Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Chief Engr. C. D. Thomas, “Ambigole”) extremely fine and rare £140-160

A number of stern paddle-wheel steamers were hired by the British Government for service as river transports on the Upper and Lower Nile during 1884 and 1885. Whilst the majority of their Officers were Europeans it appears that only the Chief Engineers were specially recommended to receive the undated medal, with the Nile clasp, in recognition of their services on the Upper Nile during the period 30 November 1885 to 11 January 1886. The War Office Medal Roll provides details of these hired vessels and lists the names of six Chief Engineers who received the medal. All three known awards have engraved details of the recipient, whereas medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines for this period are impressed.

Charles Downes Thomas entered the Royal Navy as a 2nd Class Assistant Engineer in February 1859. He was promoted to 1st Class Assistant Engineer in November 1862 and to Engineer on 4 December 1865. His first recorded ship appointment was to H.M.S. Agincourt in June 1869. In the rank of Engineer he next received the following appointments, to Peterel (March 1872), Cherub (November 1877), and Pioneer (March 1880). He was retired from the latter vessel and the service on 28 September 1882 after 17 years service. He sought civilian employment as an Engineer with Messrs. Thomas Cook and was appointed to the Nile Steamer Ambigole in 1884, and served in this vessel as Chief Engineer during 1884-85.