THE FINE SUAKIN 1885 AND BURMA GROUP TO AN OFFICER OF THE BERKSHIRE REGIMENT, WHOSE LIFE WAS SAVED AT THE BATTLE OF TOFREK BY THE GALLANTRY OF A NATIVE OFFICER OF THE 15TH SIKH’S. LATER TRANSFERRING TO THE INDIAN ARMY, HE AND HIS COMMANDING OFFICER WERE MURDERED BY A NATIVE OFFICER IN BURMA ON 11 FEBRUARY 1891

EGYPT AND SUDAN 1882-89, DATED REVERSE, 2 CLASPS, SUAKIN 1885, TOFREK ‘LIEUT: E. W. JAMIESON. 1/BERKS: R.’, INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1842-1895, 1 CLASP, BURMA 1885-7 ‘LIEUT. E. W. JAMIESON 17TH MADRAS INFY.’, KHEDIVE'S STAR 1884, UNNAMED AS ISSUED

Edmund Walter Jamieson was born in Scotland on 31 March 1862, the son of James and Hannah Jamieson of Queenstown, Ireland. The elder Jamieson was a Quartermaster with the 96th Foot and the young Jamieson was baptised at the Military Chapel, Keiiskama Hoek, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His father applied for the Queen's Indian Cadetship for him at Sandhurst and was accepted, with the Jamieson joining as a Gentleman Cadet on 3 April 1881.

EGYPT 1882 AND THE BATTLES OF HASIN AND TOFREK 1885

Commissioned Lieutenant with the 1st Battalion, Berkshire Regiment on 10 May 1882 he was posted to Egypt just two months later, disembarking at Alexandria on 27 July 1882. They were present at Kafr-ed-Daur during the British invasion and as such were not present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir. Despite that they did see action several times through August 1882.

With the British victorious at Tel-el-Kabir, they found themselves committed to Egypt and Sudan. When a Dervish army threatened Suakin an expedition under General Graham sailed to intercept them. The Berkshire's landed on 30 January 1885 and went into action two months later at Hashin, storming Dihilbat Hill, driving the Dervishes back. After the action Graham ordered a column under General McNeill to Tofrek where they were to construct a zariba fence and create a supply post for the British march on Tamaai.

Unfortunately, the Dervishes were not content to wait for the British to march on them and instead attacked McNeill's force. Half of the Battalion were stationed in the South-Western Redoubt and rest were further north and east of the zariba, outside the defences, when suddenly a patrol of lancers came in reporting a large enemy force on their heels. Lieutenant Jamieson, with a small group of soldiers, was one of those caught outside the Redoubt at this point. Pursued by Dervish who were hot on their heels, their lives were saved by the gallantry of a Native Officer of the 15th Sikh’s. The incident is related to in ‘The Battle of Tofrek’ by Galloway, Jamieson erroneously noted as a Captain……………………

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Condition light contact wear and tiny EK to first, attractive patina, overall GVF. Sold with a fair quantity of copied research comprising Gazette entries, census data and application for cadetship as well as statement of service, correspondence relating to the recipient's family history, army lists and an article entitled ‘Sudden Death in a Burmese Paradise’.

A fine group and scarce group of medals, with Tofrek clasped medals to officers of the Berkshires rarely appearing on the market.