Orders, Decorations and Medals

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (2), (Mr. D. J. Ross; Mr. J. Ross) the first with some pitting, nearly very fine, the second good very fine, very rare (2) £400-500

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

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Mr John Ross and Mr D. J. Ross are show on the Admiralty roll of civilian recipients, bracketed together as “Merchants of Alexandria”, the only civilians so described (WO 100/61).

In his letter ‘Reporting Civilians entitled to War Medal with their Services’, Captain R. H. M. Molyneux, R.N., stated “Mr John Ross, Contractor to the Fleet - volunteered on the night of the 12th July during the conflagration at Alexandria to enter the town and ascertain the exact state of affairs. This he did and brought a valuable report back about 3 a.m. on the 13th.”

Lord Charles Beresford later recorded in his Memoirs: ‘I had special reason to be grateful to Mr John Ross, a British merchant of Alexandria who gave me every assistance in his power. He knew every yard of the place. He gave me invaluable advice with regard to the organisation of the city, obtained interpreters, and helped to supply the troops, placing his stores at my disposal. He would have dispensed with receipts for articles supplied, had I not insisted upon his taking them. Mr Ross supplied the whole Fleet with coal, fresh meat, and all necessaries; his help was quite inestimable, his energy and patriotism beyond praise; but although he must have suffered considerable losses, he received no recognition of any kind from the Government except the naval medal.’