Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine ‘Abu Klea Wells’ D.C.M. group of five awarded to Private T. Griffin, 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (2154. Pte. T. Griffin. 2/K.R. Rif: C. 17th. Feb: 1885.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 2 clasps, Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (2154. Pte. T. Griffin. 2/60th. Foot.); Kabul to Kandahar Star 1880 (2154 Private Thos: Griffin 2/60 Foot); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (2164. Pte. T. Griffin. 2/K.R. Rif: C.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, edge bruising and heavy pitting and contact marks, generally fine (5) £4,000-£5,000

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen, 25 August 1885 (‘recent operations in the Soudan’); G.O. 109/85.

3 Officers and 29 other ranks of the 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps served with the Camel Corps at Abu Klea.

Thomas Griffin was born in Tralee, County Kerry, in 1851 and attested for the 60th Regiment of Foot at Westminster on 9 September 1869. He served overseas in the Second Afghan War of 1878-80, taking part in the battle of Ahmed Khel, the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar, and the decisive battle of Kandahar. Subsequently serving in Egypt and the Sudan, he took part in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85, and was one of the 3 Officers and 29 men from the 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (as the 60th Regiment of Foot had been redesignated) selected for the Mounted Infantry Regiment of the Camel Corps that formed the Desert Column. He was present at the action at Abu Klea on 176 January 1885, and the subsequent action at Abu Klea Wells on 16-17 February 1885.

A contemporary account of the action at Abu Klea Wells states: ‘We started from Metemmeh on 14th February, and halted at Abu Klea Wells, which turned out to be a series of holes in the sand on the valley bed. We had been followed, and were attacked by the enemy on the 16th February, who took up a position on some hills, and kept up a sharp fire all night at about 800 yards range. We formed a zereba, and got under cover without firing a shot in return - but the next day, 17th February, we had to go out as a covering party to those filling water tanks at the Wells. They peppered us as we were crossing the open - the shots were dropping among us quite thick - and put two shells among us, which did not burst. We had a long distance fight of about five hours that day, when they retired and allowed us to scrape some water together for the march. The men behaved with great control, quietly waiting their turn and carefully ensuring that their camels were also properly watered. The march back was something horrible, 33 days it took us, and it was all done on foot, as we had not sufficient camels to bring back supplies, and ammunition.’

For his gallantry at Abu Klea Wells, Griffin was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, one of two D.C.M.s awarded to the Regiment for this action. He was discharged at Winchester on 30 June 1891, after 21 years’ service, of which 12 years and 306 days were spent soldiering overseas.

Sold with the recipient’s original Parchment Certificate of Discharge; and copied research.