Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-1885, undated reverse, 1 Clasp: Gamaizah 1888, awarded to Private Joseph Morgan, 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment. Morgan from Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales, was present out in the Sudan during the Mahdist War and was present at the Battle of Gemaizah on 20th December 1888. He was transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1893, only to die in the following month from a heart attack whilst at the Cork Workhouse in Cork, Ireland.
Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-1885, undated reverse, 1 Clasp: Gamaizah 1888; (1119. PTE. J. MORGAN. 1/WELCH R.)
Condition: very light contact pitting from Khedive’s Star, Good Very Fine.
Joseph Morgan was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales, and having worked as a labourer, then attested for service with the British Army at Cardiff on 16th April 1885, joining as a Private (No.1119) the Welch Regiment. Despite having claimed the benefit of a Queen’s Pardon for having confessed his offence to an officer, Morgan was tried and imprisoned for being drunk on duty on 31st August 1886, and having been released from prison and retuned to duty on 26th October 1886, was then posted with the 1st Battalion out to Egypt from 23rd December 1886.
As such Morgan was then present out in the Sudan during the Mahdist War and at the Battle of Gemaizah on 20th December 1888. This action is also known as the Battle of Suakin. The Mahdist force, under Osman Digna, had advanced on Suakin with an intention to invest it. From Suakin, General Grenfell launched a sortie against the Mahdists who were attempting to capture the Water Forts. After one and a half hours of fighting, the casualties were 12 on the Anglo- Egyptian side and 1,000 on the side of the Mahdists. After this, the Mahdists withdrew, removing any threat to Suakin.
Morgan was posted with his Battalion to Malta from 29th August 1889, before being posted home on 28th March 1893, and was then transferred to the Army Reserve on 6th April 1893. He however died from heart attack whilst at the Cork Workhouse on 2nd May 1893.
