The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals Relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of the Sudan

Four: Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Iglas Stockwell, Seaforth Highlanders, who served with the Bahr-el-Ghazal expedition 1900-02, and who was mortally wounded at Armentieres in October 1914
Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Lieut. C. I. Stockwell, 1/Sea. Hrs.); Order of Osmanieh, 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 3 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum, Bahr-el-Ghazal 1900-02 (C. I. Stockwell); Order of the Medjidie, 3rd Class neck badge, silver, gold and enamels, good very fine (4) £1500-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of The Sudan 1896-1956.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915.
Order of the Medijidie London Gazette 25 June 1910.
Order of Osmanieh London Gazette 18 March 1908.

Charles Iglas Stockwell was born on 7 October 1875, son of Major-General C. M. Stockwell, C.B., late Seaforth Highlanders. He was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on 20 September 1895, and promoted Lieutenant in February 1898. He served with the Seaforths at the battles of the Atbara and Omdurman in 1898.

Seconded to the Egyptian Army, he served as a Bimbashi (Major) from 9 August 1899 to 8 December 1909. He took part in the expedition to avenge the murder of Scott-Barbour in the Bahr-el-Ghazal province 1900-02, and also served with 3rd, 10th, 11th and 16th Battalions, Egyptian Army. He was promoted Captain in March 1901, and reached the final rank of Kaimakam (Lieutenant-Colonel) in Egypt. On return to the U.K. in 1909 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Fort George. He was adjutant with the 8th Worcester Regiment, Territorial Force, from April 1911 to April 1914, when he returned to his own regiment at Shorncliffe, becoming Major in September 1914.

He went to France as second-in-command 2/Seaforths, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir E. R. Bradford. They landed at Boulogne on 23 August 1914, as part of 10th Brigade, 4th Division. The regiment was in action at Le Cateau by 26 August, and over the next nine days they retreated, on foot, some 155 miles, finally stopping to rest behind the Marne on 4 September. Two days later they were advancing back to the Aisne.

On the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford on 14 September, during the battle of the Aisne, Stockwell assumed command of the regiment. Just over a month later, on 21 October, Stockwell died of wounds received in action on the 20th during street fighting following the successful storming of the village of Frelinghen, three miles North East of Armentieres. He was 38 years old. He was buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. With a folder containing copied research.