Lot Archive

Lot

№ 203

.

5 December 2008

Hammer Price:
£1,300

Pair: Corporal E. Paess, Army Post Office Corps

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (7 Corpl. E. Paess, A.P.O. Corps); Khedive’s Star 1882, very light pitting from star, otherwise good very fine (2) £300-350

2 officers and 43 other ranks of the Army Post Office Corps were present in Egypt in 1882; 1 officer and 20 other ranks were present at Suakin in 1885; 1 officer and 9 other ranks were present in both campaigns. The Army Post Office Corps was formed from volunteers from the 24th Middlesex (Post Office) Volunteer Rifles.

Major E. Gambier Parry noted in his account of the Suakin operations, that ‘When the detachment of the Post-Office Volunteers arrived, everything was very well managed, and much of the previous inconvenience as well as risk of losing letters, both going and coming, was avoided.