Bidspirit auction | An Egypt Medal dated 1882

An Egypt Medal dated 1882 with clasp 'Alexandria 11* July' to a Royal Navy Petty Officer for service in a Victoria Cross action aboard HMS Alexandra in Alexandria Harbour in 1882; the medal named to: A G M Curtis Cox Bge HMS Alexandra; (Curtis's rate is 'Coxswain of the Barge', a 2nd Class Working Petty Officer (Everson). The battleship HMS Alexandra was the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet under the command of Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour which took part in the Egyptian campaign of 1882 to overthrow the rebel Colonel Arabi Pasha. The British Fleet consisted of eight ironclads and five gunboats, with a total force of 3539 men and 102 guns. HMS Alexandra fired the first shot of the bombardment; she, in turn, was hit many times by shots from the shore batteries and suffered casualties of 1 killed and 5 wounded. The Alexandra opened fire at seven o'clock on the morning of 11th July 1882, the fire being promptly returned from the forts and it was only after over ten hours of bombardment that the Egyptian guns were finally silenced. (It should be noted that Arabi Pasha enjoyed popular support in Alexandria as women and children took part in serving the guns firing against the British fleet). At about nine o'clock, whilst the Alexandra was engaging the forts, a 10-inch spherical shell passed right through the ship's side and lodged on the main deck. ”On hearing the shout ”there is a live shell just above the hatchway” gunner Israel Harding rushed up the ladder from below, and observing that the fuse was burning, took some water from a tub standing nearby and threw it over the projectile. Had the shell burst it would probably have destroyed many lives, but happily the gallant gunner was there and, picking up the shell, safely deposited it in the tub.” (From 'Heroes of the Battlefield' published c 1882). Gunner Harding was awarded the Victoria Cross and promoted to Chief Gunner for his actions (LG The medal has the usual light pitting caused by contact with the Bronze Star but is in overall Very Fine (VF) condition. With copy engagement papers and extract from the medal roll for the Egypt Medal.