Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Dongola campaign D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Captain Frederick Jenvey, Royal Marine Artillery
Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Cr.Sgt., R.M.A.); Queen’s Sudan 1896 (4477 C/Sgt., R.M.A.); 1914 Star (R.M.A. 4477 Qr. Mr. Sergt. Ins., R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Capt., R.M.A.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (4477 Qr. Master Sergt., R.M.A.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 5 clasps, Sudan 1897, The Atbara, Khartoum, Gedaref, Hafir (4477 Colr. Sgt., R.M.A.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better and very rare (7)

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen 16 May 1899 (AO 153/99). The medal was awarded for the Battle of the Atbara and was presented to him by the Queen at Windsor Castle on 1 July 1899. A photograph of Jenvey appears in Navy and Army Illustrated for 27 July 1899. His service documents all read “Specially recommended for services in Dongola Expedition by Senior Naval Officer, 25th November 1896” and “Mentioned in Despatches 21st October 1896 for services in Dongola Expedition”.

Apart from a small handful of Royal Marine officers attached to the Egyptian Army, the only Royal Marines to take an active part in Kitchener’s advance up the Nile were those under Captain Oldfield, R.M.A. who, with nine Corporals and Bombardiers, was sent to Egypt in June 1896 to train and supervise the Egyptians who manned the guns of the little fleet of gunboats which accompanied the Army’s advance. Although they were represented by a handful of men, the Royal Marines succeeded in making their mark on the campaign, as, for example, when Colour Sergeant Jenvey quitted the gunboats and accompanied a Naval Rocket Party during an attack on the Dervishes camp. His later recollections were published in the History of the Royal Marine Artillery:

“Several days were employed in trying to coax the enemy out into the open, but without success; so the Sirdar determined to attack, and finding by reconnaissance that they had constructed numbers of huts of dry grass in their camp, sent word to Captain Keppel, R.N., for a rocket party from the gunboats. I was fortunate enough to be selected from our small detachment, and at 10.30 p.m., on the 5th inst., the party consisting of fourteen native gunners and myself, under the charge of Lieut. Beatty, R.N., with one rocket tube and a good supply of 24-pound Hale’s war rockets, left for Atbara camp, probably the smallest Naval Brigade on record. Camels carried the gear, and we marched. Moving all night we reached the Sirdar’s camp-thirty miles-next day at 11 a.m.-Dervish camp eight miles distant.”

After describing the night march which brought the Anglo-Egyptian Army within one mile of the Mahmud’s entrenched camp, and the opening of fire by the Artillery and rocket tubes, Jenvey goes on:

“On account of the distance and the nature of the ground, I was unable to get in any good work with the rockets, so the General gave us permission to move to the right of the Artillery, and we took up a good position at 500 yards range, where I was able to get in some good shots, setting their camp on fire in several places. By 7.30 a.m., our artillery had made it so warm for them that the Sirdar determined to assault the position, and the ‘Advance’ was sounded. All the bands and pipes of the Highlanders struck up their liveliest airs, and in quick time they started on their journey, passing through us and the artillery, who had ceased firing. I had fired all my rockets, so we followed in rear of the firing line. The sight was truly magnificent, and one I am never likely to forget. The enemy now shewed us what stuff he was made of, pouring in a hot rifle fire, and our fellows began to drop. At about 300 yards our line halted, fired two volleys and again advanced. At 150 yards the ground sloped gently down to their position: here we were met by a perfect hail of fire, and many were hit. A halt was called and ‘independent fire’ ordered for two or three minutes, when the ‘Advance’ again sounded, and on we moved up to the zareba, and with a charge and cheer were at the enemy with the bayonet. The result was never for a moment in the balance, from trench to trench our men fought their way in grand style and the position was ours.”

Sergeant Jenvey was one of five R.M.A. mentioned in Egyptian Army Orders of May 29th as having been brought to the notice of the Khedive for good service, the others being Sergeants Seabright, Prior, Russell, and Sears. All except Prior were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Jenvey was promoted Quarter Master Sergeant/Instructor of Musketry in May 1902, and received his L.S. & G.C. in October 1906. After service with the Royal Marine Brigade at Ostend and Dunkirk in 1914, Jenvey received a Commission as Temporary Lieutenant for service with the South African Heavy Artillery Brigade, as part of the Union Defence Force in German West Africa. Each battery had a nucleus of R.M.A., and was completed with officers and men from the Cape Garrison Artillery. Jenvey was placed in command of “A” Battery and served in German West Africa in 1915. He served with the R.M.A. Division in 1917 and was promoted Temp. Instructor of Gunnery in 1918, retired 1919. He died of pneumonia on 2 April 1920. Jenvey was one of eight R.M.A. men to receive the D.C.M. for the Dongola campaign and he was the only R.M.A. recipient of the Khedive’s medal with these five clasps.