Orders, Decorations and Medals

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, El-Teb-Tamaai (1522 Pte. J. Stoney, 1/York. & Lanc. R.) nearly extremely fine and scarce £300-350

Private James Stoney was killed in action at the battle of Tamaai on 13 March 1884, where the regiment formed part of the 2nd Brigade, together with the 1st Battalion Black Watch and Royal Marine Light Infantry with a Royal Naval Gardner Machine Gun Detachment. The 1st Brigade consisted of the 1st Gordons, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles and 3rd 60th Rifles. These two British infantry brigades marched on Tamaai in separate squares, an outdated formation that had been developed largely as a defence against cavalry. As they approached Tamaai, large numbers of the enemy were sighted in and around a ravine known as Khor Gwob. For reasons still unexplained today, General Graham ordered the Black Watch, on the left front of the square, to charge the enemy. This order proved to be catastrophic for the York and Lancasters, leaving their left flank and rear exposed to a mass attack by the dervishes which was pressed home with unbelievable speed and ferocity. The square was quickly penetrated and the York and Lancasters were hurled back into the sailors and marines in the rear of the square which was soon broken up into small groups of desperately fighting men, sword and spear against the bayonet, the dervishes slashing first at the hands to disarm and then at the head and body to kill and maim.