Miniature Medals

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, no clasp, reverse dated (Lieut. W. B. Askwith, 17th Co. R.E.) dark toned, extremely fine £180-220

Lieutenant William Bayne Askwith was killed by the accidental explosion of a mine at Suakin on the 27th February, 1885. He was born on 22 December 1858, eldest son of General W. H. Askwith, Royal Artillery, and educated at Marlborough College. He received his commission on 9 October 1877, and served for three years at Gibraltar, and for some months at Sir W. Armstrong’s Works, Elswick. He was sent to Suakin in July 1884 and was employed with other officers in building the piers and laying the railway to facilitate the landing of troops and stores. At the time of his death he was specially charged with the mining operations rendered necessary by the nightly destruction of the works by the Arabs.