Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Zulu War campaign medal awarded to Private Henry Turner, 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, one of the Heroic Defenders of the Mission Station at Rorke’s Drift, 22nd-23rd January 1879

South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1877-8-9 (104 Pte. H. Turner, 1/24th Foot) expert repair to suspension, the obverse a little polished and with very faint traces of brooch marks, otherwise generally very fine and extremely rare £4000-5000

Ex Spink auction 12 April 1990 (£4000).

Henry Turner was born at Ball Bridge, Dublin (sometimes also given as Bassbridge and Killeatty, Wexford), and attested at Aldershot on 27 March 1874, aged 23 years. He was posted to the 2nd 24th on 31 March 1874 but transferred to the 1st Battalion on 26 November the same year. He was struck over the left ear by a black bottle when on picquet duty in 1876, the wound scar being evident. Since that time he suffered epilepsy, the first attack being at Simm’s Town, Cape Colony, in 1876, and this could well explain his presence at Rorke’s Drift, although he is not known to have been one of the hospital patients at the time of the attack. He is recorded as being present during the defence by Lieutenant Chard, and by Colour-Sergeant Bourne, on his amended roll. Turner was examined by a medical board at Pietermaritzburg on 9 September 1879 and found to be unfit for further service. On arrival in England he was sent to Netley, having suffered two further epileptic attacks, one of which was on board the ship bringing him home. Medical opinion considered his disability to be permanent and that he ‘may not be able to struggle for a precarious livelihood’. He was consequently discharged as unfit for further service on 9 February 1880.

Only one Sergeant and nine privates of the 1st 24th Foot were present at Rorke’s Drift, the majority of those present being from the 2nd Battalion. Of the ten 1st Battalion men, four were killed or died of wounds, two were wounded and one awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.