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: 'E.W.SLANEY, CR.SERGT. R.M.' Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes.

Charles Wynne Slaney (1855-1921) was born in Liverpool. He was enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Bristol in 1873, his former occupation given as clerk. The following year in ‘Valiant’, the reserve guard ship for Southern Ireland, he was promoted Corporal. He spent most of his career at Chatham, though made a brief voyage in ‘Boadicea’ at the end of the Zulu War, possibly when troops were being withdrawn from South Africa. In 1881 he was employed as a sergeant instructor of musketry. Slaney was deployed to the Mediterranean during 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War and was awarded the Egypt War Medal and Khedive's star. He held the rank of Color Sergeant from 28 August that year. In 1883, he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. On 1st April 1895 he was promoted Quartermaster, and in 1905 Honorary Major. Now retired from the RMLI, he was appointed Secretary to the Inspector General of the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham in 1909 and continued in that role throughout the First World War, being awarded the British War Medal and the OBE in 1919. He died in post of heart disease in 1921.

Charles Slaney married Martha Newnham in 1876 and the couple had children.