05/10/2026
Today we have an exciting photo find to share with you! 📸
One of our volunteers has been working hard to reorganise and audit our archive, and came across this photograph of Private Frank Hayes, 10th Hussars.
Some of you may already know of Private Hayes, as he is remembered for his actions at the Battle of El Teb on 29th February 1884.
Cassell's History of the Sudan War (pub. 1885-86) states that Hayes 'showed great courage in the second charge, in dismounting, attacking, and killing a chief who was endeavouring to escape. Finding that his horse would not face the spear, he undauntedly attacked the Arab on foot, and kill him in single combat'. Hayes was a regimental boxer, and there are other accounts that suggest he fought with his fists, rather than a sword. For this he was presented with the Distinguished Conduct Medal in March 1885 by Queen Victoria.
This photograph, which we previously were unaware that we held, shows Hayes wearing his medals, which are (left-right):- The Afghanistan Medal 1878-80, Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-1889, DCM, and The Khedive's Star 1882-91.
The reverse of the photograph has the first few lines of Clement Scott's poem, 'A Tale of The Tenth Hussars' (March 1884) written across the top. These read -
'When the sands of the lonely desert covered the plains of strife
Where the English fought for the rescue and the Arab stood for his life,
When the crash of the battle is over and healed are our wounds and scars,
There will live in our island story a Tale of the Tenth Hussars.'
Private Hayes is mentioned towards the end of the poem. If you wish to read the rest, it can be found here:- 🔗https://www.majorpillinger.co.uk/a-tale-of-the-tenth-hussars/
