Walking Stick, formally belonging to Major General Sir G. P. Colley, shot by the Boers at the Battle of Majuba Hill in 1881. Lower section broken off (see reason for this on plaque), 29ins long, one side having a silver coloured plaque engraved 'Coomassie 1874', and on the other a much larger plaque engraved ‘I.M.O. [in memory of] Major Genl. Sir George Pomeroy Colley killed at the Amujaba [sic] Hill, Natal. March 1881, fighting against the insurgent Boers. This stick carried by him during the Ashantee War of 1874 & broken over a native’s back for refusing to carry a wounded man, was given by him on his return to Lt. Colonel Gosset, 54th Regiment’, generally good condition   £500-600

Sir George Pomeroy Colley, after a very distinguished Army career, was the Commander-in-Chief in Natal. At Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881 British troops had seized the hill after a night march and were overlooking the Boer camp. However, by a sudden rush the Boers captured the hill and in the fighting Colley received a rifle bullet through the forehead killing him. His death and the British defeat caused the British Government to begin peace negotiations with the Boers.