Considering there were only 150 men defending Rorke’s Drift against the Zulus, an impressive number of medals awarded after that epic 1879 encounter have come to auction recently.
The latest Rorke’s Drift defender medal (South Africa Medal 1877-79) to be offered by London saleroom Dix Noonan Webb (20% buyer’s premium) sold for £60,000 on July 19. Consigned by a UK private collector with an estimate of £40,000- 50,000, it went to an overseas collector.
It was awarded to Corporal James Bushe, 2nd Battalion 24th Foot. He was wounded in the nose during the defence by a bullet which had just killed Private Cole, and he was mentioned by Lt John Chard in his account of the action specially written for Queen Victoria.