PREVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA 19 APRIL

Alfred Saxty was just 22 when, on 22 January 1879, he and just over 150 British troops faced around 4,000 Zulu warriors in one of the most famous battles in British military history, Rorke’s Drift.

He was also one of the last few survivors of the battle, which was immortalised in the iconic film Zulu. Now Noonans will offer his campaign pair in the Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria auction on 19 April with an estimate of £15,000-20,000.

A Corporal in 'B' Company of 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, Saxty was promoted to the rank of Sergeant the day after the battle.

Hailing from Somerset, Saxty had enlisted for 25 Brigade at Newport, Monmouthshire, on 11 September 1876, aged 19. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot at Brecon two days later and went on to serve in South Africa from 1 February 1878 to 12 January 1880, including at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. 

After seven months service in the Mediterranean, the regiment moved to India in August 1880 and served in Burma from May 1886 to January 1887, before returning to India again.
Saxty’s career did not run smoothly. He was confined on 6 May 1881, charged with being drunk on picquet, and sentenced by District Court Martial to be reduced to Private and to 56 days imprisonment with hard labour and stoppage of pay, in addition being fined £1 and forfeited Good Conduct Pay. He steadily regained his steps in rank to become Sergeant again in December 1885.

After his service in the Burma campaign, Saxty re-engaged for the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Madras on 4 October 1887, ‘for such term as shall complete 21 years’ service.’ He transferred to the 2nd Battalion of that regiment on New Year’s Day 1888, and then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 14 July 1891. Reduced to Corporal in October 1894, he was discharged at his own request at Thayetmyo, Burma, on 28 February 1895.

Saxty had married Mary Copeland on 30 December 1885, at Ootacamund, India, and by December 1894 had issue four children, Albert, Mary, Wilfred and Leo. He was admitted to In-Pension at Chelsea Hospital on 12 June 1930, but reverted to Out-Pension in October 1933 in order to live with his sister in Newport, Monmouthshire.

In 1934 he attended the Northern Command Tattoo, held at Gateshead, County Durham, 7-14 July, when he appeared in the arena with fellow Rorke’s Drift veterans Lieutenant-Colonel Bourne and Privates Cooper, Jobbins and Wood, all former comrades at Rorke’s Drift. An annotated photograph of them together is included with this lot.

Saxty died of myocarditis and senility at Woolaston House Infirmary, Newport, Monmouthshire, on 11 July 1936. He was buried with military honours at St Wollos Cemetery, Newport, on 15 July. The Royal Horse Artillery provided the gun carriage, the South Wales Borderers Depot the bearers, firing party and bugler. A large number of Officers and other ranks of the Regiment and a strong contingent of British Legion attended. Lieutenant-Colonel Bourne sent a wreath, as did five other survivors of the former Rorke’s Drift garrison.

“Medals linked to this conflict always attract substantial attention,” said Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liaison at Noonans.