Description
Egypt Medal, undated, bar Suakin 1885, 7748 Drummer William Reed, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards. A Welshman from Crickhowel, Abergavenny, Brecknockshire, Wales.
Officially engraved: “7748 Drummer: W. Reed. 3/Gren Gds.”
Some contact marking and pitting from wear.
William Reed was born on 29 Dec 1859 in Wales.
He attested for service with the Grenadier Guards on 13th September 1881 aged 22.
He stated he was joining from the Royal Monmouth Regiment of Militia.
He was promoted to Drummer on 22nd April 1884 and served in that capacity throughout his career, doing a full 12 years with the Colours until 1st September 1893.
He had seen overseas service of 147 days in Egypt from 26th February 1885 – 16th July 1885, whilst a Drummer.
In Egypt, the final action of the Guards was at Suakin when the Guards Brigade of the 3rd Battalion Grenadiers, 1st Battalion Coldstreams and 3rd Battalion Scots Guards “Rounded up the remnants of the Mahdi’s Army”. All 3 regiments earned the Battle Honour for Suakin, according to the Guards Museum.
Notably attached to the Brigade were some Australian Troops.
After his retirement from the Army, he returned home to live in Crickhowell.
Shown on the 1939 Census as a retired Baker, living at Tyr Duffryn Manor in Gilwern, Crickhowell, Wales.
He died there during 1941.
