Description Egypt Medal, undated, bar Gemaizah 1888, 944 Pte J. Watson, King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Officially engraved: “944 Pte. J. Watson. 2/K.O. Sco: Bord:” Confirmed on the medal roll. The King’s Own Scottish Borderers: A Concise History, by Trevor Royle notes the following about the KOSB at the Battle: “On arriving in the area of operations, 2nd KOSB joined the Suakin Field Force under the command of Major-General Sir Francis Grenfell and immediately deployed to the Red Sea port of Suakim in December 1888. The battalion was soon in action with the Dervishes, as the Khalifa’s followers were called. Still wearing their red tunics the men of 2nd KOSB were conspicuous and offered easy targets as they constructed a defensive position out of thorn bushes known as a zariba. Happily the dervishes had removed the backsights fro their weapons in the mistaken belief that they were a hindrance and the battalion suffered few casualties as a result. After the Battle of Gemaiza (the name of the southern defensive position) Grenfell reported that never before he had ‘a more handy, intelligent battalion’ under his command. Despite the setback at Gemaizah the Khalifa pushed ahead with plans to invade Egypt and was eventually defeated decisively at the Battle of Toski in August 1889.” The Force at the Battle of Gemaizah consisted of: Royal Navy 20th Hussars 2nd King’s own Scottish Borderers 1st Battalion Welch Regiment 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles. The Battle of Suakin (also known as the Battle of Gemaizah), occurred on 20 December 1888 during the Mahdist War, when General Francis Grenfell defeated a Mahdist (Often called Dervishes by Europeans), force near Suakin, a chief port of Sudan. 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. General Kitchener was present, commanding an Egyptian Army brigade comprising Sudanese troops, this being the first battle where units of the Egyptian Army played a significant part since its reform by the British. They performed well in battle, enhancing the reputation of both the reformed Egyptian Army and of General Kitchener. In the battle, three of the swords of the 20th Hussars broke short, an incident which later caused debate in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
