A good Egyptian War, East and West Africa Witu 1890 campaign and Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct group awarded to Private T. Eales, Plymouth Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry who saw service aboard H.M.S. Arab in Egypt during the Egyptian War, and later with H.M.S. Conquest during the Punitive Expedition against the Sultan of Witu which lasted from 17th to 27th October 1890, before subsequently receiving his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 7th August 1898. He would also later see service with the Plymouth Division during the Great War.
Group of 4: Egypt Medal 1882-1889, undated reverse, no clasp: (T. EALES. PTE. R.M. H.M.S. ARAB.) East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900, 1 Clasp: Witu; (T. EALES. PTE. R.M. H.M.S. CONQUEST.) the final letter of the ships name is underneath an edge-bruise. Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, VR, (T. EALES. PTE. NO. 2116 PLYMO. R.M.L.I.) Khedives Star dated 1884. Mounted for display.
Condition: mounted for display, contact wear to naming of East and West Africa Medal at 3 o’clock, otherwise Good Very Fine
Thomas Eales was born on 11th April 1861 at Torquay, Devon and enlisted into the Royal Marines at Exeter on 11th February 1880, giving his trade upon enlistment as a Labourer, he would then be posted to the Plymouth Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry on 25th August 1880, embarking aboard H.M.S. Arab on 15th February 1881 and subsequently taking part in the Egyptian War.
He would be posted back to Plymouth on 29th May 1885, and would serve there until 21st June 1886, when he would embark aboard HMS Curlew on 22nd June 1886 and served aboard her until 11th September 1888. Posted back to Plymouth on 12th September 1888, he would remain ashore until 15th February 1889, when he would embark board HMS Conquest.
Whilst with Conquest he served in the Naval Brigade which landed under the command of Vice Admiral Sir E.R. Fremantle, Commander-in-Chief East Indies Station, for the Punitive Expedition against the Sultan of Witu which lasted from 17th to 27th October 1890.
He would re-enlist into the Royal Marines on 11th November 1891 and would be posted back to Plymouth when Conquest was paid off on 11th March 1892. He would then serve in the Plymouth Garrison until 7th June 1897. He would then embark H.M.S. Tharlon on 8th June 1897, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 7th August 1898, before being posted back to Plymouth on 17th September 1900, he would be discharged on 13th February 1901. Enrolling into the Royal Fleet Reserve on 15th July 1901.
Re-mobilised on 5th August 1914, he would embark on HMS Majestic on 29th August but was posted back to Plymouth on 2nd September, he would serve with the Plymouth Division until he was demobilised on 10th March 1919, and would be additionally entitled to a 1914-1915 Star trio for his Great War Service.
Eales died on 2nd April 1947 just 9 days short of his 86th birthday.
