Interpretation of 1882 UK War Record

[Mart 'n' Al]

I have an ancestor whose record shows the following:

Campaigns: Egypt 1882. Present at the actions of Kassassin 9 Sept '82 and Tel-el-Kebir 13 Sept '82

Medals Decorations and Annuities: Egypt 1882 with clasp and Khedives bronze

Does the phrase 'present at' mean he actually took part in the battle?  This Wikipedia article gives some background.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kassassin

It mentions the Royal Horse Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards while my man was in the 10th Hussars.

I thank you for any help.

Martin

[Kiltpin]

My opinion is that he might have been with the uncommitted troops, visible to the enemy but held in reserve. The British forces used to do this by way of intimidation.

I have an ancestor who was a Captain in an Invalid Battalion. He was always on the periphery of the action, with his men looking mean and moody, but never committed.

Regards

Chas

[Mart 'n' Al]

Kiltpin, thank you.  I can imagine my ancestors looking mean and moody, but never committed.  It's genetic.  I like the image.

Martin

[MaxD]

Have you checked the actual medal rolls to see if he was attached to another regiment or on the staff or whatever?  My understanding is that "present at" was simply the way of saying he was there, there is no distinction being made between being in the thick of it and standing on the sidelines.
May I ask his name and number?

MaxD

[q98]

It appears the Regiment did not participate at Tel-el-Kebir.
Please refer http://www.10thhussar.com/History.html

Interestingly, note reference to Beau Brummell.

[Mart 'n' Al]

Two answers,

MaxD, he was Charles March Wibrow, b1858, (his father had the same name and was also a 10th Hussar).  He was given the number 14940 in 1878 after he appears to have rejoined the army, Royal Engineers at Aldershot.  His former service in the 10th Hussars counted towards his Good Conduct Pay and Pension.  He was in Egypt from 9th August to 20th October 1882.  His Hussars number is 1340, enlisted 1871 in Dublin, age 14.  He was in India from 1873 to 1877. 

q98, I note that the 1882 campaigns aren't mentioned.  Can you comment on this, yet his personal record does mention it.  I know nothing at all about these things,

Thank you both for your time. so far.

Martin

[MaxD]

His service in Egypt was with A Troop Royal Engineers not with 10th Hussars.  He appears, with the regimental number you quoted in the RE medal rolls.  What A Troop actually did needs a bit more work!

The service record I am looking at is for his RE service from 10 April 1878 until March 1895 in which he says he was discharged from the 10th Hussars on 21 May 1877. He served with them Sep 1871 onwards. It has his 10th Hussars attestation.

His record has the annotations you posted earlier.  Has that clarified things?

MaxD

He grew 9 inches during his service and it looks as if his service in the Cherrypickers was as a musician.

[MaxD]

https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/2501550/soldiers-from-the-royal-engineers-who-served-in-the-anglo-egyptian-war
For interest.

MaxD

[Mart 'n' Al]

Max, this is good stuff.  Thank you.  I now see that he was RE in 1882.  Thanks for the link.  I love the picture.  I have been researching too much simultaneously this week, and replacing a toilet inlet valve.

Martin