The emotive Egypt and Sudan campaign medal to Corporal John McIntosh, of the Royal Horse Guards, who was killed at Abu Klea after he dashed out from the square to the aid of his regimental hero, Colonel Fred Burnaby, as he fought his last fight alone

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (1076 Pte. J. McIntosh, Rl. H. Gds.) pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Egypt and Sudan Medals 1882-1891 from the Collection of Jack Webb.

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6 officers and 45 other ranks of the Royal Horse Guards served in the Heavy Cavalry Regiment on the Nile, of whom 3 officers and 43 other ranks fought at Abu Klea.

The Royal Horse Guards had two men killed at Abu Klea; their Colonel, Fred Burnaby, and Corporal J. McIntosh. The circumstance of their deaths is briefly told by Henry Keown-Boyd in A Good Dusting:

‘Burnaby too had decided it was “officers to the front”. Early in the battle and after giving his near fatal orders, he charged out of the square on Moses, a pony borrowed from Lieutenant Marling VC, and engaged in single combat with a mounted dervish who was soon joined by others. Burnaby was fatally speared in the throat but fought on and Corporal McIntosh of the Blues, unable to stand and watch while his regimental hero fought his last fight alone, dashed from the ranks and plunged his bayonet into one of Burnaby’s assailants only to be cut down and speared to death himself. By the time others reached him Burnaby was beyond aid.’