Egypt War Medal 1882-89

Awarded to William Nathan Wrighte Hewett (1834-1888). . Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria in a diadem and veil (left) Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX'. Reverse: the sphinx on an ornamental platform. Legend: 'EGYPT'. Exergue: '1882'. Bars:: 'SUAKIN 1884, 'EL-TEB'. Inscription on edge: 'REAR ADML. SIR, W.N.W.HEWETT. K.C.B. V.C. H.M.S. EURYLAS'. Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes.

Son of William Wrighte Hewett, surgeon and physician to William IV, he joined the navy as a First Class Volunteer on 26 March 1847. Hewett participated in the Burmese War in 1851 and was present at the capture of Pegu in 1853. Whilst serving with the Naval Brigade in the Crimea in 1854, he disregarded an incorrectly reported order to retreat from his battery and beat back the Russians with a rain of heavy gunfire. He was awarded the VC for this action and similar bravery during the Battle of Inkerman. He was confirmed as Lieutenant and appointed to the Royal Yacht 'Victoria and Albert' in 1857, being promoted to Commander the following year. He served on the following ships - 'Viper' in West Africa 1859, 'Rinaldo' North America and West Indies 1861. After being promoted to Captain 24 November 1862, he commanded 'Basilisk' in China 1865-9 and again in China in 'Ocean' as Flag Captain 1870-2. He was Commodore and Commander-in-Chief on the West Africa Station during the Ashanti War of 1873-4. Made a KCB in March 1874, he commanded 'Achilles' in the Mediterranean and the Sea of Marmora in 1877. Promoted to Rear-Admiral March 1878, KCSI 1882, he served as Commander-in-Chief, East Indies in 'Euryalus' 1882-5, head of naval operations in Egypt in 1884. In July 1884 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral and was Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Squadron in 1886, flying his flag at the head of the Review line at Spithead 1887. Retiring in 1888 due to ill health, he died the same year and is buried in Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.

Object Details

ID: MED1952
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyon, Leonard Charles
Events: Anglo-Egyptian War, 1882
Date made: 1882
People: Hewett, William Nathan Wrighte
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm