Khedive's Star

We don't know anything about David's family or his early life.

He joined the Manchester Regiment soon after it was formed on the 1st July 1881. His service number was 64, so he most likely enlisted in July or August of that year.

David served with the 1st Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. They were based in Quetta, in what is now Pakistan when he enlisted. We don't know whether he was able to join them there before he found himself at war.

The Anglo-Egyptian War broke out in June 1882 after the pro-British Khedive was deposed. Britain wanted to protect its commercial investments in Egypt, as well as the Suez Canal, which gave access to India.

The 1st Battalion was sent to Egypt on the 6th September to join a larger force that had already landed. For this reason they did not see very much fighting. The war ended later that month with the British restoring the Khedive to power, but having much more control over the country. He served as a Drummer for the Battalion in Egypt.

David returned to the UK on the 3rd November 1882. He was stationed at Warley in Essex, and then at the Tower of London for a time in March 1893.

We don't know when David left the Army, or what he did once he was a civilian.

As well as the Khedive's Star David was also awarded the Egypt Medal for his Army Service. His medal was presented to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in mid 1938. .