SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS x317
The highly emotive Egypt and Sudan medal awarded to Private Donald Cameron, Cameron Highlanders - “The Immortal Donald Cameron”, who was first through the trenches at Tel-El-Kebir, 13 September 1882; where he was killed by a shot to the head whilst spurring the Regiment on to victory
EGYPT AND SUDAN 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (1455. Pte. D. Cameron. 1/Cam’n. Highrs.) nearly extremely fine
£800-1200
Donald Cameron served with “E” Company, 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders at Tel-El-Kebir, 13 September 1882. At the latter action, ‘just as the Regiment reached the Egyptian trenches the enemy bugles rang out, and, in the words of the ‘narrative’ by Capt. & Adjt. K. S. Baynes, “shells screamed above, and a line of fire like a living volcano poured from the enemy’s trenches. The 79th moved steadily on in an unbroken line; not a shot was fired in reply; but on the ‘Advance’ for the Brigade being sounded by Drummer John Alcorn, D Company., Lt-Colonel Leith galloped to the front, waving his sword, crying, ‘Come on, the 79th!’ and breaking into double line, to the shrill music of the pipes, and cheering as they ran, the Regiment charged the enemy’s lines...”
When, on 21 February, 1883, the Regiment paraded for the presentation of the war medals, General Graham, the Brigade Commander, concluded his address by saying:-
“You men who have survived that gallant charge, and who are about to receive your medals, must not forget those intrepid comrades whose lives were sacrificed, and especially would I mention Private Donald Cameron, who was first into the trenches, and died shot through the head.”
“The Immortal Donald Cameron”
Cameron was ‘a big, good-natured laddie, who, had he known of the patriotic enthusiasm which his gallantry at Tel-El-Kebir aroused both in Perthshire and the world beyond, would have been embarrassed.... Donald left school early. Under his father’s supervision he began life in the peaceful calling of a farm labourer, and at the age of 16 he was a fully-fledged ploughman on the farm of Banchory, near Coupar-Angus.... But though Donald conscientiously followed in the footsteps of his father, the blood of his Highland ancestors had been stirring in his veins. His ambition had become so strong that he forsook his pastoral pursuits to become a follower of the god of war.’
He was to get his chance at Tel-El-Kebir, ‘with the Highland Division... they struck a part of the line where the enemy resistance was strongest. Here, too, a frontal attack was the only plan open to them. They rushed forward in face of a fusillade of rifle bullets. Such was the speed of their advance that they had gained the shelter of the entrenchments before the enemy riflemen could take effective aim. Once up against the enemy fortifications, however, they faltered a moment before the tremendous earthworks which had yet to be scaled.
It was a vital moment, and it produced a hero. Suddenly a solitary figure was seen silhouetted against the lightening sky - the first British soldier to scale the enemy trenches. It was 21 year old Donald Cameron. Donald, as one of his companions related... was a very strong young man. His courage was in proportion to his great physical strength. His gallant action saved the situation. With a roar of triumph his companions swarmed up the earthwork after him, and at the point of the bayonet drove the enemy from their stronghold.’
After the campaign in Egypt and Sudan ended the 79th’s Regimental Bandmaster composed a song, and named it “Donald Cameron.” A number of other poems and songs were composed in tribute to the fallen Highlander, including the following:
‘From behind the earthen rampart Sudden bursts a sheet of flame; Blow the bugles, scream the bagpipes, Forward, gallant hearts, to Fame.
Well ahead of all his comrades, Mid the shouts and whistling balls, With a bullet in his forehead, Private Donald Cameron falls!
First to gain the hostile trenches, Winner in the daring race, He hath gained a wreath immortal, Though death’s shade be on his face.
One more gallant Highland Soldier, On the Roll of Fame so long Hath inscribed his name by valour- Donald Cameron! Live in song!
Donald Cameron, in the memory Of thy Clansmen and thy Corps, May thy name be green for ever; Thou’rt not dead but gone before.
Such was the swell of patriotic pride that surrounded Cameron’s death, a memorial fund was set up by the “Peoples Journal”. Donations from all over the world were made, and a memorial was erected as a tribute to him in the churchyard at Moulin, Pitlochry.
Note that a contemporary local newspaper article was written recording the fact that Cameron’s Egypt Medal was stolen from his parent’s house. After work by the local MP, he ‘handed Cameron’s parents a new medal re-issued by authority of the War Office.’
www.dnw.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290 |
Page 291 |
Page 292 |
Page 293 |
Page 294 |
Page 295 |
Page 296 |
Page 297 |
Page 298 |
Page 299 |
Page 300 |
Page 301 |
Page 302 |
Page 303 |
Page 304 |
Page 305 |
Page 306 |
Page 307 |
Page 308 |
Page 309 |
Page 310 |
Page 311 |
Page 312 |
Page 313 |
Page 314 |
Page 315 |
Page 316 |
Page 317 |
Page 318 |
Page 319 |
Page 320 |
Page 321 |
Page 322 |
Page 323 |
Page 324 |
Page 325 |
Page 326 |
Page 327 |
Page 328 |
Page 329 |
Page 330 |
Page 331 |
Page 332 |
Page 333 |
Page 334 |
Page 335 |
Page 336 |
Page 337 |
Page 338 |
Page 339 |
Page 340 |
Page 341 |
Page 342 |
Page 343 |
Page 344 |
Page 345 |
Page 346 |
Page 347 |
Page 348 |
Page 349 |
Page 350 |
Page 351 |
Page 352 |
Page 353 |
Page 354 |
Page 355 |
Page 356 |
Page 357 |
Page 358 |
Page 359 |
Page 360 |
Page 361 |
Page 362 |
Page 363 |
Page 364 |
Page 365 |
Page 366 |
Page 367 |
Page 368 |
Page 369 |
Page 370 |
Page 371 |
Page 372 |
Page 373 |
Page 374 |
Page 375 |
Page 376 |
Page 377 |
Page 378 |
Page 379 |
Page 380
