Spicer's Auctioneers Never miss an auction

Isandlwana Medals 4 June 2021 Militaria Auction

Posted On: 27 May 2021 by Barbara Spicer

The importance of research into the background of a medal recipient is of great significance to collectors, whilst most pre 1945 WWII medals are inscribed, finding out what it was awarded for is both historically and financially interesting.

Share:
Isandlwana Medals 4 June 2021 Militaria Auction

 

Rare Historical Medals

The importance of research into the background of a medal recipient is of great significance to collectors, whilst most pre 1945 WWII medals are inscribed, finding out what it was awarded for is both historically and financially interesting.

Spicers have recently been asked to auction three medals by the daughter of a collector who bought them in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The Queens South Africa medal was awarded to personnel who had served in any of the campaigns in South Africa between September 1877 and December 1879. The military operations during this period were a series of separate campaigns against specific tribes and the unrest would eventually culminate in the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. Hence, the medal is often referred to as the Zulu War Medal. Some 36,600 medals were awarded.

Of the three that have been entered one awarded to Pte J. Hurley of the 1/13th Foot, they fought at the Battle of Kambula and at the Battle of Ulundi, the Battalion embarked for England aboard H.M.S. Euphrates, arriving home on 18 September, after 4 years and 9 months of service in South Africa. 1033 Medals were issued to the 1/13th Regiment, 688 of them with the '1878-9' clasp, today this carries a £600/800 estimate.

The other two are a lot more interesting as they relate to casualties (always more collectable than a survivor) of the famous 1st Battalion 24th Regiment of Foot. Privates James Chatterton and Charle Mullin were part of Lord Chelmsford’s Force who crossed into Zululand on the 11th of January 1879, and camped at Isandlwana Hill, ten miles east of Rorke’s Drift. On the 21st a fierce battle raged and resulted in the decimation of the British troops by the Zulus, of some 1,300 in the British Force, only 10 men of the Regiment survived the battle. Our two medal recipients were among the dead. Later that day and the following the battle of Rouke’s Drift happened where 150 British troops held off an estimated 3,000 Zulus’. Recently the medal awarded to Private J. Water’s a survivor of the 1/24th at Rorke’s Drift sold for £44,000. 

Chatterton and Mullins medals (the 1/24th had 14 Officers and 450 NCO/other ranks at Isandlwana) are estimated at £6,000/8,000 each.