Anglo-Egyptian Sudan: Sudan Defence Force Distinguished Service Medal

Obverse: The seal of the Governor General of the Sudan

Reverse: A depiction of 'General Gordon of Khartoum' mounted on a camel, wearing 'Fez'and resplendent in his full-dress uniform as 'Governor-General of the Sudan'. This was based on the iconic stature commissioned by Gordon's old corps, the Royal Engineers, who contracted Edward Onslow Ford to design and craft the statue - which process included visits to Hyde Park Zoo, including casts from a dead camel. The first casting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1890 and was then erected in Brompton Barracks near Chatham, Kent, where it remains. A second - much travelled casting - was originally unveiled in 1902 in St. Martin's Place (where the Nurse Edith Cavell statue now stands), but was shipped to Sudan in October of that year and erected in Gordon Avenue, Khartoum. Here it remained until 1958, when, rejected by the Sudanese Government after independence, it was presented by the British government to Gordon's School where, since 1959, it has been situated at the edge of the playing fields

Instituted in 1933 by the British Governor General of the Sudan, this decoration was instituted as a gallantry reward to native 'All-Ranks' of the Sudan Defence Force, it was highest decoration - and the only gallantry award available - in the unique series of awards established for the SDF

All surviving examples of the Sudan Defence Force Distinguished Medal are extremely rare. First struck at the Royal Mint in 1934, Royal Mint records show the below following numbers of medals struck for the Sudan Defence Force:

- 1934: x 10
- 1941: x 24
- 1944: x 21
- 1945: x 20

Note: The Annual Royal Mint reports for 1938 & 1939, specify that 100 & 24 medals respectively were struck for the Sudan Defence Force, however the type of award is not specified, and it is highly likely that the medals struck for the SDF in those years were mostly Officers Decorations and Long Service & Good Conduct Medals 
 
An extremely rare decoration to find on the market - only 75 x struck - and the more desirable in such choice condition
 
Condition: Toned EF

Code: 26184