Egyptian Campaigns Medal 1882-89, with clasp, 'Tel el Kebir', awarded to General Sir Cecil Macready

Circular, silver campaign medal with, on the obverse, the veiled head of Queen Victoria, with the inscription in Latin, 'Victoria Regina et Imperatrix' (Victoria, Queen and Empress). On the reverse, a sphinx on a plinth with the word 'Egypt' above, and the date, '1882', below. Suspended on a blue and white striped ribbon with the clasp, 'Tel-el Kebir'.

General Sir Cecil Frederick Nevill 'Make-Ready' Macready was born on 7 May 1862. The son of an actor, he was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders in 1881. He served in the Egyptian War of 1882, staying on with the military police in Alexandria until 1889. Macready was promoted to major in 1899 and served with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). A series of staff posts followed and Macready was involved in the formation of the Territorial Force and military aid to the civil power operations including the employment of soldiers during labour disputes and the deployment of troops to Ireland during World War One (194-1918). From 1920, through the closing stages of the Irish War of Independence and the subsequent Irish Civil War, Macready held the post of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in Ireland.

This medal is the version awarded to personnel who served in the Egyptian War of 1882. Later variants of the medal were issued to those who served in the 1st Sudan War (1883-1885) and on operations in the Sudan until 1889.

Tel-el-Kebir lies at a strategic point on the railway between Ismailia and Cairo. On 13 September 1882 it was the scene of the final, decisive action of the Egyptian War (1882), fought between the British (then joint rulers of Egypt, with France) and Arabi Pasha, an Egyptian Army officer and leader of the revolt against foreign rule.

From a group of orders and medals awarded to General Sir C F N Macready (1862-1946), Gordon Highlanders, Adjutant General to the British Forces and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Ireland, 1920-1922.