United Kingdom. A Rare Egypt Medal, to Canadian Boatman F. Beauvais, Caughnawaga Detachment

Instituted October 1882. Awarded to a native Canadian boatman, in silver, the rim is officially engraved 16. BOAT: F. BEAUVAIS. CAUGHNWAGA. DET:, won on replacement ribbon with THE NILE 1884-85 clasp, light wear and contact marks to edges, in extremely fine condition. 

Footnote: Francois Beauvais, a native man and No. 16 Boatman, is on the Medal Roll for the Canadian Voyageurs, and was entitled to The Nile 1884-85 clasp. 

During the 1882 Egyptian campaign, a contingent of skilled Canadian rivermen—often referred to as the Canadian Boatmen or voyageurs—were recruited by the British Army for their expertise in river navigation and boat handling. Drawn largely from Quebec and Ontario, they played a vital logistical role transporting troops, supplies, and equipment along the Nile and canal systems during operations against Urabi Pasha’s forces. 

Canadian voyageurs were prominently employed by the British Army during the Nile Expedition of 1884–85, sent to relieve Charles George Gordon at Khartoum. Recruited mainly from Quebec and Ontario for their exceptional river skills, they navigated cataracts, rapids, and shallow waters, transporting troops, artillery, and supplies up the Nile. Their work was essential to the advance toward Sudan and the operations connected to the Gordon Relief Expedition, though the mission ultimately failed to prevent the fall of Khartoum at the Battle of Khartoum. Their service remains one of the earliest and most important overseas military contributions by Canadians in imperial campaigns.