El Teb and Tamaii

The Naval Brigade in Egypt and the Soudan
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HMS Hecla Naval Brigade
at El Teb & Tamaai

H.M.S. Hecla had previously been involved with the fleet for the bombardment of Alexandra (July 11, 1882).
She remained in the theatre during 1884 & contributed a Naval Brigade contingent to both of the battles.

The photo below is the Gardner Gun’s Crew of HMS Hecla, landed at Trinkitat and Port of Suakin in 1884.
Many in this group of 37 officers & men saw action at the battles of El Teb & Tamaai.
Captain Wilson VC is at the centre of the photo.

In the group photo below John Tolman is shown in the middle row (the row with the ship’s officers) on the left
end. He is wearing the Chief PO uniform, & in the day CPO’s wore their rank badge on their left sleeve (you
can just make it out on his left sleeve), in addition to the three cuff buttons, also visible.

Beside Tolman is his mate Joseph Hamer. Hamer was the Gardner Gun crew’s Armourer, probably the only
Armourer in the two actions. You can see he is wearing a sidearm on his left hip.

Alfred Habgood is in the front row 2nd from the right. You can make out his Seaman Gunner 1st class rate
badge on his right arm. Its difficult to see in the photo but he is also wearing a wedding band on his left hand.

William Agus is in the second to back row on the right.
Agus was a short man & this too can be seen in his photo.