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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 116

Khedive's Star 1884-6 (Berks 1042), light edge bruise, very fine

Henry Jonas Benford was born at Spital, New Windsor on 20 January 1866, the son of Mathew and Elizabeth Benford. Enlisting at Maidenhead on 12 March 1884 he joined the 2nd Battalion, Berkshire Regiment in July and was drafted to the 1st Battalion in October 1885. Posted to Egypt on 15 October he joined his unit as they were stationed on the Frontier between Egypt and Sudan.

As the British withdrew from Sudan following the failure of the Khartoum Relief Expedition the Mahdists attempted to follow them. A large Dervish army marched into Egypt and attempted to bypass General Grenfell's troops at Wadi Halfa. The British detected them however and an Anglo-Egyptian Army marched out to face them at Ginnis, defeating them soundly.

This action halted the Mahdist advance north and they instead refocused on consolidating power in Sudan. Notably this was also the last confirmed action in which British troops went into battle wearing their red coats, switching to khaki soon after. Benford was posted to Cyprus on 1 June 1886 and remained there for two years, returning to Britain on 8 March 1892 he joined the Army Reserve on 25 March. Discharged finally on 11 March 1896 he appeared on the 1901 census as a Gardener, living at 125 Surrey Road, West Wickham, Bromley; sold together with copied research comprising census data, medal roll and service papers.

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Sold for
£70

Starting price
£30