Description
Khedives Star, undated, bar Tokar, the rare clasp awarded for the 1891 battle again the Mahdi’s Force under Osman Digna.
The undated variety of the Khedive’s Star was awarded for service on operations between 1887 to 1891, mainly near Suakin and along the Nile.
It could rarely be awarded with this single clasp reading “Tokar” in Arabic, for service at the Battle of Tokar fought on 19th February 1891.
The following account of the battle was published in many newspapers around the world at the time:
“Tokar, Sunday.
The following is a detailed account of the fighting on the 19th inst:-Owing to intelligence received on Wednesday that the enemy intended to attack the Egyptian force while it was advancing to Tokar, Colonel Holled Smith resolved to lose no time, and accordingly started at daybreak on the following morning from El Teb, the cavalry leading the advance, under the command of Captain Beach. Major Wingate, as staff-officer, directed the march.
The cavalry drove in the enemy’s mounted scouts, and reached Tokar at ten o’clock in the morning. The infantry arrived twenty minutes later. At the same time the enemy was seen advancing rapidly in a semi-circle through the thick bush. Their presence was only shown by an occasional glimpse of moving men, and by the large banners waving above the bush, while the hills, a mile distant, were covered with their reserves. There was not a moment to be lost.
Colonel Holled Smith, rapidly taking in the situation, disposed his troops in the following manner:—The 4th Battalion, under Capt Hackett Pain, lined the ruined bridges on the right; the 11th, commanded by Capt MacDonald, occupied the left of the position; while the 12th, under Capt Besart, had previously moved up to cover the front on the left of the 4th Battalion. The troops took up their position at the double. The water and ammunition were borne by camels and mules, which under the management of Capt Machel, of the Staff, were massed together at the north end of the village, the cavalry being stationed near them.
It was now a race between the troops and the dervishes for possession of the few houses lying outside the general line of defence. One company of the 12th, under Capt Martyr, dashed forward and seized a small house just in front. This momentarily checked the dervish advance, and the troops were able to pour a withering fire into the midst of the enemy, of whom upwards of a hundred fell within a few yards of the building. This company then fell back slowly into the general line.
The enemy were now enveloping our entire fighting line, and gradually outflanking us, whilst their horsemen, under Osman Naib, dashing round to the right flank, threatened our rear—an extended position, weakly held, and hampered by the transport animals. The 11th, bringing up their reserve, checked the turning movement on the left, accounting for considerable numbers of the enemy.
The situation was now for a moment critical, but this battalion, advancing rapidly some 500 yards, cleared the front, carried the ruined houses in succession, inflicting great loss on the enemy, and then took up a position on the rising ground. It was during this advance that Capt Barrow, who was with the 12th Battalion acting as a Brigade-major, fell. He was shot through the body, and died almost instantly.
It is noted as a curious coincidence that Tokar was retaken and the Egyptian flag was again set flying over the ruined Government buildings on the anniversary of the fall of Tokar seven years ago.”
