Hafir Clasp – Original

Hafir clasp, original example of the campaign bar awarded with the Khedive Sudan Medal for service during the Sudan Campaign of 1896.

Manufactured in silver, this original “Hafir” clasp was awarded to officers and men of the British and Egyptian forces who took part in operations during the advance into the Sudan in 1896. The clasp was fitted to the ribbon of the Khedive Sudan Medal, recognising participation in the campaign against Mahdist forces during the early stages of the Anglo-Egyptian reconquest of the Sudan.

The Hafir clasp commemorates operations around Hafir, near the Nile north of Dongola, during the advance of the Anglo-Egyptian Army under the command of Herbert Kitchener. The campaign formed part of Kitchener’s carefully planned effort to restore Anglo-Egyptian control over the Sudan following the establishment of the Mahdist state after the fall of Khartoum in 1885.

The operation at Hafir took place during the advance of the Anglo-Egyptian forces along the Nile towards Dongola. British and Egyptian troops successfully manoeuvred against Mahdist forces, securing an important position on the river and allowing the campaign to continue southwards. The action demonstrated the effectiveness of the reorganised Egyptian Army and the logistical importance of controlling the Nile as the main route of advance.

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

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