Egypt Medal

The Egypt Medal (1882-1889) is the scarcest campaign medal issued to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and also the first issued to the regiment following their establishment as a result of the 1881 Childers Reforms. The Egypt Medal shows a bust of Queen Victoria on its obverse while the reverse bears an image of the Sphinx beneath the word Egypt. The medal ribbon has five equal blue and white stripes representing the Blue and White Nile tributaries. The Egpyt Medal was issued for  service during and after the Anglo-Egyptian War which was caused by army mutinies and an anti-European uprising in 1882. Just 3 officers and 7 other ranks of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were awarded this medal.
This small number can be split into three groups the first of comprising of five men awarded the medal for service during the Upper Nile Expedition between 30 November 1885 and 11 January 1886 while attached to another unit. All five were members of the 2nd Battalion. The small group was led by Captain Charles Coningham, who later commanded the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and was killed during the Anglo-Boer War and Lieutenant Richard Stewart Gage. The second group comprises of four Sergeants who were awarded the medal with the additional clasp ‘Suakin 1884’ and who served at Suakin between 1 March and 14 May 1885. Finally Lieutenant Colonel William Cleland who would later command the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers was also awarded the medal for his services while attached from the regiment as Chief of Police in Alexandria during the war.

 

The Egypt Medal awarded to James Crutchlow from Bedworth, Warwickshire, England. He enlisted at Derby in October 1881 aged 21 and transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1882. Crutchlow served in Egypt from February 1885 to February 1886. He was discharged on 11 October 1893 and returned home to work as a coal miner.

The Egypt Medal awarded to James Crutchlow from Bedworth, Warwickshire, England. He enlisted at Derby in October 1881 aged 21 and transferred to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in February 1882. Crutchlow served in Egypt from February 1885 to February 1886. He was discharged on 11 October 1893 and returned home to work as a coal miner.

 

EgyptMedalnaming2
Example of the style of official naming used on Egypt Medals issued to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Example of the style of official naming used on Egypt Medals issued to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Full list of members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers entitled to the Egypt Medal
Number Rank Name Clasp Suakin 1884
Lieut. Col. William Cleland NO
Captain Charles Coningham NO
Lieutenant Richard S. Gage NO
998 Sergeant Thomas Connolly YES
391 Private James Crutchlow NO
1093 Sergeant Martin Hughes YES
2238 Sergeant Samuel Johnston YES
403 Private Tom Sharpe NO
2312 Sergeant James Shea YES
2847 Private Patrick Tracey NO