The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of The Sudan 1896-1956

The exceptionally rare Sudan group of five awarded to Sol Talim Khamis Effendi Mustapha, Xth Sudanese Infantry, who served during the Defence of Khartoum, gaining a “Gordon Star”, escaped, and continued to fight on the frontier until finally taking part in the recapture of Khartoum

Khedive's Star, undated, unnamed as issued; Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 8 clasps, Firket, Hafir, Sudan 1897, Abu Hamed, The Atbara, Khartoum, Gedaref, Sudan 1899, correctly named in Arabic; General Gordon's Star for the Siege of Khartoum, pewter; Egypt and Soudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888, correctly named in Arabic; Queen's Sudan 1896-98, correctly named in Arabic, all mounted for display in an old Spink case with silvered label inscribed ‘No. 501 Sol Talim Khamis Effendi Mustapha. Joined Xth Sudanese 15.2.86 Discharged 24.1.08’, a few nicks and light contact marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine (5) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of The Sudan 1896-1956.

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Mustapha obviously escaped from Khartoum when it fell in January 1885, and joined the Xth Sudanese Bn. Egyptian Army, a year later. He fought at the Battle of Gemaizah, near Suakin, in December 1888, and served with the same battalion throughout the reconquest, finally going full circle and ending up back at Khartoum with Kitchener’s victorious army. He rose to the rank of Sol Talim (Regimental Sergeant) and was granted the honorific of Effendi before his final discharge in 1908.

The so called “Gordon Star” was a locally produced decoration, sand cast from an impression of part of Gordon’s own order of the Medjidie. It was produced in pewter, silver, and gilded silver. Gordon had it made to encourage and reward defenders for services rendered during the siege, the silver gilt version is said mainly to be awarded to officers, the silver awarded to merchants who sold, or had had their stocks appropriated, to support the military, and the pewter given to soldiers for gallantry or loyalty.

Sold with a hand-made model of a soldier of the Xth Sudanese battalion wearing the 1897 style uniform as worn during the reconquest, approx. 30cm. high.