Egyptian War Battle of El-Teb pair to later Great War casualty Private T. Wright, Royal Marines who saw service in Egypt during the Egyptian War where he would be present at El-Teb on 29th February 1884 when a force under Sir Gerald Graham defeated Osman Digna’s forces with few casualties. Wright would join the Royal Fleet Reserve in August 1903, just 5 months after his discharge from the Royal Marines. He would serve in the Reserve until 17th August 1912. He would then be recalled at the outbreak of the Great War serving with the Portsmouth Division until he died on 23rd May 1917. He is now buried in Penn Fields (St. Philip) Churchyard.
Pair: Egypt Medal 1882-1889, undated reverse, 1 Clasp: El-Teb; (T. WRIGHT. PTE. R.M.) Khedive’s Star, dated 1884, unnamed as issued.
Condition: Egypt Medal with pitting, Very Fine
Thomas Wright was born at Slightwell, Nottinghamshire 17th July 1863, and giving his trade as Labourer joined the Royal Marines initially serving as a Private with the Recruit Depot, until on 13th June 1882 he joined the Portsmouth Division. He would serve there until 19th January 1883 when he joined Alexandira on 21st January 1883, until 7th February 1884. He would then serve ashore with the Royal Marines in Egypt taking part in the Battle of El Teb,
The first and second battles of El Teb (4 February 1884 and 29 February 1884) took place during the British Sudan Campaign where a force of Sudanese under Osman Digna won a victory over a 3,500 strong Egyptian force under the command of General Valentine Baker which was marching to relieve Tokar on the 4th. A second British force under Sir Gerald Graham arrived on the 29th, engaging and defeating Osman Digna with few casualties.
After the Battle of El-Teb he would return to Alexandra on 28th April 1884, remaining aboard until he was paid off on 3rd March 1886, he would then serve aboard Tamar until 22nd March 1886, when he returned ashore until 5th February 1887. He would then serve aboard an unknown ship (illegible on papers), before joining the Duke of Wellington on 18th December 1887 until 31st December 1889, when he returned to Portsmouth Division when he returned to Portsmouth Division, being promoted Corporal on 15th November 1890. Remaining there until 3rd November 1891, he then moved to the Victory Division II, before returning to the Portsmouth Division on 5th December 1893. He would join Indefatigable from 15th July to 25th August 1894, then returning to Portsmouth until on 4th September 1894 he would be posted to Victory.
Remaining on Victory until 12th August 1895 he would then return to Portsmouth until 12th November 1895 when he was posted to Cordelia, where he remained until on 4th December 1898, he once more returned to Portsmouth Division being appointed a Sergeant. He would be pensioned ashore on 11th March 1902.
Only 5 months later in August 1903 Wright would join the Royal Fleet Reserve, being posted to Portsmouth Division once more, where he remained until 17th August 1912.
He would be recalled to Portsmouth Division, Royal Fleet Reserve upon the outbreak of war, beginning at Portsmouth, until being sent to Birmingham on 1st January 1915. He would be called up from 1st March 1917 until 23rd May 1917 when he would be discharged dead.
Wright has a Commonwealth War Grave at Penn Fields (St. Philip) Churchyard, and is noted as the husband of F.L. Wright, of 3 Thornley Street, Wolverhampton.
