The Queen's Sudan Medal was authorised in March 1899 and awarded to British and Egyptian forces which took part in the
Sudan campaign
The Mahdist War ( ar, الثورة المهدية, ath-Thawra al-Mahdiyya; 1881–1899) was a war between the Mahdist Sudanese of the religious leader Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who had proclaimed himself the "Mahdi" of Islam (the "Guided On ...
between June 1896 and September 1898.
The campaign reflected the British desire to reverse the defeats of the
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War ( ar, الثورة المهدية, ath-Thawra al-Mahdiyya; 1881–1899) was a war between the Mahdist Sudanese of the religious leader Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, who had proclaimed himself the "Mahdi" of Islam (the "Guided On ...
in the 1880s, as well as concern that France and other European powers would take advantage of Sudan's instability to acquire parts of its territory. Initially only the Egyptian Army was engaged. British Army units joined from early 1898, with two British brigades being present at the decisive victory at
Omdurman
Omdurman (standard ar, أم درمان ''Umm Durmān'') is a city in Sudan. It is the most populated city in the country, and thus also in the State of Khartoum. Omdurman lies on the west bank of the River Nile, opposite and northwest of the ...
on 2 September 1898, in which
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 187424 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 Winston Churchill in the Second World War, dur ...
took part. Seventeen members of the Royal Navy and 27 Royal Marines who helped man the Nile gunboats also received the medal.
[
The medal was awarded in silver to soldiers of the British and Egyptian armies, and in bronze to a small number of non-combatants, comprising authorised followers, officers’ servants and grooms from the Indian Army.
All recipients of the Queen's Medal also received the Khedive's Sudan Medal.
]
Description
* A circular medal, in diameter, designed by G. W. de Saulles.[
* Obverse: a half length crowned figure of ]Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
with the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX.
* Reverse: a plinth inscribed SUDAN supported by Nile lilies, where a figure of victory sits holding a laurel wreath and a palm branch. Behind her are the British and Egyptian flags.[
* Naming: the recipient's name and details were engraved on the edge. Those awarded to Egyptian and Sudanese troops were named in ]Arabic script
The Arabic script is the writing system used for Arabic and several other languages of Asia and Africa. It is the second-most widely used writing system in the world by number of countries using it or a script directly derived from it, and the ...
, with some awarded unnamed.[
]
References
External links
North East Medals
{{British campaign medals
British campaign medals