Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (4479 Pte. A. Butcher. 5th Fusers.) Regimentally engraved naming, edge bruise, very fine £120-£160

Andrew Butcher was born in 1876 in Rotherhithe, Surrey, a cheesemonger by trade. He attested in London for Short Service with the Northumberland Fusiliers on 7 February 1895. He served with the 1st Battalion in Gibraltar from 3 October 1896 before embarking for Egypt where he served in the Khartoum Expedition during the Sudan Campaign from 17 January 1898 to 2 October 1898 and then, following the outbreak of trouble in Crete served there until 18 April 1899 at which time the 1st Battalion returned to England. He subsequently served in South Africa with the 1st Battalion from 16 September 1899 to 2 May 1902, being advanced to Lance Corporal on 1 November 1901.

On 24 February 1902, a Klerksdorp bound supply convoy commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Anderson and escorted by a 700 strong force constituted largely by men of the 5th Imperial Yeomanry, Paget’s Horse and the Northumberland Fusiliers, including Butcher, was bivouacked on the Elandslaagte Farm by the Yzer Spruit. Early the following morning the column set off and after a march of some three kilometres was attacked by a commando under the command of Assistant Commandant-General J. H. de la Rey. After very strong resistance, the convoy was forced to surrender. British losses were 187 killed and wounded whilst the Boers lost 51 killed and wounded. Lance Corporal Butcher was severely wounded during this engagement and invalided to England on 3 May 1902.

In addition to his Khedive’s Sudan medal with Khartoum clasp he is entitled to the Queen’s Sudan Medal, The Queens South Africa medal with clasps Orange Free State, Transvaal, Belmont and Modder River and the King’s South Africa medal with 2 clasps.