Description
South Africa “Zulu” War Medal 1877-9, bar 1879, 1806 Pte J. Wales, 90th (Perthshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot. 90th Light Infantry fought at Kambula and Ulundi earning 2 Victoria Crosses.
This regiment later known since 1881 as the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
Officially engraved: “1806 Pte J. Wales. 90th Foot”
Toned, in good preserved condition.
Confirmed on the medal roll for the medal and 1879 Clasp for the Zulu War.
The roll noting by the time of issue he was serving with the regiment in India.
During the famous Zulu War of 1879, the 90th Light Infantry fought in 2 major battles, the Battle of Kambula on 29th March 1879, and the Battle of Ulundi on 4th July 1879, which victory marked the end of the war.
They were also involved in the Battle of Hlobane, fought on 28th March 1879, one day before Kambula, this was however an embarrassing defeat marked as a Zulu Victory, the Zulu even managing to shoot Sir Evelyn Wood’s horse from under him, but the efforts of the 90th did not go unnoticed, as on this day both Lieut Henry Lysons and Pte Edmund Fowler earned the Victoria Cross, marking the 2 awards earning that war by the 90th Light Infantry.
The 90th Light Infantry joined the Zulu War as part of Sir Evelyn Wood’s Flying Column, on 29th March 1879 they were engaged at the “Battle of Kambula”, where 20,000 Zulu Warriors attacked the 2,000 strong British Column.
The 90th formed part of the defensive perimeter alongside the 13th Somerset Light Infantry, the other British Infantry unit present in the column.
Due to their strong defensive formation they held strong, it was later noted that each man of the 90th averaged 31 shots fired, leading to estimated heavy Zulu losses of about 2000-3000 killed.
They would soon after fight in the penultimate Battle of Ulundi on 4th July 1879.
Ulundi was the Capital of the Zulu Kingdom, the stronghold of King Cetshwayo.
The 90th were in action alongside the 13th Somersets, 80th Foot and some Mounted Troops under Lt Col Redvers Buller as part of Brigadier General Sir Evelyn Wood’s Flying Column.
During the battle, the British Force was formed into a defensive square (technically it was a rectangle), the 90th Light Infantry formed part of the left face, fighting beside 4 companies of the 94th Regiment and with 2 7-Pounder guns.
The Zulus then made various determined charges, but the men held steadfast, whilst a number of the defenders fell to Zulu marksmen, no warrior could get within 30 yards of the British ranks.
The victory broke the Zulu military power in the region, Cetshwayo upon hearing the news of the fall of his Capital, fled the area being captured almost 2 months later.
