.png)
A deeply poignant lot comes to auction in the form of a South Africa Medal 1877–1879, bearing the 1879 clasp, awarded to 181 Private James Plunkett of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (The Noble 24th). Private Plunkett was one of over 1,300 British and colonial troops killed in action at the fateful Battle of Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879 – one of the most devastating defeats in British military history. The medal is accompanied by a rare original 24th Foot helmet plate. These two artefacts, offered by direct descent through the family, provide a rare and moving link to one of the most significant engagements of the Anglo-Zulu War.
James Plunkett was born in 1854 and enlisted in the British Army at Burley, Lancashire, on 13 May 1874, at the age of 20. He joined the famed 24th Regiment of Foot, a unit that would earn both distinction and tragic renown during its deployment in southern Africa. On 22 January 1879, Plunkett was killed in action at Isandhlwana, when a Zulu force of around 20,000 warriors overwhelmed a British camp of roughly 1,800 men.
The Battle of Isandhlwana holds a particularly important place in British military history. Fought during the opening stages of the Anglo-Zulu War, the engagement shocked the British public and military establishment. The British had significantly underestimated the fighting capabilities and discipline of the Zulu army. Despite superior firepower, the British lines were stretched thin and unsupported. The Zulus launched a bold, encircling attack using their traditional “horns of the buffalo” formation, annihilating the camp and sparking a national crisis back in Britain.
The scale of the loss – including the deaths of nearly the entire 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment – marked it as the worst single defeat against an indigenous force during Queen Victoria’s reign. Yet out of this disaster, stories of bravery, sacrifice, and military lessons emerged, shaping the future conduct of British colonial warfare.
Private Plunkett’s story is part of a wider family legacy of military service in South Africa. His cousin, George John Plunkett, served during the later Boer War (1899–1902) and was present at the Battle of Spionkop. George’s son, Reginald “Jack” Plunkett, also fought in the conflict and took part in the Defence of Ladysmith, most notably on Wagon Hill – another episode marked by intense fighting and heroism.
This lot is offered with copies of the regimental and medal rolls, confirming Private Plunkett’s presence at Isandhlwana, as well as a copy of his original enlistment papers into the 24th Regiment. With excellent provenance, having remained in the family since the 19th century, it provides collectors and historians alike with a tangible and heartfelt connection to a seminal moment in British imperial history.
This historically important lot will come up for sale on Wednesday 28th May 2025 with an estmate of £4,000-6,000.
