A fine D.C.M. group of three awarded to Private Joseph Steel, 1st Royal Dragoons, for gallantry during the attack on the square at Abu Klea

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (2067 Pte. J. Steel, 1st Dragns. 17th Jan: 1885); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (2067 Pte. J. Steel, 1st Dragns.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, some light pitting, otherwise good very fine (3) £5000-6000

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

View
Collection

2 officers and 43 other ranks of the Royal Dragoons served in the Heavy Cavalry Regiment on the Nile, of whom 2 officers and 36 other ranks fought at Abu Klea.

D.C.M. recommendation submitted to the Queen, 4 February 1886 (GO 24/86). Awarded for Abu Klea, 17 January 1885. The medal was presented by the Queen at Windsor Castle on 23 February 1886, the following details being published in The Times on the following day:

‘Private Joseph Steel, 1st Dragoons, showed conspicuous gallantry during the attack on the square at Abu Klea; also great coolness and determination in going back and assisting to carry in a wounded officer.’

The following account was published in the History of the Royal Dragoons by C. T. Atkinson:

‘A Detachment at Abu Klea.... The Royals sent out 2 sergeants, 2 corporals, a trumpeter and 38 men, picked men all, under Major Gough, who had recently exchanged into the regiment from the 52nd Light Infantry, with Lt. Burns-Murdoch as his subaltern. This party, which formed part of the Heavy Cavalry Regiment, was very hotly engaged at Abu Klea (17 January, 1885) when the Soudanese managed to break into the British square and were only thrown out after a desperate hand-to-hand fight. The detachment from the Royals was at the point of the square which had to bear the brunt of the Dervish charge, and the heaviness of its casualties are some indication of the fierceness of the fighting, Major Gough and thirteen men, over a third of the party, being killed. Lt. Burn-Murdoch distinguished himself by trying to carry a wounded officer of another regiment into the square; in this he was notably assisted by Private Steele, who was rewarded with the D.C.M...’

Joseph Steel was born at Branksey, near Poole, Dorset, in May 1859. He enlisted for the 1st Dragoons in London on 1 December 1880, aged 21 years 7 months. He served in Egypt from 26 September 1884 to 15 July 1885, and was discharged on 30 November 1892, having latterly been employed as an officer’s groom. He was the only recipient of a D.C.M. in the 1st Royal Dragoons for services in Egypt and the Soudan. Sold with copy discharge papers and other research.