About the product

Egypt Pair El Teb Tamaai York Lancs pair

Egypt Medal, undated, bar El-Teb_Tamaai, Khedive’s Star, 1884, impressed naming on reverse, 1450 Pte John Spiller, 1st Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regiment.

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SKU: J6218 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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Description

Egypt Medal, undated, bar El-Teb_Tamaai, Khedive’s Star, 1884, impressed naming on reverse, 1450 Pte John Spiller, 1st Battalion Yorks and Lancs Regiment.

 

John Spiller was born in the Parish of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, Somerset during 1848.

 

When he was 18 and working as a Printer, he enlisted for service on 16th November 1866 and served at home before embarking for the “East Indus” on 10th January 1871.
He then was moved to Sudan for the Egyptian War on 28th February 1884, where he served until 21st April 1884, taking part in the First Battle of El-Teb on 29th February 1884, the premier Battle in Sudan, followed by the Battle of Tamaai on 13th March 1884.

 

During the battle the 1st Bn Yorks and Lancs stood in the left flank of the British infantry square, the British force stood with 3,342 infantry, gunners and sappers with 864 cavalry and 28 guns. The Mahdist Army’s size is unknown but was likely around 15,000 tribesmen and defected Egyptian troops fighting under Osman Digna, commander of the Mahdist forces.

 

He returned home and served from 22nd April 1884 until 22nd October 1887 when he was discharged.

 

Spiller appears to be a very old name in Taunton.