Egypt War Medal 1882-89

Egypt War medal and miniature awarded to Captain Alan Broderick Thomas RN. Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria in a diadem and veil (left) Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX'. Reverse: the sphinx on an ornamental platform. Legend: 'EGYPT'. Exergue: '1882'. Bar: 'ALEXANDRIA 11TH JULY'. Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes. Mounted on a bar with the Khedive's star.

Alan Brodrick Thomas (1844-1894) was born in Thakeham, Sussex, the son of Freeman Thomas, Deputy Lieutenant and Magistrate. He entered the Royal Navy in August 1856 as a cadet, serving in ‘Monarch’ and ‘Caesar’. He was rated midshipman on 1 July 1859 whilst serving in the latter ship. During the same month, the ship was in Devonport Dockyard, undergoing repairs after her return from Greytown, Nicaragua. During this time, it was decided to carry out a sentence of 50 lashes imposed on a seaman for inciting insubordination. This was witnessed by civilian dockyard workers on nearby vessels, who reacted angrily and caused a disturbance. A less common occurrence at this date, flogging in the Royal Navy was suspended in 1881 but not abolished. ‘Caesar’ was then deployed to the Mediterranean before being attached to the Channel Squadron. Thomas then served in ‘Tribune’ on the Pacific station until 6 May 1866. He was made lieutenant on 18 September 1865, being appointed to ‘Charybdis’ with that rank on 9 January 1867. The ship served on the Australian and Pacific stations before joining the Flying Squadron. On 14 October 1872, he joined ‘Immortalite’, also part of a detached squadron, undertaking worldwide cruises to provide training and promote the national interest. The squadron visited various Atlantic and Mediterranean ports before proceeding to the Far East. The ship’s company was paid off in May 1877. Thomas was promoted commander on 25 March 1878 and after a brief period in ‘Monarch’, he was in ‘Alexandra’ under Captain Charles Frederick Hotham during the bombardment of Alexandria at the start of the Anglo-Egyptian War. This was the flagship of flagship of Vice-Admiral Frederick Beauchamp Paget Seymour, commander-in-chief of the British fleet, however he flew his flag in ‘Invincible’ during the action. Thomas served in a naval brigade onshore following the bombardment. On 14 August 1883, Thomas was given command of the Naval Forces of Victoria, Australia. While there, he married Mary Elizabeth Power in 1885 and the couple had two daughters - Mary and Kathleen. In 1890, he was given command of HMS ‘Trafalgar’, flagship of Rear-Admiral Lord Walter T Kerr in the Mediterranean. He was made a Companion of the Bath in May 1891 and at the end of his career was captain of the training ship ‘Britannia’. Although resident in Woking, at the time of his death he was staying at Wiston Park, Steyning, Sussex, home of the Goring family. Thomas is buried at the nearby parish church where he is commemorated by a memorial tablet.