Auction Catalogue

29 June 2006

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 943 x

.

29 June 2006

Hammer Price:
£2,700

Three: Major-General T. F. D. Bridge, Colonel Commandant Royal Marines, who captured a rebel standard at McNeill’s Zareba

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (Captn. T. F. D. Bridge, R.M.L.I.) impressed naming; Coronation 1902, silver; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, minor contact marks, otherwise good very fine (3) £800-1000

Thomas Field Dunscomb Bridge was born on 11 June 1847, the son of the Venerable Archdeacon Bridge, of Saint John’s, Newfoundland. Educated at Saint John’s and the Lycées of Caen and Honfleur, he entered the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1866. He served in the campaign in the Eastern Sudan in 1884-85, as Adjutant of the Royal Marine Battalion in the 2nd Brigade under Major-General Sir John McNeill, V.C. He took part in the defence of Suakin from May to June 1884, and from August 1884 to May 1885, in command of various Forts, and was exposed for upwards of 100 nights to the rebel’s fire. He acted as Adjutant to the R.M. Battalion during the active operations in the Sudan, and was present at the actions of Hashees, 20th March, and at McNeill’s Zareba, 22nd March, on which occasion he captured an Arab standard. He was also present during the attack on the square of Marines and Guards, 24th March, by followers of the Mahdist and participated in the capture and burning of Tamaai (mentioned in Sir G. Graham’s final despatch to Lord Wolseley, 30 May 1885; brevet of Major).

On return to the United Kingdom in 1885, he was posted to the Chatham Division as an Instructor in Gunnery. Promoted Major in September 1887, he was appointed Commandant of the Musketry Depot at Gravesend from June 1890 to June 1892. Employed on recruiting service at Salisbury, September 1894, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1895 and brevet Colonel in May 1899. Appointed A.D.C. to the Queen in October 1900, and reappointed on her death as A.D.C. to King Edward VII, he served in attendance at his coronation on 9 August 1902. He also served as A.D.C. in Waiting to His Majesty on board the
Victoria and Albert on the occasion of the Coronation Naval Review and as A.D.C. to His Majesty during the Royal Progress through the City of London, 25 October 1902. Promoted Colonel Commandant Royal Marines, Deal, in October 1902, he retired on 2 October 1905 with the honorary rank of Major-General. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and of the Royal Historical Society, he resided in London and died on 3 August 1934.