Auction Catalogue

4 & 5 December 2008

Starting at 11:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 139

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5 December 2008

Hammer Price:
£6,500

A fine Sudan D.C.M. group of five awarded to Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Lee, 1/1 Southern Division, Royal Artillery, who was wounded at Abu Klea

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (23608 Sergt. T. Lee, R.A. Jany. 1885); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (23608 Sergt. T. Lee, 1/1 So. Div. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (23608 Q.M. Sgt.T. Lee, R.A.); Coronation 1911; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (5) £4000-5000

The whole of 1st Battery 1st Brigade, Southern Division, Royal Artillery, served on the Nile, totalling 10 officers and 137 other ranks, of whom 4 officers and 42 other ranks fought at Abu Klea. The Battery comprised of three guns mounted on camels. Gunner Albert Smith of this Battery won the Victoria Cross for rescuing Lieutenant J. D. Guthrie from Arabs at Abu Klea.

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 25 August 1885 (GO 109/85). Awarded for ‘recent operations in the Soudan’. Mentioned in despatches from General Lord Wolseley, Cairo, 15 June 1885, for ‘services deserving of special mention’.

Thomas Lee was born in the Parish of Lambeth, London, and was a bricklayer by trade before he enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Westminster on 8 February 1875, aged 20. He served in Egypt and the Sudan from March 1884 to February 1887, being promoted to Battery Sergeant-Major in May 1886. He afterwards served at Malta and Hong Kong, was promoted to Quatermaster Sergeant in April 1892, received his L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1893, and was discharged in that rank from the School of Gunnery R.A. on 8 February 1896. Sold with copy discharge papers.