DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, VR, ‘CR SERGT. G. ROBINSON. 2/HIGH: L. INF 13TH SEPT 1882’, EGYPT 1882-89, DATED REVERSE, CLASP, TEL-EL-KEBIR, ‘1834 CR SERGT G. ROBINSON 2/HIGH. L.I.’, ARMY LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, VR, ‘1834 CR. SG G. ROBINSON. HIGH: L.I.’, KHEDIVES STAR, DATED 1882, UNNAMED AS ISSUED.
D.C.M. Submitted to the Queen, 28 March 1883. The reason for his award taken from the Weekley Dispatch, 22 April 1883:
“..On the night preceding the battle of Tel-El-Kebir, after seeing everything was alright in the rear, he took his rifle and volunteered to go forward. This he did and behaved with distinguished bravery while engaging the enemy in the trenches.”
George Robinson, an 18 year old clerk from Kensington, London and attested for service in the 64th Foot at Westminster City Police Court on 11 July 1867. Serving in the Mediterranean from December that year, he was promoted Corporal on 16 August 1869, he transferred to the 74th Foot (Highland Light Infantry) as a Private on 29 February 1872. Continuing service with the 74th in the Mediterranean, he was promoted Corporal on 31 March 1876. Just three months later he was promoted Lance Sergeant and to Sergeant on 1 October 1876. Between 2n December 1876 and 22 January 1880, he served with China Command, having re-engaged in September 1878 to complete 21 years’ service and being appointed Colour Sergeant on 10 March 1879. After a period of Home Service, on 8 July 1882, Robinson embarked with his regiment for active service during the Egyptian campaign, taking part in the battle of Tel-El-Kebir, 13 September 1882. Here, the Highland Light Infantry formed part of the Highland Brigade during their famed charge of the Egyptian redoubts. During the attack, the Highland Light Infantry suffered the brunt of the casualties, 80 Officers/men being killed or wounded and 5 missing. This during some severe hand to hand fighting with the best troops of the Egyptian Army. Indeed, overall British casualties were 457 making the HLI’s 19% of the overall total.
https://www.britishbattles.com/war-in-egypt-and-sudan/battle-of-tel-el-kebir/
Colour sergeant Robinson was in the thick of the action and was decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the only soldier of the regiment to be so awarded. The Weekley Dispatch, reporting:
“BRAVERY AT TEL-EL-KEBIR. Devenport Friday Night.
An interesting ceremony took place at Mount Wise, Devenport this morning. The Regiments in garrison – the Highland Light Infantry, the Royal Marines, the Due of Cornwall’s Regiment and the South Lancashire Regiment, assembled on parade specially for the presentation to Colour-sergeant Robertson, of the Highland Light Infantry, of a medal for distinguished conduct in the recent war in Egypt. There was a large concourse of the general public present. Major General Sayer, commanding the western district, in making the presentation, said Robertson had performed the duties of quarter-master sergeant, making himself very conspicuous by the way he carried them out. On the night preceding the battle of Tel-El-Kebir, after seeing everything was alright in the rear, he took his rifle and volunteered to go forward. This he did and behaved with distinguished bravery while engaging the enemy in the trenches. He hoped Robertson would live long to wear his medal, which the general then pinned on his breast. Robertson was then requested to go to the saluting point with General Sayer, the bands massed and the regiments marched past the saluting point..”
Declining a Commission for his gallantry at Tel-El-Kebir, he was awarded the distinguished conduct medal in its place. According to The London and China Express, 27 April 1883……..
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A photograph of Colour Sergeant Robinson, along with 10 other men from the HLI taken at Cairo in 1882, is held in the Royal Collection:
Condition; general contact wear with naming a little weak around 4 and 9 o’clock, however far better than most similar groups. Sold with copy service papers and extract from Regimental history, also some digital research, including an OMRS article of DCM’s for this campaign.
A fine and rare Highland Brigade Tel-El-Kebir DCM group with only 17 awards for the Egyptian campaign, just 11 for Tel-El-Kebir, 5 of these to Highlanders.