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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'. Bars: 'TEL-EL-KEBIR', 'SUAKIN 1885, 'TOFREK'. Inscription on edge: 'S.H. DAY PTE. R.M.L.I.' Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes.
Stephen Henry Day (1861-1939) was born in Oxford, the son of a labourer. He enlisted in the Chatham Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry in London during 1880.
He served in Egypt and was in a naval brigade including men from his ship ‘Alexandra’ at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September 1882. This was the decisive battle of the Anglo-Egyptian War, which defeated Urabi’s forces, enabling the British the march on Cairo and restore the Khedive.
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Between November and early December 1884, Day had a spell in Malta Hospital. After his recovery, he returned to the Sudan and took part in the second Suakin expedition in 1885 - an attempt to recapture the Sudan which was eventually abandoned. Tofrek 22 March 1885, was one of two actions fought during this campaign which successfully fought off an attack on a British encampment. Day was then in ‘Hercules’ flag ship of the reserve fleet from October 1885 to September 1887. From April 1888 to July 1891, he was in ‘Boadicea’ deployed on anti-slave trade operations on the East Coast of Africa, for which he received the East & West Africa medal with the bar for 'Witu'. He then served in Australian waters in ‘Mildura’ and ‘Orlando’ from 1893-95. From 1896-1899 he was in HMS ‘Penguin’ undertaking survey work in the Pacific, including visits to Funafuti as part of the Royal Society Coral Boring Expedition. Day was ranked Lance Corporal during this time. He was discharged having completed his full length of service on 13 March 1901.
He had married Fanny Irwin at Chatham in 1892 and settled there. The couple had three children. In the 1911 census he is working as a jobbing gardener. From April 1915 to June 1916 he was recalled for military service in the United Kingdom and qualified for the Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal. In 1921 he was working as a labourer in the Royal Dockyard Chatham and died in this town.
Stephen Henry Day (1861-1939) was born in Oxford, the son of a labourer. He enlisted in the Chatham Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry in London during 1880.
He served in Egypt and was in a naval brigade including men from his ship ‘Alexandra’ at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir on 13 September 1882. This was the decisive battle of the Anglo-Egyptian War, which defeated Urabi’s forces, enabling the British the march on Cairo and restore the Khedive.
.
Between November and early December 1884, Day had a spell in Malta Hospital. After his recovery, he returned to the Sudan and took part in the second Suakin expedition in 1885 - an attempt to recapture the Sudan which was eventually abandoned. Tofrek 22 March 1885, was one of two actions fought during this campaign which successfully fought off an attack on a British encampment. Day was then in ‘Hercules’ flag ship of the reserve fleet from October 1885 to September 1887. From April 1888 to July 1891, he was in ‘Boadicea’ deployed on anti-slave trade operations on the East Coast of Africa, for which he received the East & West Africa medal with the bar for 'Witu'. He then served in Australian waters in ‘Mildura’ and ‘Orlando’ from 1893-95. From 1896-1899 he was in HMS ‘Penguin’ undertaking survey work in the Pacific, including visits to Funafuti as part of the Royal Society Coral Boring Expedition. Day was ranked Lance Corporal during this time. He was discharged having completed his full length of service on 13 March 1901.
He had married Fanny Irwin at Chatham in 1892 and settled there. The couple had three children. In the 1911 census he is working as a jobbing gardener. From April 1915 to June 1916 he was recalled for military service in the United Kingdom and qualified for the Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal. In 1921 he was working as a labourer in the Royal Dockyard Chatham and died in this town.
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Object details
| ID: | MED0339 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Coins and medals |
| Type: | War medal |
| Display location: | Not on display |
| Creator: | Wyon, Leonard Charles |
| Events: | Anglo-Egyptian War: Battle of Tell El Kebir, 1882; Egypt War: Suakin Expedition, 1884 Mahdist War: Battle of Tofrek, 1885 |
| Date made: | 1882 |
| People: | Queen Victoria; Day, Stephen Henry |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
| Measurements: | Overall: 36 mm |