Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Nile Expedition casualty group of three to Private R. Blake, 94th Regiment

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (1304 Pte. R. Blake, 94th Foot); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 2 clasps, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (1304 Pte. R. Blake, Conn. Rangs.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, minor edge bruising to the second, otherwise extremely fine (3) £2000-2500

Ex Payne Collection 1911. The following biographical details are taken from Dr Payne’s published catalogue:

‘Private R. Blake was the son of Robert Blake, of the 9th Foot. He embarked for South Africa with the above regiment [94th Foot] on the S.S. China, on the 26th February, 1879; went through the Zulu campaign, including the battle of Ulundi, 4th July, 1879, Commander Lord Chelmsford; also the capture of Sekukuni’s stronghold on the 28th November, 1879, Commander Sir Garnet (now Lord) Wolseley. After serving at various small stations in Africa, he marched from Lydenberg with the 94th, under Lieutenant-Colonel Anstruther, Commanding, when on their way to Pretoria they were attacked by the Boers, on the 20th December, 1880, at Brunker’s Spruit. There were 250 British before the attack, and when it ended “all the Officers were wounded, between thirty and forty men were killed, and between seventy and eighty wounded.” (Kindly communicated by Capt. H. F. N. Jourdain, 1st Connaught Rangers.)

‘On returning with the regiment from South Africa in April, 1882, Private Blake was quartered at the Curragh for a short time, until proceeding on detachment with his master, Lieutenant (now Colonel) John Hasluck Campbell, whose servant he was, to Haulbowline. The regiment then went to Fermoy till the end of 1883. In September, 1884, he was one of the 24 non-commissioned officers and men selected for the Mounted Infantry, under the command of Lieut. Coldstream James Carden, 94th Foot (2nd Connaught Rangers), to proceed to Egypt to take part in the relief of General Gordon. He acted as servant to Lieut. Carden from the time of leaving England till he was wounded at Gubat. In a letter received from Capt. Carden he states: “It was while we were halted on our way to the Nile, two days after Abu Klea, that he was hit. He was close to me, firing over a biscuit-box, when he received a bullet wound through the top of his head, and he just fell forward without a groan. He was brought down to the Nile the following day, but never recovered consciousness. The brain could be seen where the bullet entered, and the doctor said it was hopeless from the first. He was buried on the banks of the Nile at Gubat. A better soldier never stepped.” (Information received from Capt. C. J. Carden, 2nd Connaught Rangers.)