Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Egypt and Sudan group of five awarded to Captain M. A. C. B. Fenwick, Royal Sussex Regiment, late Royal Lancashire Regiment - Winston Churchill in The River War wrote that it was said of him ‘that he was Twice a V.C. without a Gazette’

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (2nd Lieut., R. Lanc. R.); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Capt., R. Sussex Regt.); Turkey, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon, minor enamel damage; Khedive’s Star, undated, unnamed; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Firket, unnamed, mounted court style for wear/display, good very fine and better (5) £1200-1500

Mansel Arthur Charles Bampfylde Fenwick was born on 16 January 1860, the son of the Rev. John Edward Addison Fenwick, of Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham. Educated at Cheltenham College. Served as a Captain in the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment (Militia). Subsequently enlisted, and afterwards received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Lancashire Regiment in 1888, and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1889 and Captain in 1896; transferring to the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1896.

With the Royal Lancaster Regiment and employed with the Egyptian Army, he served in the Sudan Campaign of 1888-89, seeing action at Arguin and the subsequent operations at Abou Simhet. The Times reports ‘he was wounded in several places, and on the riverside effected the rescue of several men who had advanced too far in charging the enemy’ He received severe spear wounds in this action and as a consequence missed the battle of Toski which was fought shortly afterwards. For his services he was awarded the Queen’s Medal and Khedive’s Star and the Turkish Order of Medjidie 4th Class.

With the Royal Sussex Regiment he served in the Sudan Campaign of 1896. He greatly distinguished himself in the action at Khor Wintri, 15 April 1896. Commanding a squadron of Egyptian cavalry, he was suddenly confronted by a force of some 200 Dervish horsemen. An attempt to retire disolved into a disorderly flight but Fenwick, rallying about 38 of his troopers, dismounted, seized a rocky hillock and prepared to defend it to the end. The detachment held off repeated attacks during the night and, the following day were able to rejoin the main column.

At Firket, June 1896, Fenwick was again in action, being second-in-command of the 10th Sudanese Regiment. It is recorded that he took a prominent and exposed position in order to direct the fire of his men. Sadly, soon after the action he fell victim to disease. The Times of 27 July 1896 recording:

‘.... Captain Fenwick had for some time past been detached from his Regiment, the 10th Sudanese, and was engaged in superintending the work of railway construction. On Saturday morning he was occupied as usual in directing the laying of rails, when he was attacked by cholera. He was able to return to the railway headquarters camp, where, however, he grew rapidly worse and died later in the afternoon ....’ (25 July 1896).

For his sterling services during the campaign, Fenwick was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 3 November 1896). Captain Fenwick’s repeated gallantry in action was more notably recorded by Winston Churchill in The River War, who wrote:

‘One by one some of the best of the field army and communication staff were stricken down. Gallant Fenwick, of whom they used to say that he was ‘twice a V.C. without a Gazette .... all filled graves in Halfa.’

With copied research.

The Queen’s Sudan has officially impressed naming, of the correct type for the period, and is believed to be as issued