Awarded to James Gilham (1863-1944) Yeoman of Signals RN. 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'. Inscription on edge: 'J GILHAM ORD. H.M.S. CARYSFORT'. Suspended from a clasp and blue ribbon with two white stripes.

James Gilham was born at Brimpton, Somerset near Yeovil, the son of a farm labourer. He joined the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd class in January 1881 for ten years service. from 28 September 1880, initially serving as a signal boy and ordinary seaman in the newly commissioned HMS 'Carysfort'. She made a two-year voyage round the world with the 'Detached Squadron'. In July 1882 she was diverted to join the British Fleet at Malta and afterwards joined the squadron supporting British forces in the Anglo-Egyptian War. Her crew were deployed onshore to take possession of Ismailia. 'Carysfort' returned to Suakin on the Red Sea coast of Sudan in early 1884, in response to the Mahdist uprising. Gilham left her books on 14 April 1884. For the duration of World War I, Gilham served as Yeoman of Signals at the shore base HMS 'Wildfire' at Sheerness.
He had married Emily Hoskins in 1885 at Portsmouth and the couple has two sons. The family had moved to Sheerness by 1911. By 1939 Gilham, by now a widower, was living with his son Charles Harry Gilham in Birmingham.