United Kingdom. A Miniature Egypt Medal 1882-1889, To The H.m.s. Beacon

1. Clasp - ALEXANDRIA 11th JULY. In silver, "1882" reverse, re-engraved in large capitals "H.M.S. BEACON" on the edge, with traces of the former naming visible to the left of the current text, measuring 17.5 mm in diameter, the medal surmounted by an anchor on a triangular frame in silver gilt, bruised, edge nicks, contact marks, lightly soiled original ribbon, fine.

Footnote:

1. The Egypt Medal was awarded for the military actions involving the British Army and Royal Navy during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War and in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889. Resentment at increasing British and other European involvement in Egypt since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 triggered an Egyptian army mutiny that threatened the authority of the British-backed Khedive of Egypt, Tewfik Pasha. The British military intervention was in response, to protect British interests. Once in Egypt, the British became involved in the conflicts in the Sudan, which Egypt had occupied since the 1820s. All recipients of the Egypt Medal were also eligible for one of the four versions of the Khedive's Star.

2. The Bombardment of Alexandria in Egypt by the British Mediterranean Fleet took place on July 11-13, 1882. Admiral Beauchamp Seymour was in command of a fleet of fifteen Royal Navy ironclad ships which had previously sailed to the harbour of Alexandria to support the khedive Tewfik Pasha amid Ahmed 'Urabi's nationalist uprising against his administration and its close ties to British and French financiers. He was joined in the show of force by a French flotilla as well. The move provided some security to the khedive, who withdrew his court to the now-protected port, but strengthened 'Urabi's nationalists within the army and throughout the remainder of Egypt. On June 11th, anti-European riots began in Alexandria. The city's European residents fled and the Egyptian 'Urabist army began fortifying and arming the harbour. An ultimatum to cease this build-up being refused, the British fleet began a 10.5 hour bombardment of the city without French assistance. Historians argue about whether Admiral Seymour exaggerated the threat from the Egyptian batteries at Alexandria in order to force the hand of a reluctant Gladstone administration. Once the British had attacked the city, they then proceeded to a full-scale invasion to restore the authority of the khedive. Egypt remained under British influence until 1952, with the last British troops leaving in 1956.

3. The HMS Beacon was one of five gunvessels (including Condor, Bittern, Cygnet, Decoy), along with eight HMS Battleships (Alexandra, Superb, Sultan, Temeraire, Inflexible, Monarch, Invincible, Penelope), the Torpedo Boat HMS Hecla and the Despatch Boat HMS Helicon, that participated in the Bombardment of Alexandria.