Egypt War Medal 1882-89

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: 'TEL-EL-KEBIR'. Inscription on edge: 'J. RHODES, PTE. R.M.'. Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes.

John Rhodes (1860-1927) was born in Norwich, the son of Richard, a whitesmith – a skilled occupation which involved turning, polishing and the production of small metal items. John was working as a cellarman before enlisting in the Royal Marines at Cambridge in 1881 as a private. The following year, he was part of a battalion sent to Egypt following a nationalist revolt by an army office, Ahmed ‘Urabi against Tewfik Pasha, the ruler of Egypt and Sudan. The British were anxious to protect their interest in the Suez Canal which was secured following the bombardment of Alexandria. They occupied Ismailia and moved to prevent the blocking of the fresh-water canal that ran between that town and Cairo. ‘Urabi’s forces dug in a Tel-el-Kebir in order to defend Cairo. This position was taken by the British within an hour. Rhodes’ award of the Egyptian medal with clasp for Tel-el-Kebir and Khedives Star are noted on his service record and he was promoted to corporal on 20 January 1883. The battalion was sent to Egypt again on the 4 May 1884 in response to the Mahdist war in the Sudan. It was under the command of Colonel Albert Henry Ozzard and was part of a garrison holding the Red Sea Port of Saukin. The town was frequently attacked, though surrounded by a ring of landmines. Rhodes was invalided from the Red Rea on 6 November 1884 with remittent fever and debility, probably due to an infection. He was discharged from the service in February 1885.
Rhodes returned to Norwich, where he married Helen Abbis on October 24 1896. The couple appear to have been childless. He worked as a laborer after leaving the marines. In the 1921 census, he was employed by the local gas works in Norwich, where he died.