This article is about the British campaign medal awarded between 1882–89. For the East India Company medal, see Egypt Medal (1801).
The Egypt Medal (1882–1889) was awarded for the military actions involving the British Army and Royal Navy during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War and in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889.
Resentment at increasing British and other European involvement in Egypt since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 triggered an Egyptian army mutiny that threatened the authority of the British-backed Khedive of Egypt, Tewfik Pasha. The British military intervention was in response, to protect British interests. Once in Egypt, the British became involved in the conflicts in the Sudan, which Egypt had occupied since the 1820s.[1]
All recipients of the Egypt Medal were also eligible for one of the four versions of the Khedive's Star.[2]
Circular, in silver and 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.
Obverse: the veiled head of Queen Victoria with the Latin legend "VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX". ('Victoria, Queen and Empress').
Reverse: the Sphinx on a pedestal with the word 'EGYPT' above.[4] Medals for the 1882 campaign had the year "1882" below the Sphinx. Awards for service in the Sudan from 1884 to 1889 were undated, although those already in possession of the 1882 medal had the relevant clasp added to their existing dated medal.
Naming: the recipient's number, rank, name and regiment are engraved on the edge.[4]
Ribbon: 32 millimetres (1.25 in) wide, with three blue and two white stripes of equal width.
Clasps
A total of 13 clasps were awarded, two for the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and eleven for service in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889:[5]
El-Teb – Tamaai (29 February & 13 March 1884) For those present at both battles
The Nile 1884–85 For service south of Assouan on or before 7 March 1885 as part of the expedition to relieve General Gordon, then under siege at Khartoum
Abu Klea (17 January 1885) Only awarded in conjunction with clasp The Nile 1884–85
Kirbekan (10 February 1885) Only awarded in conjunction with clasp The Nile 1884–85
those who served in Egypt between 11 July and 14 September 1882, but were not present at the bombardment of Alexandria or the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir;
all troops employed south of Wadi Halfa between 30 November 1885 and 11 January 1886 and south of Korosko on 3 August 1889.
Recipients
While most of those who received the Egypt Medal were members of the British Regular Army or Royal Navy, other recipients included:
Seventeen nurses who received the medal without clasp for their services in 1882 at Alexandria, Ismailia and in the hospital ship Carthage, including three awarded to foreign nurses. These were the first British campaign medals awarded to women, although a number of South Africa Medals were later awarded to nurses for the earlier 1877-79 campaign.[6]
392 medals with clasp 'The Nile 1884-85', awarded to Canadian voyageurs employed on the Nile, of whom 46 also received the 'Kirbekan' clasp.[5][7] This was the first overseas expedition by Canadians in a British imperial conflict. Employed as civilians who did not wear uniform, the voyageurs included 86 members of the First Nations, mostly Caughnawaga.[8]
720 medals with clasp 'Suakin 1885', awarded to a force from New South Wales. This was the first occasion that Australian units were sent overseas and served alongside Imperial troops.[5]
While few members of the Egyptian Army participated in earlier Sudanese campaigns, the majority of troops who received 'Gemaizah 1888' and 'Toski 1889' clasps belonged to the Egyptian Army, including newly raised Sudanese battalions,[5] with one squadron of the 20th Hussars being the only British unit present at Toski.[9]
^Michael Barthorp. War on the Nile. pp. 20–30. Published Blandford Press, London. 1984. ISBN0713713100.
^Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. (1988). British Battles and Medals. p. 164. Published Spink, London. 1988. ISBN0907605257.
^Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. (1988). British Battles and Medals. pp. 160–4. Published Spink, London. 1988. ISBN0907605257.
^ ab"Egypt Medal 1882–89 : Private W Divall, New South Wales Contingent to the Sudan.", Exhibition at the Australian War Memorial, (Accessed 7 July 2011)
^ abcdJoslin, Litherland and Simpkin. (1988). British Battles and Medals. pp. 161–2. Published Spink, London. 1988. ISBN0907605257.
^P. E. Abbott and J. M. A. Tamplin. (1981). British Gallantry Awards. p. 259. Published Nimrod Dix & Co, London. 1980. ISBN0-902633-74-0.
^Michael Barthorp. War on the Nile. p. 134. Published Blandford Press, London. 1984. ISBN0713713100.
