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Picture courtesy of Spink

SAGS (1) 1877-8-9 (2416. Pte. G. Baker. 2/24th Foot.)

George Albert Baker was born on 9 July 1854 at Ticehurst, Sussex, the illegitimate son of Mary Baker. By 1861 he was living with his mother at Bonnicks Cottage, Burwash, Sussex, where she was housekeeper to John Relf. By 1871 he was a labourer, boarding with William Garton and his family at Chipstead, Surrey.

On 14 May 1872, he enlisted in the 24th Regiment of Foot at Reigate - he was to be with his unit during their famed campaign in South Africa.

When the British force under the command of Lord Chelmsford reached Isandlwana on 19 January 1879 they camped, and in the early hours of the 22 January a substantial force left the camp to seek out the Zulu Army and bring them to battle. Baker and three colleagues from 'G' Company went with this force from 'H' Company, leaving the remainder of the Company on guard. After hearing of the Zulu attack, they returned to the camp and found the scene of a massacre. Little more needs to be said of the events of that day but of the 1,800 or so on the British side, over 1,300 did not survive the day. Baker and his three comrades could surely count themselves lucky, but would live with what they had seen for the rest of their days.

In The Red Soldier, Frank Emery quoted Sergeant W. Morley of 'H' Company, penned on 1 February 1879:

'After we arrived at the place where the enemy were supposed to be, there was nothing to be seen. We continued our march in search of them, when our camp was attacked by the [Zulus] in large force, and after four or five hours our force left in camp was cut off and our camp taken, ammunition, stores, tents and everything in the possession of our column, and not a single man of the 2/24th was left to tell the tale. G Company was on out-post duty, left in camp and all were killed except Colour-Sergeant Ross, Privates Jones, Baker, and Etbridge who were out with us.'

Baker served for seven years and 116 days and was thence transferred to the Reserve. He was discharged at Dover on 13 May 1884. He died on 1 March 1920 and is buried at St Thomas a Beckett Church, Brightling.

Sold together with the following original archive:

(i)
A full-length photograph of the recipient in uniform, 565mm x 565mm, framed and glazed, somewhat enhanced, likely by the photographer's studio, of almost exactly the same style as the image of Private O. Hughes of the same Battalion, who was killed on that day (Medal & archive sold in these Rooms in December 2022 - £16,000 Hammer).

(ii)
Zulu assegai head, broken from the shaft, by family repute a relic taken from the field on the day of the Battle, 330mm x 48mm, a truly remarkable object in its own right.

(iii)
Parchment Discharge Certificate.

(iv)
24th Regiment Memorial Card to those who fell at Rorke's Drift.

(v)
Zulu War booklet, published in 1978 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary, together with an article on the life and times of Baker by renowned Zulu War historian Ian Knight.

The SAGS to Private Baker sold yesterday for a hammer price of GBP 7,500. Totals: GBP 9,300. R 201,060. AUD 16,690. NZD 17,720. CAD 15,110. USD 11,240. EUR 10,260.

Picture courtesy of Dominic Winter

Described as: Boer War period scarlet tunic, of the 5 Volunteer Battalion, South Wales Borderers

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (4215 Cpl. J. Wall, S. Wales Bord:);
KSA (2) (4215 Corpl: J. Wall. S. Wales Bord.), about extremely fine (2)

Victory Medal 1914-19 (22117 Pte. R. Wall. S. Wales Bord.), good very fine (3)

J. Wall is confirmed upon the Medal rolls with entitlement to Queen's and King's South Africa medals with these clasps, for service with the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers during the Anglo-Boer War.

Reginald Wall served in France from 4 December 1915 and died of wounds in August 1917, being remembered at Dozinghem Military Cemetery.

Sold together with a small file of copied research and a charming 'field-made' Christmas card relating to 'Jack' Wall's service in service in South Africa, this taking the form of a piece of khaki cloth inscribed in ink to front and rear respectively:

'A. Merry. Xmas.
Torn from my coat, I send you this piece of old & worn khaki with Luck & Love from one abroad. To my dear old Parents across the foam.'
'With the compliments of the season. From Jack to all at Home. South Africa, December 1st, 1901.'

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (3) clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (6349 Pte D. Churms, S. Wales Bord.);
[ KSA (2) ]

David Churms, of West Bromwich in Staffordshire, was born in 1879.

He was called back to the Colours in August 1914, but discharged in December of that year as 'no longer physically fit for war service.'

Picture courtesy of C and T Auctions

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg (6001 PTE. C, HENNESSEY. S. WALES B:);
[ KSA (2) ];
[ 1914 Star trio ]

Cornelius Hennessey from Cork, Ireland attested for service in the South Wale Borderers on 13th August 1898 aged 18. He served for 12 years and 323 days including 2 years and 254 days in South Africa before his discharge on 12th August 1910. He was imprisoned for 14 days with hard labour in September 1905.

During the Great War he was serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (service number 10940) was presumed killed on 30th October 1914.Cornelius Hennessy (sic) is remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.