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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 124

Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (3723 Pte J. Bloodworth 1st Linc. R.), sometime cleaned, contact wear and edge bruising, very fine

John George Bloodworth was born at Guide Bridge, Manchester in 1875 and enlisted on 20 November 1893 with the Lincolnshire Regiment. Posted to the 1st Battalion the next year he joined this unit with the Malta Garrison on 1 February 1895 where they remained for several years. It was not until the development of the Anglo-Egyptian Army was felt strong enough to consider an invasion of the Sudan to end the threat of the Mahdists that they headed for Egypt.

Disembarking on 4 February 1897 the 1st Battalion formed part of the British Brigade of the Anglo-Egyptian Army under the Sirdar, Herbert Kitchener. The re-conquest of the Sudan had begun the year earlier with the capture of Dongola and the army had spent much of 1917 extending the Sudan Military Railroad and consolidating in preparation for a knock-out blow the next year. The British Brigade, Major-General Gatacre joined the Egyptian Army in late February 1898, having been rushed down to the front at Berber by means of the new railroad.

With the rest of the army they advanced upon the enemies fortified camp of The Atbara river. The Mahdist Army was positioned within a zabara a thorn enclosure and the British Brigade formed the right hand portion of the assault column for its storming. Coming under a hail of fire as they advanced on the camp the Brigade stolidly went forward into it, taking the zabara by storm, Khartoum by Michael Asher refers:

'Once again, it was bayonet against sword and spear. But the quality of the British bayonets had improved in the thirteen years since et-Teb and Tamaai. For long minutes there was a bloody hand-to-hand tussle inside the zariba. The attackers were streaming into it, thousands upon thousands of men, crammed shoulder to shoulder, stabbing, thrusting, firing and gouging.'

Victory on The Atbara opened the way to Khartoum and the Khalifa himself meanwhile Bloodworth - who had come through the melee unscathed - was to join the assault. Kitchener's Army met the Khalifa's army north of Omdurman, breaking their early attacks with sustained heavy fire before advancing on the city.

Here the Lincolns distinguished themselves by advancing to the aid of MacDonald's Sudanese Brigade. A final push by previously unengaged Mahdist troops threatened the rear of this force but the Lincolns - double timing into line - first checked and then destroyed this attack with accurate volley fire.

Bloodworth survived this last action as well and was posted with the rest of the Battalion to India. Here he was appointed Drummer in 1903, remaining on the subcontinent until 27 November 1905. Returning to Britain he was discharged only two days later on 29 November 1905; sold together with a copied medal roll.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£80