External links
Northeast Medals
Veterans Canada
January 20, 2023
egypt, medal, this, article, about, british, campaign, medal, awarded, between, 1882, east, india, company, medal, 1801, 1882, 1889, awarded, military, actions, involving, british, army, royal, navy, during, 1882, anglo, egyptian, sudan, between, 1884, 1889, o. This article is about the British campaign medal awarded between 1882 89 For the East India Company medal see Egypt Medal 1801 The Egypt Medal 1882 1889 was awarded for the military actions involving the British Army and Royal Navy during the 1882 Anglo Egyptian War and in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889 Egypt MedalObverse and reverse of the 1882 medalTypeCampaign medalAwarded forCampaign serviceDescriptionSilver 36 mm in diameterPresented byUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandEligibilityBritish and Indian forces Campaign s EgyptClaspsAlexandria 11 July Tel El Kebir Suakin 1884 El Teb Tamaai El Teb Tamaai The Nile 1884 85 Abu Klea Kirbekan Suakin 1885 Tofrek Gemaizah 1888 Toski 1889Established17 October 1882Ribbon bar of the medalRelatedKhedive s StarResentment at increasing British and other European involvement in Egypt since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 triggered an Egyptian army mutiny that threatened the authority of the British backed Khedive of Egypt Tewfik Pasha The British military intervention was in response to protect British interests Once in Egypt the British became involved in the conflicts in the Sudan which Egypt had occupied since the 1820s 1 All recipients of the Egypt Medal were also eligible for one of the four versions of the Khedive s Star 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Clasps 3 Recipients 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditThe medal had the following design 3 Circular in silver and 36 millimetres 1 4 in in diameter Obverse the veiled head of Queen Victoria with the Latin legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX Victoria Queen and Empress Reverse the Sphinx on a pedestal with the word EGYPT above 4 Medals for the 1882 campaign had the year 1882 below the Sphinx Awards for service in the Sudan from 1884 to 1889 were undated although those already in possession of the 1882 medal had the relevant clasp added to their existing dated medal Naming the recipient s number rank name and regiment are engraved on the edge 4 Ribbon 32 millimetres 1 25 in wide with three blue and two white stripes of equal width Clasps EditA total of 13 clasps were awarded two for the Anglo Egyptian War of 1882 and eleven for service in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889 5 Alexandria 11 July 1882 Tel El Kebir 13 September 1882 Suakin 1884 19 February 26 March 1884 El Teb 29 February 1884 Tamaai 13 March 1884 El Teb Tamaai 29 February amp 13 March 1884 For those present at both battles The Nile 1884 85 For service south of Assouan on or before 7 March 1885 as part of the expedition to relieve General Gordon then under siege at Khartoum Abu Klea 17 January 1885 Only awarded in conjunction with clasp The Nile 1884 85 Kirbekan 10 February 1885 Only awarded in conjunction with clasp The Nile 1884 85 Suakin 1885 1 March 14 May 1885 Tofrek 22 March 1885 Only awarded in conjunction with clasp Suakin 1885 Gemaizah 1888 20 December 1888 Toski 1889 3 August 1889 Medals without clasp were awarded to those who served in Egypt between 11 July and 14 September 1882 but were not present at the bombardment of Alexandria or the Battle of Tel El Kebir all troops employed south of Wadi Halfa between 30 November 1885 and 11 January 1886 and south of Korosko on 3 August 1889 Recipients EditWhile most of those who received the Egypt Medal were members of the British Regular Army or Royal Navy other recipients included Seventeen nurses who received the medal without clasp for their services in 1882 at Alexandria Ismailia and in the hospital ship Carthage including three awarded to foreign nurses These were the first British campaign medals awarded to women although a number of South Africa Medals were later awarded to nurses for the earlier 1877 79 campaign 6 392 medals with clasp The Nile 1884 85 awarded to Canadian voyageurs employed on the Nile of whom 46 also received the Kirbekan clasp 5 7 This was the first overseas expedition by Canadians in a British imperial conflict Employed as civilians who did not wear uniform the voyageurs included 86 members of the First Nations mostly Caughnawaga 8 720 medals with clasp Suakin 1885 awarded to a force from New South Wales This was the first occasion that Australian units were sent overseas and served alongside Imperial troops 5 While few members of the Egyptian Army participated in earlier Sudanese campaigns the majority of troops who received Gemaizah 1888 and Toski 1889 clasps belonged to the Egyptian Army including newly raised Sudanese battalions 5 with one squadron of the 20th Hussars being the only British unit present at Toski 9 See also Edit1882 Anglo Egyptian War Mahdist WarReferences Edit Michael Barthorp War on the Nile pp 20 30 Published Blandford Press London 1984 ISBN 0713713100 Joslin Litherland and Simpkin 1988 British Battles and Medals p 164 Published Spink London 1988 ISBN 0907605257 Joslin Litherland and Simpkin 1988 British Battles and Medals pp 160 4 Published Spink London 1988 ISBN 0907605257 a b Egypt Medal 1882 89 Private W Divall New South Wales Contingent to the Sudan Exhibition at the Australian War Memorial Accessed 7 July 2011 a b c d Joslin Litherland and Simpkin 1988 British Battles and Medals pp 161 2 Published Spink London 1988 ISBN 0907605257 P E Abbott and J M A Tamplin 1981 British Gallantry Awards p 259 Published Nimrod Dix amp Co London 1980 ISBN 0 902633 74 0 Veterans Affairs Canada Egypt Medal Louis Jackson Our Caughnawagas in Egypt Drysdale amp Co Montreal 1895 Michael Barthorp War on the Nile p 134 Published Blandford Press London 1984 ISBN 0713713100 External links EditNortheast Medals Veterans Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Egypt Medal amp oldid 1069292590, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
