Khedive's Star : Lance Corporal L A Parkinson, New South Wales Contingent to the Sudan

Khedive's Star (1882 - 1891). Unnamed as issued. Obverse: In the centre is the Sphinx with the three Great Pyramids in the background. Around this is a raised band, on the upper part of which is embossed 'EGYPT' followed by the dates '1884-6'. The lower part of the band is embossed in Arabic (KHEDIVE OF EGYPT) with a date in Arabic. Reverse: The Khedive's monogram 'T.M.' surmounted by a crown within a raised band. The suspender is a small fixed loop attached between the two uppermost rays of the star. A loose ring is attached to the loop joining a straight laureated bar bearing a crescent moon and a small five pointed star. A small piece of 39 mm plain dark blue ribbon is attached to the suspender bar.

Louis Alan Parkinson was born in Quebec, Canada. He was a 26 year old policeman when he enlisted with the NSW Contingent in 1885. Parkinson sailed to the Sudan in SS Iberia on 3 March 1885. He served as a private in B Company, NSW Infantry, with the service number 436, and was promoted to lance corporal while in the Sudan. On his return Parkinson rejoined the police and was stationed at Newtown, Sydney. He became a sergeant and later a sub-inspector. Parkinson was a champion swimmer, who pioneered the surf life-saving movement in NSW, and at one stage was the high diving champion of Australasia. He died at Bathurst, NSW in 1947.