b. 01/01/1898 Kabushiya, Sudan. d. 31/05/1993 Omdurman, Sudan.
DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 09/1933 Sudan.
Taha Idris (1898-1993) was born on New Year’s Day, 1898 in Kabushiya, Sudan, though little else is known of his early life and career. It is known that he joined the Blue Nile Province Police Force, and rose to the rank of Shawish (Sergeant) by the time of the incident for which he would be awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (London Gazette, 2nd March 1934).
Taha Idris GC
In September 1933, in the Sudan, a a native NCO in charge of a police guard temporarily lost his self control. After loading his rifle with nine rounds of ball ammunition, he ran amok. The guard, being unable to deal with the situation, sent for Idris, who immediately came to their assistance. He could not approach without being seen, and the armed man aimed at him from only a few paces away and pulled the trigger, but for some reason the cartridge did not fire, and Idris went in and disarmed him.
Following the award of the EGM (later exchanged for the George Cross in 1940), he remained in the Blue Nile Province Police for the rest of his working life. Little else is known about him, and he passed away on 31st May 1993 in Omdurman aged 93. He is believed to have been cremated. His GC, 1953 QEII Coronation Medal and 1977 QEII Silver Jubilee Medal are held privately.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: CREMATED – OMDURMAN SUDAN
