Egypt War Medal 1882-89

James Arnold (1852-1926) was born in Swallowcliff, Wiltshire, the son of Elijah a shoemaker. He joined Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class on 24 May 1867 in ‘Minotaur’. Arnold signed on for ten years’ service on 25 July 1870 and again in 1880. He was stationed in home waters in the ‘Duke of Wellington’ and ‘Excellent’, then in ‘Hector’ which served as guard ship when the Queen was in residence in Osborne House. He was a Yeoman of Signals from 25 August 1880. From 15 Dec 1880, he was in ‘Temeraire’. The ship was deployed in the Mediterranean and took part in the bombardment of Alexandria for which he was awarded the Egypt War Medal. He served in ‘Alexandra’ from 1886 when the ship was under the command of the Duke of Edinburgh, son of Queen Victoria. Her officers also included Prince George of Wales, (later George V) as lieutenant. Arnold then served on various ships in home waters, promoted to acting boatswain on 5 May 1890. He was pensioned as unfit on 1 March 1906 but was recalled in 1914 for service at the Admiralty during the First World War, being promoted Lieutenant on the retired list on 31 March 1919.
He married Margaret Elizabeth McNamara in Portsmouth in 1878 and the couple had children. The settled in Portsmouth where James Arnold died.
V