NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH EGYPT CLASP TO MIDSHIPMAN S.R. CAHILL

A completely unique surname on the roll, S.R. (sometimes Richard) Cahill entered service with the Royal Navy on 16 Jan 1801, part of the ‘Class of Boys’.

Between 8 Mar to 2 Sep 1801, Cahill was serving aboard the H.M.S. Trusty, a 50-gun fourth rate ship. On 26 Aug 1801, whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Trusty, Cahill was promoted to the rank of Midshipman.

Britain had sent an expeditionary force under General Sir Ralph Abercrombie, landing at Aboukir on 8 Mar 1801. On 21 March the French navy were defeated at the Battle of Alexandria (Abercrombie being wounded during the battle, and dying of his wounds seven days later), while the French General Menou was besieged in the city.

The Anglo-Indian expeditionary force from Bombay reached Jeddah on 17 May where they were joined by a contingent from the Cape of Good Hope. The force reached Kosseir on 8 June and marched across the desert to Kenna.

The French General Belliard surrendered Cairo on 27 June and the Indian contingent joined the forces at the Siege of Alexandria. The French General Menou surrendered to General Hely-Hutchinson on 30 August. The French army was allowed to evacuate Egypt.

Provenance: Glendenning’s Oct 1939, Christies 1 Jan 1970 – £1012