Orders, Decorations & Medals - Zulu War Medals

Lot 3228    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 25TH MARCH)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Zulu War Medals

Estimate $80,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1877-79, - clasp - 1877-8-9. 2389. Lce Sergt. J.Key. 2-24th Foot. Officially engraved. Reverse edge bump, hairlines, otherwise good very fine.

Ex Stanley Gibbons purchase for 38,000GBP.

Served with B Company of 2/24th Foot (2nd Warwickshire Regiment) at Rorke's Drift on 22 and 23 January 1879 during the Zulu War.

John Key, attested at Secunderbad, India 28Aug1871; posted to 2Bn 24th Foot; Appt'd Drummer in 1873; reverted to Private 25Sep1877; Appt'd Lance Corporal 03May1878; Promoted to Corporal 03Jul1878 and to Lance Sergeant 19Feb1879; Trf to H Coy 31Mar1879; Promoted to Sgt 20Mar1880; Placed on Unattached List at Secunderbad 01Mar1884; Served in the Kaffir War 1878, in the Zulu War 1879 and was a Corporal in B Company at the Defence of Rorke's Drift.

The defence of the mission depot at Rorke's Drift was one of the British Army's most historic battles when about 150 British soldiers fought off around 4,000 Zulu warriors. At the start of 1879 the British force invaded Zululand however they underestimated the Zulus who side-stepped the main column and instead attacked and wiped out most of the troops that had been left in camp at Isandlwana. The Zulus then prepared to attack the British at the depot and hospital they had established at Rorke's Drift using the mission station operated by a Swedish missionary, Reverend Otto Witt.

Those who survived the massacre at Isandlawana went to Rorke's Drift. Observers on a hill saw parties of Zulus advancing toward the mission station and it was decided to try and defend the mission because trying to evacuate while transporting hospital patients would slow them down and they would be caught by the Zulus. Although mostly armed only with spears and shields the Zulu warriors were formidable opponents. The defenders set up barricades around the mission station and the buildings were loop-holed for defence. When the Zulu warriors arrived they tried to storm the defence line but were held at bay, mostly by soldiers of the 24th Foot, the unit in which Corporal John Key was serving. Many Zulus were shot and those who did manage to scale barricades were forced back. Wounded British soldiers that could, reloaded rifles and distributed ammunition to those still fighting. The Zulus were at a distinct disadvantage because they were mostly armed with spears and those who did have rifles had no training in how to use them and generally were poor shots.

Disgustingly, as the battle continued, the Zulus attacked the hospital, setting it on fire, and started killing patients until they were finally pushed back by soldiers using bayonets. Several patients were killed or perished in the fire, but those that survived and most of the soldiers then moved into a barricaded area in the centre of the mission station and it was here that they were successful in finally forcing the Zulus to retreat. The Zulus regathered but it appears that they were aware that a relief column under the command of Lord Chelmsford was approaching from the area of Isandlwana and so they retreated. Almost everyone of the British Army members were injured, although only 17 were killed, and the Zulu losses totalled about 500.

Following this historic and heroic battle, a total of eleven Victoria Crosses and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to the survivors. This is the most awards of the Victoria Cross than for any other battle in history. The battle received worldwide recognition when it was immortalised in the 1964 movie titled Zulu, starring famous British actors, Stanley Baker playing Lieutenant John Chard, Royal Engineers, who was in command at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, Michael Caine playing Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, 24th Foot, who was second in command and Jack Hawkins who played Reverend Otto Witt.

With research.