A very fine Egypt 1882 campaign, Bombardment of Alexandria, and 1887 Jubilee Medal group of three to Colonel Vivian Dalton Mathais, Royal Marine Artillery, who was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel for his services in Alexandria where he landed with a detachment of Bluejackets and Marines for the Defence of the Gates of the City and where he was engaged in skirmishes with Beduins.
Group of 3: Queen Victoria 1887 Jubilee Medal, silver; Egypt Medal, 1882, 1 clasp: Alexandria 11th July (CAPTN. V. D. MATHIAS, R.M.A. H.M.S. “SUPERB”); Khedive’s Star 1882, swing mounted for display.
Condition: The Egypt medal with small scuff to rim, possibly a silver test mark, and minor contact marks from star, Good Very Fine.
Vivian Dalton Mathias, son of Thomas Mathias, R.N., was born in Ivybridge, Devon and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Marines, on 1 July 1861 at the age of sixteen and a half. Advanced to Lieutenant in 1867, he was promoted to Captain in 1876 and from 4 June 1879 to 22 August 1879 was joined Troop Ship “Lumead” for “Boadicea” for special service under the orders of the Commander in Chief of the Land Forces in South Africa. During this time he is noted as having encamped at Klein Fontein, Simon’s Bay, for 14 days. This service did not however qualify him for the South Africa 1877-9 Medal.
Mathias joined H.M.S. Superb on 5 Oct 1880 and embarked for Mediterranean service. He was promoted to the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel for services at the Bombardment of Alexandria where he landed on 13 July in charge of a detachment of Royal Marine Artillery for the defence of the city. He had charge of a combined force of Bluejackets and Marines with Field Guns and Gattlings for the defence of the Gates of the City and was employed in the Protection of the Railway Station. He re-embarked on 29 July and again landed from 2 to 14 August when he was employed mounting guns for the defence of the Lines of Alexandria. During this time he was engaged in skirmishes with Beduins.
In 1884 he was promoted to the rank of Major and in 1887 was present during the Jubilee Review. In 1888, The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty Expressed to H.R.H. The Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean their appreciation of the intelligence and zeal displayed by Major & Brevet Colonel Mathias in the preparation of a Report on the Defences of Port Mahon.
Mathias was invalided at Malta in August 1888 in consequence of “Locomotor Ataxy” and following three months leave was found to be unfit for further service and placed on the rited list on 24 Aug 1898. He died on 30 May 1898.
