Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Africa 1834-53 (W. Roach. 27th Regt.) light marks, otherwise good very fine £500-£600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53.

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Collection

Fewer than 400 medals were issued to men of the 27th, 72nd, and 75th Regiments, who fought during the 1st Kaffir War.

William Roach was born at Templemoore, County Mayo, and enlisted into the 27th Foot at Castlebar on 16 May 1826, aged 18, a labourer by trade. He served overseas in the West Indies for 5 years, and at the Cape of Good Hope for twelve years. During this period he took part in the Kaffir Wars of 1835-36 and 1846-47. He was also with the detachment under Captain T. Charleton Smith in April 1842 on his epic 600 mile overland trek from Fort Peddie to Port Natal (Durban) to the relief of the 27th Regiment, besieged at that place after their defeat in action with the Boers. This ultimately led to the forming of the Colony of Natal. He was discharged at Chatham on 13 June 1848, suffering with chronic rheumatism. Sold with copied discharge papers and detailed muster roll research.