Orders, Decorations and Medals

The mounted group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Colonel J. Sillem, Welsh Regiment

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888; Queen’s Sudan 1896-98; Turkey, Order of Medjidie, 4th Class, silver, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon; Khedive’s Star 1884-6; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 6 clasps, Firket, Hafir, Abu Hamed, Sudan 1897, The Atbara, Khartoum, mounted as worn, ribbon a little frayed, some contact marks, very fine and better (5) £300-400

The recipient’s full-size and miniature medals were sold in Sotheby’s 3 March 1983.

James Sillem entered the Army as an Ensign in the Welsh Regiment on 11 May 1878, and was advanced to Lieutenant in July 1879 and Captain in June 1884. He saw service in the Sudan, 1887-88, including the engagement at Sarras and the action at Gemaizah, commanding a battalion of Egyptian Infantry in operations near Suakin in December 1888. For his services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 11 January 1889) and awarded the Order of Medjidie. He served in operations in the Sudan, 1889-96; with the Nile Frontier Force, 1889, when he again commanded a battalion of Egyptian Infantry. Promoted to Major and brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1896, he was present with the Dongola Expeditionary Force under Kitchener. At the engagements at Firket and Hafir commanded the 3rd Soudanese Battalion. For his services he was four times mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 3 November 1896, 25 January 1898, 24 May 1898, 30 September 1898). In July 1914 he is recorded as being a Major (brevet Colonel) in the Reserve of Officers. Sold with copied research and photograph.