Intelligence Department.
He took part in several engagements and received a Mention in Despatches
from General Graham (30 May, 1885). Most notably Brewster entered
Dervish camp alone prior to a planned attack on Saukin and convinced a
large number of the enemy to come over to the British side. These same
men later served in the capture of Tamai.
Brewster remained Director of Customs for Saukin until 1890 when he
transferred to the Coastguard Service as Secretary and Controller. He was
chosen as Private Secretary by both Khedive Mohammed Tewfik and Abbas II.
He took part in several engagements and received a Mention in Despatches
from General Graham (30 May, 1885). Most notably Brewster entered
Dervish camp alone prior to a planned attack on Saukin and convinced a
large number of the enemy to come over to the British side. These same
men later served in the capture of Tamai.
Brewster remained Director of Customs for Saukin until 1890 when he
transferred to the Coastguard Service as Secretary and Controller. He was
chosen as Private Secretary by both Khedive Mohammed Tewfik and Abbas II.
| Egypt, the Sudan, the Mediterranean and East Africa |
| Egypt & the Sudan |
| George Merhige Anglo-Egyptian Army c.1896-1899 |
| James Thompson Hague Medical Officer to the Sultan of Zanzibar c. 1880 |
| Unidentified Private Egypt c. 1882 |
| Unidentified Staff Sergeant Egypt/Sudan c. 1884-5 |
| Private George Capper Royal Marine Light Infantry c. 1880 |
| Other Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean Locations |
| Unidentified Chief Stoker Royal Navy Malta Post 1900 |
| Lieutenant Rudolph E. L. M. P. de Lisle, HMS Alexandra Killed at Abu Klea 1885. |
| Unidentified Gunner Royal Artillery Gibraltar c. 1890's |
| Unidentified Bombardier Royal Artillery Aden c. 1880's-90's |
| Unidentified Sergeant 2nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade Crete 1898 |
"Why worry? Be a coward and be happy."
from the 1939 film The Four Feathers
from the 1939 film The Four Feathers
| Unidentified Captain 2nd Battalion, The Shropshire Light Infantry Gibraltar c. 1880's |
| Charles George Gordon Governor General of the Sudan Khartoum c. 1879 |
| Sergeant-Major The King's African Rifles c.1905 |
| Unidentified Officer 1st Battalion The Berkshire Regiment c. 1885 |
Alfred Berry Brewster was born in
London on 7 November, 1856.
Brewster Bey entered Egyptian Service
in 1877 in the Customs Administration
and Coastguard Service. In 1879 he
was appointed to the position of
Director of Customs at Suakin by
General Gordon. He served in the
Commissariat staff during the
Egyptian Campaign and was awarded
the Egypt Medal w/Clasp as well as the
Khedive's Star. He returned to Suakin
and 1883 did duty in Valentine Baker
Pasha's Intelligence Department
(1884).
In 1885 he served under General
Graham at Suakin as Chief
Interpreter and Secretary to the
London on 7 November, 1856.
Brewster Bey entered Egyptian Service
in 1877 in the Customs Administration
and Coastguard Service. In 1879 he
was appointed to the position of
Director of Customs at Suakin by
General Gordon. He served in the
Commissariat staff during the
Egyptian Campaign and was awarded
the Egypt Medal w/Clasp as well as the
Khedive's Star. He returned to Suakin
and 1883 did duty in Valentine Baker
Pasha's Intelligence Department
(1884).
In 1885 he served under General
Graham at Suakin as Chief
Interpreter and Secretary to the
| Alfred Berry Brewster, Director of Customs, Suakin. in Egyptian uniform. Cabinet Photo Alexandria, Egypt August, 1891 |
| Alfred BerryBrewster Alexandria, Egypt 11 July, 1877 |
| Alfred Berry Brewster Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England 26 August, 1886 |
| Marie Cecile Brewster? Alexandria, Egypt c. 1886 |
He had a brother T. A. Brewster who was the publisher of the Port Elizabeth
Advertiser, Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony, South Africa.
Brewster was married to Marie Cecile in 1886 and had at least one child, a
daughter named Adele Cecile who married Felix Edmund Powell on 11 July 1911.
Her marriage was short with her dying in Alexandria in 1913. A biographical
sketch of Brewster was published in The Anglo-African Who's Who and
Biographical
Sketchbook (1907).
His career was highlighted in the London Gazette in 1884 when he was granted by
the Queen the right to wear the "Insignia of the Third Class of the Order of
Medjidieh". It also states that the award was for Brewster's services while
"actually
and entirely employed by His Highness [the Khedive] Beyond Her Majesties
Dominions".
He was mentioned again in 1896 when he was awarded the Order of Osmanieh of
the Third Class by the Khedive and the Sultan in Constantinople.
