Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. Marsh, 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade

Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (1622 Pte., 2 Bn. Rifle Bde. 1873-4); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (1622 Pte., 2/Rifle Bde.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, edge bruising and pitting from star, otherwise very fine (3) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to The Rifle Brigade and Affiliated Regiments from the collection formed by Michael Haines.

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John Marsh was born at Plymouth, Devon, in March 1851, and enlisted into the Rifle Brigade at Devonport on 31 May 1869. Posted to the 2nd Battalion, he served with them throughout the Ashantee War of 1873-74, and with the Mounted Infantry in the Nile Expedition of 1884-85.

An interesting letter written by Marsh was published in the Rifle Brigade Chronicle for 1892, the editor prefacing it with the following statement: ‘... In 1884 he volunteered for the Rifle Company of the Mounted Infantry, and served with it in the Nile Expedition and throughout the Desert March, actions of Abu Klea and El Gubat and subsequent operations. For these he received the Egyptian medal with two clasps and the Khedive’s Star... The letter was written from Korti to a comrade in the 2nd Battalion at home, within a few days of the arrival of the rear-guard which covered the retreat across the Desert, and hence is especially genuine.’

Marsh’s presence at the battle of Abu Klea is not confirmed by the medal rolls or, indeed, his service papers which credit him with ‘Medal & Clasp Nile 1884-85.’ However, in his letter he states:

‘We started from Metemmeh on February 14th, halted at Abu Klea Wells, and were followed up, and attacked by the enemy on the 16th, they took up a position on some hills, and kept up a sharp fire all night at about 800 yards range. We formed a zereba, and got under cover without firing a shot in return - but the next day we had to go out as a covering party to those filling water tanks at the Wells. They peppered us as we were crossing the open - the shots were dropping among us quite thick - and put two shells among us, which did not burst. We had a long distance fight of about five hours that day, when they retired and allowed us to scrape some water together for the march. The march back was something horrible, 33 days it took us, and it was all done on foot, as we had not sufficient camels to bring back supplies, and ammunition - those that were not killed died through want of food and water... At Abu Klea I had to use my cleaning rod and jag five out of six rounds I fired, and that was one of the causes of a lot of men getting speared.’