Single Campaign Medals
In the morning of 17 January a square was formed. With uneven topography the square set off and progress was reasonably rapid. A continuous fire was directed at the square from the Ansar hidden in the long grass along their route of travel. The remorseless advance soon left the wounded falling outside the square and Sergeant Williams comments as follows: ‘... prior to the actual climax of the battle, we of the medical corps, assisted by regimental stretcher bearers had to run some distance from the halted square to bring in men who had been wounded; the dead were left where they fell. Not a pleasant job, bullets whistling around our ears like so many flies, but luckily our casualties were very few. On one occasion in particular I carried a wounded Major on my shoulders, some 100 yards from where he lay badly wounded into the square.’
Colonel Snook states that only two officers fell between the point that the square moved off until the battle's denouement. One, Lieutenant Rowland Beech was recovered to the zariba and can be ruled out making it absolutely certain that the officer that Williams brought back into the square was Lord St Vincent. The wounded could only receive fleeting and rudimentary attention and Lord St Vincent was placed into a litter or cacolet placed either side of the medical camel's back. Due to the height of the camel the cacolets were exposed to a greater degree to the incoming ansar rifle fire and it was therefore no surprise that Lord St Vincent was wounded a second time with a gun shot wound to his wrist. He did not survive the battle.
At the end of the battle Sergeant Williams and the medics were faced with the difficult task of making a thorough check amongst the Ansar dead for any remaining British wounded. They were unarmed except for a small short sword. During the course of the battle the medics picked up the weapons of dead or wounded British soldiers to protect themselves from feigning Ansar spear men. Williams records that: ‘So soon as we could pull ourselves together the work of searching the field of battle for our wounded men was undertaken. Whilst so engaged, many of the enemy lying about apparently dead made efforts to spear our men when stepping over them, even if it was their last effort in life. Consequently any Arab that showed a spark of life was shot at once. Myself had to do so dozens of times. It was a ghastly business, turning over heaps of Arabs to find one or perhaps two of our men underneath- very, very few were living.’
Sergeant Williams’ manuscript also refers to one of the more unpleasant realities which is not recorded in any other source. Lethal doses of opiates were administered by the surgeons to the most severely wounded, especially those that fell to numerous spear wounds. It is not known how many of the wounded had their passing eased in this way but Sergeant Williams records the following: ‘Whole night was so occupied burying the dead, dressing wounds, feeding and unfortunately placing by themselves officers and men who were considered past medical relief. To these a merciful drug was administered that permitted them to die in peace.’
A few days later at Abu Kru Sergeant Williams implicates Surgeon Briggs in one mercy killing which is as follows: ‘Another casualty that is worth relating occurred to an AS Corps WO well known to myself. He was in charge of ammunition well under cover, simply had to hand out boxes to troops on demand. Little or no danger had he not, in the goodness of his heart, gone out of his way to help two weary Tommies to lift a box of ammunition and received a bullet in the abdomen. Our chief medical officer (Captain Briggs) - in trouble some time later in India in connection with the Viceroy's staff – said put him away, his case is hopeless. He, poor chap, asked me what chance he had? Saying I am not afraid to die – have made my peace with God – but if it is hopeless I should like to die in peace. Here he again received a “merciful drug”, covered with a blanket and found quite dead an hour or so later with a beautiful smile on his face.’
Again Colonel Snook examines the column's returns and it leaves no doubt that Sergeant Williams is referring to Conductor of Supplies A. C. Jewell of the Commissariat and Transport Corps. However, any idea of army surgeons making any decisions with respect to “mercy killing” makes for uncomfortable reading.
At Abu Klea Sergeant Williams had a close friendship with 2445 Colour Sergeant George Kekewich, of the 1st Coldstream Guards. Kekewich had a premonition of his death but after Abu Klea he and Williams met where Williams hailed him with “there you are, alive and kicking in spite of presentiment.” The still troubled Kekewich just shook his head and made no reply. However at Abu Kru Sergeant Williams states that Kekewich was shot in the head and was among the first to be killed and caused the square to be halted.
Williams remained in Egypt until 23 June 1887, when he returned to England, and where he remained until 27 September 1895. He returned to Cairo, briefly in 1895 for 127 days before returning to England on 1 February 1896. He was promoted Staff-Sergeant 2nd class, 26 June 1887, to Staff-Sergeant 1st class, 16 March 1892, and to Sergeant-Major, 5 September 1894.
Williams’ Statement of Services records show that on 8 January 1896, he was awaiting trial on the charges of negligently carrying out instructions thereby losing money entrusted to him and the misappropriation of money. This can only mean that the offence took place in Cairo as by the date of his arrest he had not yet returned to England. He was convicted of the charges on 11 February 1896, and sentenced to be reduced to to the rank of Staff-Sergeant 1st class. More confusion exists from his medical record which shows a Court of Inquiry took place on 26 February 1896, whilst he was in hospital suffering from an ‘accidental scrape from his wife's finger’. However, his Military and History sheet clearly shows that his medals and DCM were forfeited for the period of his arrest and trial but restored on 11 February 1896.
Williams married Eliza Harriet Bedford at Homerton on 12 February 1882 and had issue four children. He was discharged on the termination of his second period of limited engagement on 27 August 1898, and died on 23 August 1946, aged 82.
Sold with a large and comprehensive file of research. 522
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (64. Pte. D. Pickard. 1/Essex R.) nearly very fine £180-£220
David Pickard was born at Shadwell, Middlesex, and attested for General Service Infantry in London on 25 November 1881. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, which he joined at Aldershot on 29 November. He served at Gibraltar from 8 July 1882 to 20 February 1884, and afterwards in Egypt until 4 July 1885, where he served with the 1st Battalion in the Nile Expedition. He was discharged at Warley on 24 November 1893, on termination of his first period of engagement.
Sold with copied discharge papers. 523 524
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (5133. Pte. W. Baskett. M.S. Corps.) extremely fine £120-£160
Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, El-Teb_Tamaai, The Nile 1884-85 (295, Pte. H. Harrold, 1/Gord: Highrs.) pitting from star, nearly very fine
£160-£200
Henry Harrold attested for the Gordon Highlanders at Chichester, Sussex, on 12 December 1881. He served with the 1st Battalion in Egypt and the Sudan, and was appointed a Drummer on 23 April 1884.
Sold with copied research.
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