Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine C.B. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-General H. St. G. Schomberg, Royal Marines, who saw a great deal of action during the Egypt and Sudan campaigns, and was recommended for his services in command of his company at the battles of El-Teb and Tamaai, where the Royal Marine Light Infantry bore a conspicuous part

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel (hallmarks for London 1896), complete with swivel-ring suspension and integral silver-gilt riband buckle; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai (Bt Maj: H.St.G. Schomberg. R.M.L.I. H.M.S. “Monarch”.); Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class breast badge, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, Star and Crescent suspension reordered, with rosette on riband; Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, minor green enamel damage to band around obverse central medallion on Osmanieh, otherwise good very fine and better (4) £1,600-£2,000

C.B. London Gazette 25 June 1897.

Turkish Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class London Gazette 6 October 1884.

Herbert St George Schomberg was born in Kilmore, co. Monaghan, on 22 February 1845. From an illustrious Naval Family, he was the Son of Rear Admiral Herbert Schomberg and the Grandson of the famed Naval Admiral Sir Alexander Wilmot Schomberg. Educated at Stubbington, Hampshire, he was Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Marines on 24 June 1863, and remained at Chatham Headquarters until 26 November 1866, when he was appointed to H.M.S. William Frederick. Promoted Lieutenant on 13 February 1867, he remained with this ship until 30 April 1867, before he had a series of appointments at Woolwich and Chatham Headquarters, served in H.M.S. Royal George, and then back to Chatham before being on detachment at San Juan Island between September 1871 and July 1873. Lieutenant Schomberg was then back at Chatham for a year before attending the School of Musketry at Hythe from May to June 1874. He passed his Second Class Hythe Certificate on 3 July 1874, and after a further year at Chatham, was appointed to H.M.S. Pembroke on 1 August 1875.

Spending the next six years ashore and having been promoted Captain on 13 April 1879, Schomberg was appointed to H.M.S. Monarch on 12 January 1882. Whilst aboard H.M.S. Monarch, he took part in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882, being present at the bombardment of Alexandria, and the subsequent landing and occupation by the Naval Brigade. For his services during the campaign, he was awarded the Brevet of Major (London Gazette 15 August 1882). He further served on land during the occupation of Port Said on 20 August 1882. Remaining with H.M.S. Monarch, when troubles arose in the Sudan in 1884, Major Schomberg was detached there ‘for Special Services’. As a member of the Royal Marine Light Infantry Battalion under General Graham, he was present at the battles of El-Teb and Tamaai, where the Royal Marines bore such a conspicuous part.

At El-Teb on 29 February 1884, the Royal Marine Light Infantry (380 strong), formed part of General Davis’s 2nd Infantry Brigade, along with the Black Watch and York and Lancaster Regiment, and bore the brunt of the fighting. During the battle, the Marines, along with the York and Lancs, formed the left face of the square, when wheeled, faced the front, repelling an enemy charge and then themselves charging the enemy redoubt. The Marines in particular were praised for the taking of the Krupp guns position.

At the Battle of Tamaai on 13 March 1884, the 2nd Brigade again saw the brunt of the fighting. The Royal Marines, this time holding the rear of the square, held their formation as the Black Watch moved on to attack the enemy, the York and Lancs following suit. However the two regiments were counterattacked, the enemy getting intermingled with the British. During the chaotic few minutes of vicious hand to hand fighting, the square lost all formation and the 2nd Brigade suffered a very large numbers of casualties. Eventually the square was reformed and the enemy were repulsed, the steadiness of the Royal Marines playing an import role in this. The battle of Tamai saw more British casualties than any of the battles in the Sudan campaigns, 1884-9, approximately 85% of these suffered by the 2nd Brigade. For his services during the two battles, Major Schomberg was recommended for a Decoration, being awarded the Turkish Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class; and, according to Colonel Tuson’s report, Major Schomberg ‘Was in command of his company at Teb and Tamai and has done good service at both actions’.

Promoted Major on 13 April 1885, Schomberg left H.M.S. Monarch on 26 May of that year, and for the rest of his service remained ashore. His subsequent promotions were Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 24 June 1891; Lieutenant-Colonel on 8 September 1892; Brevet Colonel on 8 September 1896; Colonel Second Commandant, on 8 March 1898; Colonel Commandant on 30 December 1899; Major General on 12 December 1901; and Lieutenant-General on 29 September 1906. Placed on the retired list on 22 February 1910, he died on 27 April 1915.

Sold with copied research including various photographic images of the recipient.