Lot 2031

Description

South Africa Medal 1879, - clasp - 1879. 266. Tpr. J.May. Frontier.L.Horse. Engraved. Extremely fine and rare as KIA at Battle of Hlobane.

Trooper J May served in Zulu and Basuto Wars, KIA at Hlobane 28 March 1879. Following the Isandhlwana disaster, Colonel Sir Evelyn Wood VC, KCB in the north at Kambula with his column was told to hold fast to await reinforcements from England. However, a mounted force from his column under Lieutenant Colonel (later General) Redvers H Buller was attacked near Hlobane Mountain by a large Zulu force and suffered heavy casualties on 28 March 1879. Next day, heavily outnumbered, Wood's base camp at Kambula was able to beat off the Zulus in a fierce four hour attack. The Battle of Hlobane resulted in a British defeat with the loss of fifteen officers and one hundred and ten soldiers and additionally with eight wounded and one hundred native soldiers killed.