Description
A scarce Nile campaign casualty pair, Royal Irish Regiment – Wounded in action on 16 February 1885 at Abu Klea Wells by a rifle shot to his right leg.
Egypt Medal 1882-1889, dated reverse, clasps ‘Tel El Kebir’ and ‘The Nile 1884-85’ , 197 Pte E. Porter 2/R.IR:Regt. ; Khedive’s Star 1882 (un-named as issued).
Cresswell states only 85 medals with this clasp combination to the Regiment.
Edward Porter was a 19 year old illiterate labourer from Nantwich in Cheshire when he enlisted for General Service before the Justices at Ashton-Under-Lyne on 12 January 1882. When medically examined he was 5’ 6¾” tall, 131 lbs, 34” chest, of sallow complexion, green eyes and brown hair. He had very deep small pox marks on his face and was tattooed on both forearms. Porter passed through the 63rd Regimental District Depot at Ashton. Although recruited in the home territory of the Manchester Regiment, he was allocated to the 2nd Bn Royal Irish Regiment.
Porter joined 2nd Bn The Royal Irish Regiment at Chatham on 12 January 1882. In August 1882 the Battalion sailed from Portsmouth for active service in Egypt where it distinguished itself at the Battle of Tel El Kebir. The Battalion was then at Cairo and Alexandria before moving to Malta in February 1883. In May 1883 the 2nd Bn returned home to England and was quartered at Aldershot. Porter did not remain long in England. He transferred to the 1st Bn and sailed for India on 11 September 1883, landing there on 2 November 1883. He managed to catch the usual soldiers’ diseases while in India.
On 29 August 1884, after just under a year in India, the 1st Bn sailed for Egypt to take part in the Nile campaign. On 15th February 1885 the column of which the Royal Irish formed part was in bivouac at Abu Klea wells. The Regimental History states:
“Early on the 16th [February 1885], the battalion was directed to entrench one of the low hills which encircle the wells; just as the shelter trenches were finished and occupied, and the men were eating a well-earned meal, large numbers of the enemy appeared on ground commanding the defences of the Royal Irish, and opened fire at about 1100 yards range. To meet the attack, which enfiladed some of the trenches, fresh works had to be thrown up under continuous and sometimes very heavy musketry. “The Gardner and the screw-guns gave the enemy a little physic,” wrote an officer in his diary, “but the rebels kept it up all night, and we expected an attack at any time …” During this prolonged skirmish, in which there were many “close shaves” from the flat-trajectoried Remington rifles used by the enemy, Quartermaster and honorary Lieutenant Jamieson and thirteen other ranks [including Private Porter] were wounded.”
Porter was in hospital at Aboo Fatush and at Wadi Haifa from 15 March to 1 May 1885. He was then invalided to Cairo. He appeared before a Medical Board in Cairo on 7 may 1885 in respect of a ‘Wound (rifle shot, r. leg).’ The Board recommended a ‘change of climate’. Porter returned to England and was admitted to Netley Military Hospital where he remained from 29 May to 6 August 1885.
On his release from Netley, Porter did not return to the 1st Bn. Instead, he was posted to the Regimental Depot of the Royal Irish Regiment at Clonmel. He got into trouble in Ireland and was tried on 25 August 1886 and imprisoned for 122 days, spending Christmas 1886 in prison. On his release on 3 January 1887 Porter was posted back to the 1st Bn, which was by then at Devonport. He remained at Devonport, with a short stint at Plymouth, until he was discharged to the 1st Class Army Reserve 12 January 1889. He was 28. Porter’s conduct was described as ‘Bad’ and his habits ‘Intemperate’. He was finally discharged from the Reserve 11 January 1894, having served 7 years with the colours and 5 on the Reserve.
Condition – VF/GVF Usual pitting to Egypt medal. Slight scratching below the Queen’s chin.
NOTE: Sorry we cannot accept payment by PayPal for this item, We can accept payment by Credit / Debit Card, Bank Transfer or Cheque.