Mentioned once again in 1905 when as Private Secretary to the Khedive of Egypt
he was granted the Imperial Ottoman Order of Medjidieh, Grand Officer.
Advertiser, Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony, South Africa.
Brewster was married to Marie Cecile in 1886 and had at least one child, a
daughter named Adele Cecile who married Felix Edmund Powell on 11 July 1911.
Her marriage was short with her dying in Alexandria in 1913. A biographical
sketch of Brewster was published in The Anglo-African Who's Who and
Biographical
Sketchbook (1907).
His career was highlighted in the London Gazette in 1884 when he was granted by
the Queen the right to wear the "Insignia of the Third Class of the Order of
Medjidieh". It also states that the award was for Brewster's services while
"actually
and entirely employed by His Highness [the Khedive] Beyond Her Majesties
Dominions".
He was mentioned again in 1896 when he was awarded the Order of Osmanieh of
the Third Class by the Khedive and the Sultan in Constantinople.
Mentioned once again in 1905 when as Private Secretary to the Khedive of Egypt
he was granted the Imperial Ottoman Order of Medjidieh, Grand Officer.
Gen. Charles 'Chinese' Gordon: "If you, as a servant of your god, must use one hundred thousand warriors to destroy me, a solitary
servant of my God, then you whisper to me Muhammed Ahmed: who will be remembered from Khartoum, your god or Mine?"
from the 1966 film production of Khartoum.
servant of my God, then you whisper to me Muhammed Ahmed: who will be remembered from Khartoum, your god or Mine?"
from the 1966 film production of Khartoum.
| Captain Arthur Lea Birch 50th Regiment of Foot The Royal West Kent Regiment c. 1878 |
| 1 Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment Carte de Visite Gibraltar c. 1883 |
No 2219 Private George S. West was born in
Windsor, Berkshire in 1862. He attested with the
41st Brigade at Reading on 21 September, 1880.
He was described at standing 5 feet 6 inches tall
with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark
brown hair. It is also mentioned that he had a
anchor tattooed on his left forearm.
West was posted as a Private with the 1/Royal
Berkshire Regiment on 1 July 1881 and received
his first Good Conduct Pay on 9 June, 1882. He
was entitled to his second Good Conduct Pay on
18 September, 1886. He transferred to the Army
Reserve for his requited six years on 18
September, 1886.
George West saw active service with his battalion
during Wolseley's Nile Campaign of 1884-85...
Windsor, Berkshire in 1862. He attested with the
41st Brigade at Reading on 21 September, 1880.
He was described at standing 5 feet 6 inches tall
with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark
brown hair. It is also mentioned that he had a
anchor tattooed on his left forearm.
West was posted as a Private with the 1/Royal
Berkshire Regiment on 1 July 1881 and received
his first Good Conduct Pay on 9 June, 1882. He
was entitled to his second Good Conduct Pay on
18 September, 1886. He transferred to the Army
Reserve for his requited six years on 18
September, 1886.
George West saw active service with his battalion
during Wolseley's Nile Campaign of 1884-85...
This fascinating though unidentified
cabinet photograph is an outstanding
study of a late 19th or early 20th
Century Anglo-Egyptian officer.
Although research to date has failed to
attach a name to this fez wearing solider
the rather unique set of campaign
medals he is wearing offers a possible
path to establishing his identity.
cabinet photograph is an outstanding
study of a late 19th or early 20th
Century Anglo-Egyptian officer.
Although research to date has failed to
attach a name to this fez wearing solider
the rather unique set of campaign
medals he is wearing offers a possible
path to establishing his identity.
| No. 1796 Private Matthew White Soldier's Account Book and Parchment Discharge Documents 1880 - 1895 |
Although not encountered with the same
frequency as photographic portraits
original soldier's documents can none the
less offer an excellent starting point for
further research into the named soldier's
history. These documents which remained
in the soldier's possession after discharge
offer a visual record of his military career
second only to his actual service record
which remained Crown property.
This particular set of items which include a
soldier's regimental account book with its
original handmade oilskin cover, two
parchment army discharge documents and
a paper merchant marine discharge
certificate all belonged to No. 1796 Private
Matthew White of the 107th Regiment of
Foot/1st Battalion, The Royal Sussex
Regiment.
frequency as photographic portraits
original soldier's documents can none the
less offer an excellent starting point for
further research into the named soldier's
history. These documents which remained
in the soldier's possession after discharge
offer a visual record of his military career
second only to his actual service record
which remained Crown property.
This particular set of items which include a
soldier's regimental account book with its
original handmade oilskin cover, two
parchment army discharge documents and
a paper merchant marine discharge
certificate all belonged to No. 1796 Private
Matthew White of the 107th Regiment of
Foot/1st Battalion, The Royal Sussex
Regiment.
