2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment, September 1879

Thanks to some wheeling & dealing I recently acquired the following photograph from fellow forum member ‘Isandula’.

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2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment, encamped at Pinetown, Natal, September, 1879.
(John Young Collection.)

In order for the forum to appreciate what I can discern through a magnifying glass I have broken the photograph up in to three sections.

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In the foreground of the photograph are the battalion’s pioneers.  Close behind them are the band, with the Band Sergeant wearing a peaked forage cap.  The Drummers’ lace is even visible on some the bandsmen.  In the middle left of the image stands the battalion’s commanding officer in a blue jacket and peaked forage cap.  It is quite possible that the officer to his left wearing his sword belt over his tunic is the battalion’s Adjutant.

Could that water cart in the centre rear be the Rorke’s Drift water cart?

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I’m sure I can recognise some faces from the well-known ‘B’ Company in this section, which I believe was taken at the same sitting.

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To the right of the front group in this section of the photograph is a bearded officer, or senior non-commissioned officer wearing a sword, given his position it is possible that he is the battalion’s Sergeant-Major.

JY

Excellent Pic JY , Thanks for sharing it , Talbot hopefully arrives next week ? .
90th

Magnificent!!!! Thanks for sharing.

OK, JY---just rub it in; can I have a mulligan? Your swap not yet arrived. Isandula

Very well done John.

Re: Henry Hook and the de Neuville engraving.

Henry Hook had a copy of the above his bed at the time of his death. The print descended to
his eldest daughter.
The engraving has a very wide border. It is signed by the artist in the right-hand corner and dated 1880.
The name of the etcher is given outside the picture as Leopold Flameng. Also, below the picture is the
statement that the engraving was done by the Fine Arts Society of 148 New Bond Street, London, on the 15th of July 1881.

The caption reads;

 The Defence of Rorke's Drift 22-3 January 1879.
To Her Majesty the Queen this plate is,
by special permission, dedicated by Her Majesty's Obedient
Servant the Fine Art Society.

Several years ago I came across one of these in an Antique shop in Hay on Wye . In the frame at the
top it had a small gilded crown, and in each corner a gilded plaque showing the details of those who
took part i.e. Natal Mounted Police, Royal Engineers etc. On either side is a gilded rifle with the names of those awarded the Victoria Cross.

I was wondering if anyone had seen one of these or knew of their whereabouts.

Yes, there is one in the Regimental Museum collection at Brecon - it is not currently on display in the main galleries.