Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 97

Abyssinia 1867 (192 T. Tribe 33rd D.W. Regt), suspension reaffixed with evidence of an old repair, very fine

Timothy Tribe was born in 1840 in Sussex and enrolled as a volunteer in the 3/Royal Surrey Militia in 1857, from which he was released the following year to enlist as a Private with the 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot. Tribe was promoted to Corporal and later to Sergeant before embarking for Abyssinia in 1867 where he saw action at the Battle of Magdala. At Magdala in April 1868, Major-General Robert Napier led British forces to free hostages held by Ethiopian Emperor Tewodros II at his capital. The Regiment led the storming of the fortress, scaling the walls to do so and opening the gate for the rest of British from the interior, with the first two members of the unit who breached the fortress awarded the Victoria Cross.

Napier reported of the battle, 'Yesterday morning (we) descended three thousand nine hundred feet to Bashilo River and approached Magdala with First Brigade to reconnoitre it. Theodore [Tewodros] opened fire with seven guns from outwork, one thousand feet above us, and three thousand five hundred men of the garrison made a gallant sortie which was repulsed with very heavy loss and the enemy driven into Magdala. British Loss, twenty wounded.'

Sold together with copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£180

Starting price
£80