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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 51

(x) The well-documented pair awarded to Sergeant Farrier T. H. Birch, 19th Hussars, who was lucky to come away from the action '...when a Square formed at El Teb by cavalry and infantry was broken by the Dervishes, and it was only by chance that he was not killed'

Egypt 1882-89, dated reverse, 4 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85 (1592. Sgt. Farr. T. Birch. 19th Hussars.), private rivets between 3rd and 4th clasps, claw tightened, suspension loose; Khedive´s Star 1882, reverse impressed ´Sergt. Farrer Thos. Birch 19th Hrs. 1882´, otherwise good very fine (2)

Thomas Henry Birch was born at Hunslet, Leeds in 1868 and enlisted into the 19th Hussars in 1876. According to his obituary:

´After serving in the riots in Ireland his regiment was transferred in 1882 to Egypt...The regiment had many narrow escapes from defeat at the hands of tribesmen. Mr. Birch told how a square formed at El Teb by cavalry and infantry was broken by the Dervishes, and it was only by chance that he was not killed.'

The 19th Hussars was present at the Battle of El-Teb on 29 February where they prematurely charged a fresh Dervish force and found themselves caught in a bloody melee. It was here that Sergeant Marshall of the 19th won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in rescuing his wounded commanding officer Colonel Barrow, probably the same event quoted above. The regiment lost 2 men killed and 9 wounded in the action and the column pushed on.

They were again present at Tamaai on 13 March where General Davis' square was breached. The cavalry supported General Buller's square in driving off the Dervishes with steady gunfire, allowing the broken formation to reform. After the expedition the Regiment returned to Cairo, where they were still stationed later in the year when General Gordon assembled his force to relieve Khartoum.

Birch was discharged at Canterbury in February 1888, when he is confirmed as having been in receipt of the Queen's Medal & 4 clasps, plus his Bronze Star. He joined the Leeds Branch of the Royal British Legion and for many years was verger of St Silas's Church at Hunslet. Working for over two decades for Tannett & Walker, the local engineers, he died in 1934; sold together with recipient´s leather bound Account Book, Parchment Certificate of Discharge, and newspaper cutting of his Obituary.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480