Description The Egypt Medal 1882-89 with Suakin 1885 clasp to James Stacey, an Engineer with Lucas and Aird. Supported on medal roll W/O 100/68 page 227. Medal roll notes medal sent to Messrs. Lucas & Aird, St George’s Street, Westminster, One of only 3 Engineers on the medal roll issued a medal. Medal – Egypt Medal 1882-89 (Suakin 1885 clasp) named to ENGINEER. J. STACEY Suakin-Berber Railway – The idea of building a military railway to provide a supply route for Wolseley’s force was promulgated in June 1884 when the British government sent a company of Royal Engineers to Suakin to build jetties and to prepare the port as a railway depot. Wolseley, however, argued against the idea, preferring to use the Nile for transportation. Thus it was only after the failure of his expedition in January 1885 that the railway plan was resurrected. In February 1885 a contact was hurriedly let to British contractors Lucas and Aird to build the 280 mile (400 km) line between Suakin and Berber over difficult and largely unexplored terrain, in order that Berber could become a base of operations against Khartoum. The contract required Lucas and Aird to work under the direction of General Sir Gerald Graham, commander of the Suakin Field Force that had been sent out to protect the railway against rebel attack. Construction work was impeded by the poor quality labour force and by the (second hand) materials and rolling stock sent out from Britain – a situation that was exacerbated by attacks and sabotage by the enemy.
