Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Zulu War medal to Sergeant John Lines, 2/24th Foot, who was killed at Isandhlwana

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (2221 Sergt. J. Lines, 2/24th Foot) toned, extremely fine £5000-6000

Sergeant John Lines was killed in action at Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879.

John Lines was born at Sibford Ferris, Oxfordshire. He transferred from the 1/24th (1-24/897) to the 2/24th Foot on 15 March 1870. He was promoted to Corporal on 31 January 1872, to Sergeant circa 1874, and served in “A” Company. He was in the action at Baillie’s Grave on 7 April 1878, and was beside 102 Private Collins at the time of his death in that action. In a letter dated 5 October 1878 at Pietermaritzburg, he states - ‘I had a very narrow escape of being shot by the Kaffirs - at Bailey’s Grave there was one man shot dead only 3 yards from me. I expect I should have shared the same fate only I was lying down and he was standing up, but as soon as I got to my legs the bullets came around me like hail’ (Regimental Archive). Ref: The Noble 24th, Norman Holme.