35th Royal Sussex Regt. Nile Expedition 1884-85

[Johno]

Hello, can anyone advise the best (most detailed) source material for the Royal Sussex Regiments' involvement in the Gordon Relief Expedition? In particular I'm looking for a full list of B, C, G and F Companies with the names of the Privates, listing the Companies they were in. Many thanks, John.

[Mark A. Reid]

Hello John;

If you live in the UK, I would suggest contacting the West Sussex Records Office and making an appointment to consult the regimental archives of the Royal Sussex Regt. Although I live in Canada, I have found them to be most helpful in the past.

Regarding company nominal rolls, you may not have much luck. These were pretty ephemeral documents, subject to constant change, and not the sort of lists that would tend to be saved. Perhaps battalion or company muster rolls might still exist but that would probably necessitate a trip to The National Archives at Kew. Medal rolls for the Nile Campaign would list everyone from the battalion who was entitled to the medal and/or clasps but they don't usually list people by their parent company. Again, TNA would be the starting point for the medal rolls, if you don't have access to Ancestry.uk.com.

Company rolls sound like a pretty esoteric topic, do you mind if I ask why you want to establish the names of men by their company? No ulterior motive, just curious. Good luck with the research!

Mark

[Johno]

Hello Mark,
my apologies in the long delay responding. My laptop took a dislike to me for some reason. I have a keen interest in this particular campaign, and also I am slowly building a collection of Egypt medals that reflect all the major campaigns between 1882-1889. (The emphasis is on slowly given the prices). In fact I only have two other Egypt medals. I'm currently amassing a fighting fund for a Nile 1884-85/Abu Klea clasp medal, these being the most expensive of the lot. I was looking at perhaps one awarded to a soldier of the Royal Sussex Rgt, as they were quite prominant at Abu Klea and some of whom traveled almost to the outskirts of Khartoum. So I just wanted to be sure of the Companies they were in, I think members of G Company were on the Steamers that travelled down to the outskirts.

I have a specific interest in the Nile campaign as I believe I have an ancestor who was at Abu Klea, (though not in the Sussex Regt.) I haven't done a family tree but going on word of mouth passed down. If the Berkshire's were involved then I'd plumb for one of them, however failing that then I prefer a medal to an Irish recipient whichever regt served. However I'm mindful of the prices of these Abu Klea medals so I'm adjusting my expectations. I'm currently reading up on this campaign (again), a thoroughly good read.

Best regards, john.

[Mark A. Reid]

Hello John;

My condolences on your computer woes, and thanks for the account of your collecting theme. I understand completely, I bought my first Egypt Medal in 1967 and haven't stopped since, although prices have increased just a little! I think a lot of Forum Members share a fascination for these hard-fought campaigns.

You probably already know this but, Henry Keown-Boyd's book A Good Dusting, contains a list of 20 men of C Coy, 1st Bn. Royal Sussex Regt. who manned the two steamers that attempted to relieve Khartoum on 28 January 1885. Among the credits he mentions the Records of the Royal Sussex Regt. and I presume he would have consulted them at some point. Jack Webb's excellent book The Abu Klea Medal Rolls lists those members of the regiment who served " Up the Nile, " and he gives the following figures;

8 x Officers and 247 Men at Abu Klea
2 x Oficers and 25 Men at Abu Klea with the Mounted Infantry Camel Regt.

If you would like any further information on these two sources then please send me a private message and we can discuss through regular email. Good luck with your hunt for a good medal with the Abu Klea clasp, they are out there!

Cheers,

Mark

[Mike Skeet]

Hello All.
Found this forum whilst researching my family tree, in particular, my grandfather, who served in the Royal Sussex Regiment.

His record may be of interest: Joseph Henry Bennett No. 908
He enrolled, aged 19 years, on 23rd June 1882 at Chichester.
Posted to Egypt 10th November 1882
Returned home 12th September 1885
Discharged (12 years service) 22nd June 1894

He took part in the Nile Expedition 1884/5. Is shown as wounded In Square at Abu Klea. No details are shown of effects of the
wounds or treatment received. So it is presumed there were slight.

Medals awarded were: Nile Expedition.
Clasp for Abu Klea.
Khadives Bronze Star

After discharge, he married, and worked as a plasterer until his death in 1921, at East Sheen, London SW14. He died 11 years
before my birth in 1932, so I didn't know him. My mother spoke very fondly of him. She had no knowledge of his Army career,
but said that he could not accept anyone wasting water, even a dripping tap!

We have never had any knowledge of his medals, but perhaps they are out there somewhere.
There is also no record of his battalion or company.

Hope that this info' may be of interest.

Kind regards, Mike