Muhammad Khalifa GC (EGM exchanger)

b. ? Sudan. d. 29/07/1966 Farouq, Sudan.

DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 27/11/1924 Wadi Adarowfie, Sudan.

Khalifa Muhammad (? – 1966?), sadly, is a recipient of whom very little is known, including where and when he was born. It is likely to have been in the Sudan based on the other information which has been gathered on him. His family belonged to the Jaalia tribe which hailed from the Shandi area nearly 200km from Khartoum. They were a noted northern tribe. Khalifa married Zienb Muhammad Khalifa and they went on to have a son and a daughter.

Muhammad Khalifa GC

As a young man, Khalifa joined the Berber Province Police, and it was in this capacity as an Acting Shawish, that he would be awarded the EGM. On 27th November 1924 at Wadi Adarowfie, Berber Province, Sudan, he showed conspicuous gallantry when he was in command of three mounted police, in arresting a murderer and three camel thieves in the face of armed opposition and superior numbers.

Under a year later, on 29th September 1925, it was announced in the London Gazette, that Khalifa had been awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (Civil Division) for his actions. He later became a successful merchant in the town of Farooq, where he was local celebrity. In 1940, following the creation of the George Cross, all EGM recipients were automatically awarded the new decoration, though it is known Khalifa kept his EGM alongside his new medal.

Khalifa died on 29th July 1966 and is buried near his home town of Farooq. His EGM, GC and the 1953 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal are still held proudly within Khalifa’s family.

 

LOCATION OF MEDAL: WITH RECIPIENT’S FAMILY.

BURIAL PLACE: NEAR HOME TOWN OF FAROUQ, SUDAN.