Queen Victoria's casket containing hair of the fallen

Posts : 3458 Join date : 2021-01-04

Rorke's Drift - Her Majesty the Queen has had executed a beautifully designed silver guilt casket in the form of a Greek Cross which contains thirteen lockets of the purest gold; in each locket is a lock of hair of officers who fell in the gallant defence of Rorke's Drift and on the outside are engraved the words "In Memoriam" and the names of each officer.
Natal Witness 4th March 1880

I do wonder whether anyone who read this in March 1880 took it in any way seriously. Where did such a story originate I wonder? Did anyone even think about how the hair was to be obtained or whether anyone had really bothered back in March-Jun 1879 to snip a locket off a deceased officer's head just in case QV should want to create a casket of locks? Any widow at home reading this would have been quite upset I imagine.

Posts : 3458 Join date : 2021-01-04

I agree it is in very poor taste and an odd thing to report.
One wonders perhaps if there is an element of truth in it.
Perhaps a casket was made with the names of the officers inscribed on it and the Witness garnished the truth a little by adding details of lockets and hair. They have even got the wrong battle.
Very strange.

Kate,

No trace in the Royal Collection Trust catalogue of anything remotely similar.

JY

Posts : 3458 Join date : 2021-01-04

Thanks John Salute

Fake news is nothing new. Or rather, if here is no news, let's create some!

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