gillingham, Kent, on 16 August 1863 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 20 February 1883. He served in H.M.S. Myrmidon from 10 January 1884 to 11 April 1888, was promoted Stoker on 1 April 1884, and saw active service in this ship during the latter Egyptian campaign. He subsequently served in H.M.S. Dolphin from 23 September 1890 to 19 May 1891, and took part in the Battle of Tokar, 19 February 1891. Advanced Leading Stoker on 5 April 1893, he had a brief spell with the Coast Guard at South Arran and Ballyheige from 10 November 1893 to 28 January 1895, before retuning to service afloat, and was finally shore pensioned on 5 March 1903, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve at Chatham five days later.

Sold with copied service papers and medal roll extracts; and a copy of the book Tokar 1891 - the Men and their Medals by Mark A. Reid, in which the recipient is featured and his medals illustrated; it is further noted that Osborne’s pair are the only known combination of these medals known.

Note: The recipient’s original Egypt and Sudan Medal was issued on 10 November 1886, but a duplicate medal was issued on 12 August 1898. His Khedive’s Star was issued in 1888 and the clasp for Tokar was issued subsequently for service in H.M.S. Dolphin.