By a General Order in October, 1882, a medal was granted to all troops
who landed in Egypt, and served there, between July 16th. and September
14th., 1882. Obverse, head of the Queen, veiled and crowned, with the
inscription, “Victoria Regina et Imperatrix.” Reverse, a Sphinx, on a
pedestal, above which is the word “Egypt” and the date “1882” below. The
name and regiment, or ship of the recipient, are engraved on the edge.
Ribbon, alternate stripes of blue and white. Two clasps were issued with
this medal, “Alexandria,[213] 11th. July,” and “Tel-el-Kebir.” The first
was given to the seamen and marines engaged in the action of July 11th.,
and who landed in Alexandria after the bombardment; and the other to all
who were present at Tel-el-Kebir—soldiers, sailors, and marines.
At the end of the first Soudan War, 1884, a similar medal, but without a
date, was given to all men of both services who took part in the
operations against the Arabs in the neighbourhood of Suakim, from July
19th. to March 26th., 1884. Ribbon, blue and white. Four bars were
issued with this medal:—“Suakim, 1884”; “El Teb—Tamaai”; to those who
were present at both these battles; “El Teb,” to those present there
only; and “Tamaai,” to those who were only in that action.
[Illustration:
The Egyptian Medal.
]
By a General Order in 1885, at the close of the second Soudan campaign,
the same medal was granted to the troops and Naval Brigade, with five
additional bars. Ribbon, the same. The order specified that—“Individuals
already in possession of the decoration will only be eligible to receive
such of the clasps specified hereafter, as they may be entitled to. All
officers and soldiers who served south of Assouan on or before March
7th., 1885, will be held entitled to the medal, except those who are
already in possession of it. All officers and soldiers who were on duty
at Suakim between 27th. March, 1884, and 14th. May, 1885, will also be
entitled to the medal, except those already in possession of it. Her
Majesty has further approved of clasps being issued as follows: a clasp,
inscribed ‘The Nile, 1884–85,’ to those officers and soldiers who served
south of Assouan on or before March 7th., 1885. A clasp, inscribed ‘Abu
Klea,’ to those officers and soldiers who took part in the action fought
there on 17th. January, 1885, under the late Major-General Sir H.
Stewart, K.C.B. A clasp, inscribed ‘Kirbekan,’ to those officers and
soldiers who took part in the action fought there on the 10th. February,
1885, under the late Major-General Earle, C.B. A clasp, inscribed
‘Suakim, 1885,’ to those officers and soldiers who were engaged in the
operations at Suakim between the 1st. March and 14th. May, 1885, both
inclusive. A clasp, inscribed ‘Tofrek,’ to those officers and men who
were actually present at the action fought there on the 22nd. March,
1885.” No medals were issued with single clasps for Tofrek, Abu Klea, or
Kirbekan, as all who were present at Tofrek received also the clasp for
Suakim, 1885; and all present at the other two actions, were given the
clasp for the Nile, 1884–5. The medals without a bar, dating from 1882
to 1885–86, were also given to the captains of all ships employed as
transports, and to others who shared in the campaign, not belonging to
the service. The whole number issued was forty-four thousand. The medal,
without clasp, was also given to all officers and soldiers who served
at, and to the South of Wady Halfa, between November 30th., 1885, and
January 11th., 1886, under Lieutenant-General Sir J. Stephenson, if they
had not received it for any previous campaign.
A General Order of January 2nd., 1890, granted a further issue of the
Soudan medal, with a clasp, inscribed “Gemaizah, 1888,” to all troops
who were at Suakim before December 20th., 1888, and who were present at
the action on that day. By the same order, the medal was given to all
troops who were employed on the Nile, at, and south of Korosko, on
August 3rd., 1889, and a clasp, inscribed “Toski, 1889,” was given to
all who were present at that action on August 3rd. of the same year. The
total number of clasps already issued with this medal is thirteen.[214]
The Khedive of Egypt gave a bronze star, to every officer and man of
both services who was entitled to the English medal. The star is
five-pointed, and suspended by a ring and bar, on which is a small star
and a crescent. On the obverse is a Sphinx, with the Pyramids in the
background, surrounded by a band, with the word “Egypt,” and the date
1882, 1884, or 1884–6 above, and the same in Arabic below. On the
reverse is the Khedive’s monogram in a circle, surmounted by a crown.
Ribbon, dark blue. The decoration was issued without names, but some of
the recipients had their names and regiments engraved on the reverse at
their own expense.