Firket Clasp – Original

Firket clasp, an original example of the campaign bar awarded with the Khedive Sudan Medal for service during the Battle of Firket in the Mahdist War.

Manufactured in silver, this original “Firket” clasp was awarded to officers and men of the British and Egyptian forces who took part in the Battle of Firket, fought on 7 June 1896 during the Anglo-Egyptian campaign to reconquer the Sudan. The clasp was attached to the ribbon of the Khedive Sudan Medal, identifying participation in one of the earliest major victories of the campaign led by Herbert Kitchener.

The Battle of Firket was fought as part of the advance of the Anglo-Egyptian army southwards along the Nile. A force commanded by Colonel Archibald Hunter launched a surprise attack against a Mahdist garrison near Firket in northern Sudan. The operation resulted in a decisive victory for the Anglo-Egyptian forces, destroying the Mahdist position and securing an important section of the Nile route for further advances.

The engagement demonstrated the effectiveness of the reorganised Egyptian Army and marked an important stage in Kitchener’s carefully planned campaign against the Mahdist state. The victory at Firket allowed British and Egyptian forces to continue their advance towards Dongola and ultimately towards the decisive confrontation at Omdurman in 1898.

The Firket clasp is one of the principal clasps associated with the Khedive Sudan Medal and remains highly sought after by collectors of Victorian campaign medals and British Empire militaria. Individual original clasps are particularly desirable for medal restoration projects, specialist collections, and displays illustrating the Sudan campaigns of the late nineteenth century.

Manufactured in silver and retaining its original construction, this example represents an authentic and collectable piece of late Victorian military history.

Dimensions

Approx. 42mm × 16mm

Condition

Good overall original condition, with crisp lettering and an attractive age-related silver patina. Light wear, minor surface marks, and signs of handling consistent with age may be present. An excellent original example of a desirable Khedive Sudan Medal campaign clasp.