Auction Catalogue

18 May 2011

Starting at 10:00 AM

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

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 60

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18 May 2011

Hammer Price:
£2,600

Nine: Engineer Lieutenant-Commander F. W. Wildish, Royal Naval Reserve, onetime attached to Sudan Government Steamers Department as Chief Engineer, and who afterwards served in Uganda

1914-15 Star (Eng. Lt. Cr., R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Eng. Lt. Cdr., R.N.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals; Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1916; Khedive’s Sudan 1910-22, 2nd issue, 1 clasp, Zeraf 1913-14, these all unnamed, mounted court style for wear, good very fine (9) £1200-1500

Frederick William Wildish was born in Edinburgh, son of the late James George Wildish, Royal Corps of Naval Constructors. He was educated at University College London. Joining the R.N.R., he was appointed Assistant Engineer on 8 June 1904 and became a Commissioned Engineer on 26 May 1912.

He was on Sudan Government service 1907-December 1912 and became Engineer in Charge, Khartoum, Dockyard East. Served with the Nile Zaraf expedition during 1913. In March 1913 he was Chief Engineer, Sudan Government Steamers and Boats Department.

He was on Colonial Service, 1914-20, being appointed Deputy Superintendent Engineering, Uganda Railways (Marine Department) in 1914, and was Senior Navy Engineering Officer at Port Florence, Lake Victoria Nyamza, East Africa, commanding Nyanza Flotilla.  

The Amphibious Raid on Bukoba
: Bukoba was a German town on the western side of Lake Victoria, near the Uganda border. An important wireless mast & communication centre was located there. In 1915 London gave General Tighe permission to mount an amphibious raid on Bukoba. Brigadier-General Stewart was ordered to command the raiding force. The raid occurred between 22 & 24 June 1915. The raiding force comprised:

Four Companies 25th Bn Royal Fusiliers & four machine guns; three Companies 3rd King's African Rifles (400 rifles); two Companies 2nd Loyal North Lancashire Regiment & four machine guns; one Double-company 29th Punjabis; a Section (two guns) 28th Mountain Battery; a Section East Africa Regiment with four machine guns; Faridkot Sappers & Miners Bridging Section; "C" Section 26th British Field Ambulance; C/22 Indian Clearing Hospital; The Nairobi Signal Section; Logan's Battery manned ships' guns afloat.

The Schutztruppe strength was estimated at 200 men with two Maxim Guns & one Field Gun. One of the Schutztruppe units was composed of Arabs & they fought well on the broken high ground that dominated Bukoba town to the north & west. The raid was a success - the first notable British success in the East African Campaign.

Wildish was appointed a Lieutenant in the R.N.R. in December 1915 and was mentioned in despatches in 1916. In October 1917 he reverted to Deputy Superintending Engineer, Uganda Railways Marine. He retired at his own request on 1 September 1921 and was granted the rank of Engineering Lieutenant Commander. Between the wars he worked as an Engineer for private industry.

Recalled to active service in September 1939 as an Engineer Lieutenant Commander (Temporary Boom Engineer), he served at H.M. Establishments
Nimrod, Torch, Bee and Victory. He reverted to the Retired List as medically unfit in 1944 and died in 1948.

With some copied research.