Description
Khedive’s Sudan Medal, bar Khartoum, Private Edward Desmond, Grenadier Guards, a Welshman from Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais, Wales.
Neat impressed naming: “Pte E. Desmond. Gren. Gds.”
Edward Desmond was born during 1874 in Dowlais, Methyl Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales.
Having been a member of the 3rd Battalion Welsh Regiment of Militia, he attested for full time service with the Grenadier Guards aged 22 on 24th August 1896.
He saw the following service:
Home, 24th August 1896 – 27th September 1897
Gibraltar, 29th September 1897 – 18th July 1898.
Egypt, 19th July 1898 – 7th October 1898.
Home, 8th October 1898 – 20th October 1899.
South Africa, 21st October 1899 – 21st July 1902.
Home, 22nd July 1902 – 23rd August 1908.
During his service he took part in the Nile Expedition of 1898 and fought in the war in Sudan, taking part in the Battle of Omdurman to earn the Khartoum bar to his medal.
Having been ordered to return from the reserves to fight in the Boer War, he arrived early in the war with the Guards Brigade to take part in many battles throughout the beginning of the war, being entitled to a classic 6 “Battle Bars” to his Queen’s South Africa Medal.
He is also entitled to the Queen’s Sudan Medal 1898, Queen’s South Africa, 6 bars, Belmont, Belfast, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, the King’s South Africa with 2 bars for SA 1901 and SA 1902.
On his service sheet under wounds it lists “Court of Enquiry on injuries, 7th June 1898” He was stationed in Gibraltar at the time.
