Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Egypt and Sudan campaign medal to Major W. H. Atherton, 5th Dragoon Guards, who was killed in action at Abu Klea

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Tel-El-Kebir, The Nile 1884-85, Abu Klea (Capt: W. Atherton. 5th Dn. Gds.) official correction to ‘5th’, some pitting from star, therefore nearly very fine £2,800-£3,400

Jack Webb Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008; purchased ex Seaby Bulletin, March 1965. Another medal named to this officer was offered by Sotheby’s in November 1984 with poor rivets and copy Abu Klea clasp (£540); also by Dix Noonan Webb in December 2002 but now with genuine clasp (£2200), and again in December 2013 (£3300). Both medals appear to be genuine issues and it is probable that the recipient received a double issue, one through the 4th D.G. and one through the 5th D.G.

4 officers and 44 other ranks of the 5th Dragoon Guards served in the Heavy Cavalry Regiment on the Nile, of whom Major Atherton and 31 other ranks fought at Abu Klea. Major Atherton and 10 men were killed in action or died of wounds, mostly when the Heavy Camel Regiment section of the square was overwhelmed.

Walter Hyde Atherton was commissioned Lieutenant in the 5th Dragoon Guards on 2 December 1874, and became Captain on 27 August 1879. He was attached to the 4th Dragoon Guards in Egypt 1882 and was present at the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir on 13 September 1882. Promoted to Major on 16 April 1884, Atherton commanded the 5th Dragoon Guards detachment of 31 men at the Battle of Abu Klea on 17 January 1885, during which action he was killed. Of the nine British officers killed in action at Abu Klea, seven of them belonged to cavalry regiments of the Heavy Camel Regiment, the other two serving with the Naval Brigade.