The rare and important ‘Egypt and Sudan’ pair awarded to George Zeidan, an Interpreter attached to the Intelligence Department, who was a prolific Christian Lebanese Journalist, editor and teacher, who wrote 23 novels, and is also considered to have been one of the first thinkers to help formulate the theory of Arab Nationalism

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (323. Interpr. G. Zeidan.) edge bruise, scratch mark to edge after naming; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, generally good very fine and rare (2) £800-£1,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Collection

J. Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008 and Dix Noonan Webb, May 2019 (both times as a single Egypt and Sudan Medal).

One of 11 interpreters shown on the roll as entitled to the clasp Abu Klea, and the only one entitled to this combination of clasps.

George Zeidan or ‘Jurji Zaydan’, ‘Jorge Zaydan’, ‘Georgie Zeidan’ or ‘Jirji Zaydan’ was born in Beirut, Ottoman Syria (present day Lebanon) in December 1861. He was a prolific Christian Lebanese journalist, editor and teacher, most noted for his creation of the magazine al Hilal (The Crescent) in 1892, which he used to serialise his twenty-three historical novels. His primary goal, as a writer and intellectual during the Nahda (Awakening), was to make the common Arabic population know their history through the entertaining medium of the novel. He is also considered to have been one of the first thinkers to help formulate the theory of Arab nationalism.

Zeidan ‘equipped with letters of recommendation... arrived in Egypt in 1883. In Cairo he soon took over the editorship of al-Zaman, a daily newspaper. He remained its editor until 1884. The reason for leaving this job are not evident. Neither are his motives clear as to why with his friend Gabr Dumit he joined Wolseley and his expeditionary corps that was to relieve Gordon at Khartoum. Zaidan [sic] was attached to this army as a dragoman, and guide.

We may catch a glimpse of his life with the British Army in the description by Nasib Abdallah Sibli al Lubani, tension developed between the British officers and the Syrian dragomans. An English officer commanded Zaidan to do some menial work which Zaidan refused. It came to blows between the officer and Zaidan until a high ranking officer and friend of Zaidan re-established order. After the Wolseley expedition, sent too late, had been unable to save Gordon it returned to Egypt. Zaidan took his leave of the Army and returned in 1885 together with Gabr Dumit to Beirut where they both started studying languages.’ (Gurgi Zaidan, His Life and Thought BY T. Philip refers)

Zeidan had been attached to the Intelligence Department for service in Egypt and the Sudan, and had served with Captain W. W. C. Verner who was employed in an intelligence gathering capacity. Zeidan gets several mentions in The Military Diary of Colonel W. W. C. Verner:

‘April 2nd: Sent Zaidan [sic] to Ambokul Market. He hot the usual news about revolt in Kordofan, sickness etc. and that 2,000 spearmen and 60 regulars with rifles were at Birti.

April 17th: George Zaidan, my interpreter’s subordinate refused to obey an order and said “You cannot make me”. Severe crisis, ending in my having to show him my revolver and George doing as he was bid.

May 4th: George Zaidan visited Ambokul in order to interview a man I had heard of recently come from Khartoum, but who was sick and unable to come and see me. His name is Mohamed Kheir Aga and he said that he left Khartoum on the day it fell and was kept a prisoner at Omdurman for two months. Gordon was killed near the church when about to blow up the magazine. He was killed with sticks, no other weapon was used. His head was cut off and taken to Omdurman. He saw it there all the time he was at Omdurman. It was there when he left about April 12th.

May 28th: Drifted about 4 miles. Landed with George Zaidan and found the villagers in great fright as they had heard the ‘Bashi Bazouks’ were coming down stream and would kill their cattle!’


Zeidan died in Cairo, Egypt in July 1914, and The Zaidan Foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A was set up by members of his family in 2009 to enhance intercultural understanding and the dissemination of Arabic culture.

Sold with copied research, and photographic images of the recipient.