Description
Egypt Medal, dated 1882, bar Alexandria 11th July, Private Thomas Burley, Royal Marines, HMS Bittern, a small Gunboat who earned about 95 medals, 11 of which to the Royal Marines and R.M.A.
Officially engraved: T. Burley. Pte R.M. H.M.S. “Bittern”
Confirmed on the medal roll, this medal issued to him whilst still on the Bittern, 16th April 1883.
With copy service papers.
The tiny Gun Boat Bittern played an important role in the Bombardment of Alexandria.
Thomas Burley was born on 28th October 1854 in Yorkshire.
He enlisted for service on 28th October 1879, at London.
His first ship posting as joining HMS Humber from 24th October 1881 – 7th November 1881.
Before he joined the crew of HMS Bittern for the next few years, serving on board through the war from 8th November 1881 – 3rd February 1886.
During this time he earned this medal for his service on HMS Bittern, a wooden screw gun vessel with a crew of about 100 men in total.
His papers specially note that: “Landed with Naval Brigade at Alexandria from 14th to 23rd July 1882 inclusive.”
The Bittern Gunboat was under the command of the future Rear Admiral the Honourable T.S. Brand, an up and coming Navy Captain at the time.
An article in the Hampshire Telegraph from 1904, when Rear Admiral Brand was selected to command the Sussex Division RNVR speaks of his time on the bittern:
“When Arabi Pasha succeeded in turning Egypt upside down in a few weeks, Commander Brand, as he then was in rank, was Commander of the smart little gun boat Bittern, 805 tons, and carrying a crew of 90 men all told and on 7 Inch Gun and two 40 Pounders, attached to the Mediterranean Fleet.
The Bittern with others went to Alexandra to ‘Demonstrate’ and on the memorable 11th July 1882, she assisted in the process of cleaning the slate. During the bombardment the Bittern threw 89 shot and shell into the Egyptian works, and at one period of the action was ordered to support Lord Charles Beresford’s famous Condor, which had engaged and silenced the guns of Fort Marabout.
For his able handling of the Bittern, Commander Brand was promoted to Captain, and received very warm commendations in despatches and the medal with Alexandria Clasp and Khedive’s Star”
His Commanding Officer’s medals were recently sold at Noonans.
He went on to finish out a full career with the Royal Marines, being discharged after 21 years on 29th October 1900.
He noted his address would be 12 Cambridge Terrace, Otley, Yorks.
