Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Abu Klea pair awarded to Major A. C. Pearson, Royal Marine Light Infantry, 2nd in Command of the R.M. detachment and mentioned in despatches
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (Captn. A. C. Pearson, R.M.L.I.) impressed naming; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, nearly extremely fine (2) £800-900

Aylmer Charles Pearson was born in Upton St Leonards, near Gloucester, on 2 August 1849, and entered the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Lieutenant aged 19 years in 1868. Promoted to Captain in July 1881, he took passage aboard the S.S. Duncan, in May 1884, to Egypt where he joined the Royal Marine Battalion at Port Said and later Suakin. He was detailed for Special Service and Second in Command of the Royal Marines Detachment, comprising 4 officers and 86 NCOs and men, for service as the 4th Company of the Guards Camel Regiment, Nile Expeditionary Force.

He was present at the battle of Abu Klea, the actions at Gubart and Metemneh, and the attack on the convoy on 13th February 1885. When his Commanding Officer Major W. H. Poe was severely wounded and invalided, he commanded the Royal Marine Camel Corps from 22 January 1885 until its return to England the following July. Pearson was referred to in Lord Wolseley’s despatch, London Gazette 25 August 1885, as ‘deserving of special mention.’ He was promoted to Brevet Major on 15 June 1885 ‘in recognition of services rendered during the recent operations in the Sudan’, and received the medal with two clasps and the Khedive’s bronze star. He saw no further active service and retired on full pay in August 1891, and later became a Recruiting Officer at Cambridge for a brief period. He died on 4 February 1938 aged 88 years.

Only 4 Royal Marine Officers were present with the Camel Corps at Abu Klea, including Lieutenant C. V. F. Townshend who was later to come to prominence as the defender of Kut in 1915. Sold with further details.