SOUDAN HEKOES,

At Windsor, on the 3rd July, the Queen conferred the Victoria Cross and distinguished service medals on the following non - commissioned officers and men. The first to receive the much-coveted decoration was Quartermaster-sergeant Marshall, of the 19th Hussars. The gallant soldier gained his distinction on 29th February, at the battle of El Teb, when he saved the life of Colonel Barrow, who, while charging with the second line, was speared. The weapon entered the officer's loft side, and on drawing it out ho fainted, his horse being killed almost immediately afterwards. Sergeant Marshall, although surrounded by the Soudanese, contrived to drag Colonel Barrow out of the melee to a place of safety. Sergeant Phipps, j of the 19th Hussars, was awarded the medal for saving the life of Corporal Cramp, of the 10th Hussars, at the battle of El Teb. Gunner William Hansen, of the M Battery Ist Brigade Eoyal Artillery, performed a similar service for a comrade, Gunner J. Cavell, by knocking his assailant down with a rammer, at Tamai. Color-Sergeant Charles Wake, of the Ist York and Lancaster Eegiment, was the centre sergeant of his battalion's line, and while engaged at El Teb was suddenly confronted by four Soudanese, two of whom he despatched, but after his bayonet had been bent was speared by the enemy through the left hip, the weapon causing a wonnd of sin ; he was rescued and sent to the rear on a stretcher carried by four Egyptians. Color-Sergeant William Hayward, Ist York and Lancaster, received the decoration for bravery at El Teb ; and Sergeant Frank Webb, of the same regiment, was awarded it for gallantly aiding Color-Sergeant Wake when wounded in the battle. Lance-Sergeant John Doyle, also of the Ist York and Lancaster, gained the medal for courageous conduct in the face of the enemy when his superior officer, Captain Littledale, was severely wounded at El Teb. Lance-sergeant Henry Haycock, Ist York and Lancaster, assisted in capturing a battery of four guns, and was among the first to rush the pits sheltering the enemy at El Teb, where Lance-sergeant Henry James, let York and Lancaster gained his medal for bravery. Corporal Henry Baxter, Ist York and Lancaster, went to the assistance of Captain Littledale, who was hors de combat, struggling upon the ground with a Soudanese. He put an end to the unequal combat by bayoneting the latter, who was stabbing the officer in the shoulder with a sharp knife. Corporal David Dosset, Ist York and Lancaster, also received the medal for bravery. After lying under fire on the night of 12th February, he and Captain Tebbett, unaided, engaged the enemy on the following morning at Tamai. Corporal Dossett also led the Marines during the charge upon the twogun battery at' El Teb, on hearing the order given for the advance.