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'. Inscription on edge: 'H.H.BARNARD R.N. H.M.S. ORONTES'. Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes.

Horace Henry Barnard was born in Clifton, Bristol on 3 February 1848, the son of George Tovey Barnard, a gentleman of independent means. Horace joined the Royal Navy on 11 March 1862 as a ‘Britannia’ cadet. He served on the China Station in HMS ‘Scylla’ as a midshipman and then in HMS ‘Pylades’ from December 1867, as Sub Lieutenant from 21 June 1868. He returned to the United Kingdom for further training and served briefly in ‘Lord Clyde’ until May 1872, after the ship had run aground off the Italian island off Pantallaria and suffered irreparable damage. He was promoted Lieutenant on 3 September 1872. After serving on the troopship ‘Euphrates’ he joined the gunvessel ‘Frolic’ on the China Station from December 1875 until August 1880. He remained in home waters until he joined another troopship ‘Orontes’ from 3 July 1883 to 3 March 1886. During this period, she carried forces for operations against the Mahdists in Sudan. As a Commander from 31 December 1885, Barnard served on the base flagship ‘Hibernia’ at Malta. He retired with the rank of Captain on 20th November 1895. Barnard had married Laura Rose Grungo at Festiniog in 1890.

They settled in a large rural house near Tremadog known as Portreuddyn Castle with their two children. Captain Barnard died on 7 April 1902.