The following were engaged at Toski: 98 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the 20th Hussars, and Egyptian troops.
Tokar.—The battle of Tokar was fought in 1890, but the British silver medal was not awarded for this engagement. The Egyptian Government, however, issued a bar inscribed in Arabic characters "Tokar" and "1308 H" (TOKAR 1890), to be worn with the Egyptian Star, which, except for variations in the date, had been awarded to all who took part in the campaigns. Officers and men from the "Dolphin" and "Sandfly" received this star and British officers who were serving with the Egyptian Army.
The Khedive's Star.—For the first campaign the Star bears in Arabic and English EGYPT 1882; for the campaigns of 1884 and 1885 EGYPT 1884-6; but for the campaigns 1888-9, which include the fighting round Suakin and up the Nile, the Star was issued without a date.
Riel's Rebellion.—Whilst we were busy in Egypt, "Riel's Rebellion" was engineered in 1885 among the half-breeds and Indians on the North-West Territories. It was a nine-days' wonder, but nevertheless a troublesome one. Riel was attacked at Batoche on May 11th, defeated by General Middleton, and after trial executed.
By Militia General Orders dated September 18th, 1885, the Canadian troops which took part in suppressing the rebellion were awarded a medal inscribed on the reverse in fancy letters NORTH-WEST CANADA 1885, the date being placed in the centre, with North-West above and Canada below, and the whole surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves, the terminals of which are at the bottom of the medal. The obverse is the same as the Egyptian 1882 medal, and the bar similar to that used with that medal. One bar for SASKATCHEWAN was issued with the medal to those who took part in that engagement. The medals were issued unnamed, but they are found both engraved and impressed; the ribbon is blue-grey, with two red stripes.
The Canada Medal.—In January 1899 the Home Government approved of the issue of a medal by the Canadian Government to the Imperial Forces and Canadian Militia which had taken part in the campaigns occasioned by the Fenian Raids, and in the Red River expedition, 1870, so ably organised by Viscount Wolseley. This medal, which I illustrate facing page [148], had the recipient's name and regimental number, as well as the regiment, generally impressed in square block letters. The obverse is as on the Egyptian 1882 medal. The ribbon is of scarlet, with a broad white stripe down the centre. When the medals were struck in 1899, 16,120 were issued; of these only 365 had the single bar for RED RIVER; 150 were issued with the two bars FENIAN RAID 1866 and RED RIVER 1870; 30 only were issued with the combination of RED RIVER 1870 and FENIAN RAID 1870, and twenty with three bars for FENIAN RAID 1866, FENIAN RAID 1870, and RED RIVER 1870.
Annexation of Burma.—Britain also became involved in another Burmese War while the Egyptian campaigns were proceeding. King Theebaw, who commenced his reign in a murderous manner, impelled by the financial straits into which his extravagance had led him, began to extort money from British subjects, and moreover laughed at the demand that a British agent should be installed at Mandalay, expressing his contempt for the "barbarians" in a very decided and provocative manner. As a result an expedition under Major-General (afterwards Sir H. N. D.) Prendergast, V.C., was sent into the country; the dethronement of the King was declared by the British, Minhla was stormed and carried, and the victorious troops marched to Mandalay, where Theebaw and his army surrendered. On January 1st, 1886, Lord Dufferin proclaimed the annexation of Burma. The British troops had plenty of work, however, after this, for the dacoits gave a deal of trouble; several pitched battles were fought, and the country remained in an unsettled state for some time. Medals and bars were given for two periods during this expedition and long-drawn guerilla warfare. For the first period the Indian General Service Medal 1854 was awarded, with a bar inscribed BURMA 1885-87, and it is noteworthy that for the first time a medal of bronze was given to all authorised camp followers. To those who took part in the second period of fighting a bar for BURMA 1887-89 was awarded; the bars only, in both instances, being given where the soldier already possessed the medal.
The following regiments took part in the Burma campaign, 1885-7: Royal West Surrey Regiment; Liverpool Regiment; Somerset Light Infantry; Royal Welsh Fusiliers; Hampshire Regiment; Yorkshire Light Infantry; Royal Munster Fusiliers; 1st Battery 1st Brigade East Division; 5th Battery 1st Brigade South Division; 7th Battery 1st Brigade North Division; 8th Battery 1st Brigade London Division; 9th Battery 1st Brigade Cinque Ports Division Artillery. The following native regiments were also engaged: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 26th, 27th, 44th Bengal Infantry; 3rd, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th Madras Infantry; 1st Madras Pioneers; 1st, 5th, 7th, 23rd, 25th, 27th Bombay Infantry; 3rd Goorkas; 2nd and 3rd Infantry Hyderabad Contingent; 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th Companies Madras Sappers and Miners; 2nd, 4th, and 5th Companies Bengal Sappers and Miners; 2nd Company Bombay Sappers; 1st Madras and 1st Bombay Lancers; 2nd Squadron 2nd Madras Cavalry; 3rd Cavalry Hyderabad Contingent; 7th Bengal Cavalry; No. 1 Bombay Mountain Battery; No. 4 Punjab Mountain Battery.
Naga, 1879-80.—To those engaged in the operations against the Nagas, an uncivilised race of hillmen in the north-east of Assam, during March 1875, December 1879, and January 1880, a bar inscribed NAGA 1879-80 was awarded. Only British officers and native troops received this medal or bar, and it has so far been seldom met with in England. The medals realise in the sale-room, according to condition, anything between 10s. and 30s. apiece.
The Naga expeditionary force comprised the 42nd, 43rd, and 44th Goorkas; 18th Bengal Native Infantry, with the crews of two mountain guns.