Watch List notes:

*A Scarce Commanding Officer's Egypt Medal awarded to Major-General Sir John Davis, K.C.B., who was present at the First and Second Battles of El-Teb, and commanded the Second Brigade at the Battle of Tamaai in Egypt in early 1884, whose leading square was came under repeated heavy attacks. He was later Commander of Troops in Malta and in the Dublin District, comprising: Egypt & Sudan, 1882-1889, 2 clasps, El-Teb_Tamaai, Suakin 1885 (Major Genl. J. Davis), engraved in sloping capitals, lightly toned, extremely fine and scarce. Major-General Sir John Davis, K.C.B., was born in 1832, the son of Mr John Davis, of the Park, Rathfarnham, County Dublin, Ireland. Educated at Cheltenham College, he received his first commission as an Ensign in the 35th (Royal Sussex) Regiment in 1852, seeing action in the Indian Mutiny of 1857 at the rank of Lieutenant. He continued his career with the 37th Foot, progressing quickly to Colonel in 1872, before taking the position of Colonel in the 20th Foot, with whom he remained until 1881. Reaching the rank of Major-General, he served during the Egypt campaign and was present during the first and second Battle of El-Teb in February 1884, and soon after commanded the Second Brigade (comprising the 1st Black Watch, 2nd York and Lancaster, the RMLI and the Naval Brigade with Gardiner and Gatling guns) during the Battle of Tamaai in March of the same year. The Second Brigade led the attack, and it's square came under repeated heavy attacks by the Mahdist forces. For his role, he received several mentions in despatches, and was awarded the C.B. In 1885 he served as acting Chief of Staff in Egypt. He took the position of Commander of the troops in Malta later in 1884, Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade in Malta in 1886, and General Officer Commanding, Dublin District in January 1888. Latterly he took the position of General Officer Commanding at Portsmouth in 1893, before retiring in November 1898 when he was made K.C.B. He died on 5 October, 1901 at Sehan, Ballycroy, Ireland, aged 69, as recorded in his obituary, and is commemorated inside Whitechurch Parish Church, County Dublin. (£600-800)