Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Egypt pair awarded to R. Paton, Civilian Servant with the Royal Engineers Balloon detachment at Suakin

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Civiln. Servt. R. Paton. Balloon Det: R.E.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2) £800-£1,000

Provenance: Hayward, January 1974 [when appeared without Khedive’s Star]; Buckland Dix & Wood, September 1994.

The medal roll for the R.E. Balloon detachment at Suakin contains the names of 2 officers, 9 other ranks and 2 civilians. Only the medals awarded to the latter two, i.e. Paton and Runyard, were named to the Balloon Detachment, all the others being named ‘R.E.’

Runyard is noted on the roll as servant to Major Templar, commanding the Balloon detachment, so it is probable that Paton, whose name is spelled 'Payton' on the roll, was servant to Lieutenant Mackenzie, the only other officer and the one who actually ascended in the balloon.