Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Petty Officer First Class A. H. Rewell, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded during the action at El-Teb on 29 February 1884; upon his officer, Lieutenant Royds, being mortally wounded in the assault, Captain A. K. Wilson, R.N., on the staff of Rear Admiral Sir William Hewett, who was present as an observer, took over the command of the detachment and single-handedly engaged the enemy, thus sparing the wounded of his detachment and saving them from certain death. For his great gallantry Wilson was awarded the Victoria Cross

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884, El-Teb (A. H. Rowell [sic]. Lg. Sean. H.M.S. “Carysfort”) minor official correction to surname; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, both with contemporary top silver riband brooch bars, very fine (2) £1,600-£2,000

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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Approximately 43 Tel-el-Kebir clasps awarded to H.M.S. Carysfort.

Alfred Henry Rewell was born in Felpham, Sussex, on 17 July 1857 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 7 May 1873. Promoted Able Seaman on 1 September 1877, he served in H.M.S. Carysfort from 16 September 1880 to 2 April 1884, being promoted Leading Seaman on 1 July 1881, and saw active service in this ship during the Egyptian campaign of 1882, including as part of the Naval Brigade during the assault on Tel-el-Kebir. Promoted Petty Officer Second class on 1 December 1882, and Petty Officer First Class on 9 May 1883, he saw further service in the same ship during the Sudanese campaign of 1884, including the action at El-Teb on 29 February 1884.

The Naval Brigade suffered 13 casualties during the battle of El-Teb, including Rewell, who was seriously wounded; Lieutenant Frank Royds, also of the Carysfort, was mortally wounded in the action, during the assault on the first battery, dying the following day. On spotting the wounded Royds, Captain Arthur Wilson, R.N., H.M.S. Hecla, on the staff of Rear Admiral Sir William Hewett, who was present at the action solely as an observer, immediately took his place in the line, and engaged in single-handed combat with the enemy, thus protecting the detachment until some men of the York and Lancaster Regiment came to his assistance. But for his prompt action the entire detachment must have been speared to death, and for his great gallantry that day Captain Wilson was awarded the Victoria Cross (London Gazette 21 May 1884):
‘This officer, on the staff of Rear Admiral Sir William Hewett at the battle of El Teb on 29 February 1884 attached himself during the advance to the right half-battery, Naval Brigade, in the place of Lieutenant Royds, Royal Navy, mortally wounded. As the troops closed on the enemy's Krupp battery, the Arabs charged out on the corner of the square, and on the detachment who were dragging the Gardner gun. Captain Wilson then sprang to the front and engaged in single combat with some of the enemy, thus protecting his detachment until some men of the York and Lancaster Regiment came to his assistance. But for the action of this officer, Sir Redvers Buller thinks that one or more of his detachments must have been speared’.

Rewell returned to England in H.M.S. Royal Adelaide and was invalided out of the service on account of his wounds at Plymouth on 18 June 1884. He subsequently became the publican of the Windsor Tavern in Eastbourne, and was buried at sea at his request.

Sold with copied service papers, medal roll extract, and copied research, including a photographic image of the recipient.