Lt Edgar Anstey - Campaign medal given to Brecon Museum 13/11/11

A medal that has been in a family display box for over 100 years is now going to be seen by many more people.

Thanks to the efforts of my brother Alex, my father Richard will be donating this medal to the exhibition in Brecon tomorrow on Sunday. They've created a small display about his part in the battle of Isandhlwana.
Richard's grandfather was Captain Thomas (TH) Anstey, whose brother was Edgar.
A replica of our precious miniature will also be given, but we will hang on to the original.

As with so many of the stories of those who fell at Isandhlwana, Edgar's story is of great interest. The part he played in the battle lasted longer than many others. His body was found by his brother, TH Anstey some distance from the main battlefield where he had been part of a last stand with many others. His remains were taken home to be buried in Woking, the only soldier from the battle to be repatriated.

On this Remembrance Day in 2011, I think of his courage and sacrifice. His life was short, born in South Australia and dying in Zululand.

Rod. Welcome to the forum. This is great news regarding the medal. There have been many discussions on the forum relating to Lt Anstey and he is one of the well remembered officers on the day back it 1879. and he will be remembered by many on Sunday.
A photo of the medal would be very much appreciated by all on this forum if possible.

I will especially remember Edgar Anstey at 11.00am tomorrow morning at the Duxford Remebrance service - along with other particular individuals on my list to think about this Sunday! And then all the others who have died in service to their Empire, King/Queen and country!

Some stars burn for a short time but very brightly. Edgar Anstey's descendants will forever be proud of his memory and courage.

And I must say Rod, it is a wonderful gesture that Richard, Alex, you and your family are able to donate this medal to the museum. This is where it deserves to reside and I will be sure to drop in and see it and pay my respects to your ancestor early in the New Year when I will next be visiting Brecon.

I would confirm that Lt Edgar Anstey's South Africa Medal was kindly donated to the Museum yesterday. We have created a display case around. It was a humbling experience to receive such a donation and it is one we will all cherish.

Bill

Hi

I have been trying for a long time to find out the family tree of Thomas Anstey and you show up here :)
For some time ago I bought a silver goblet and wanted to find out more history about Thomas Anstey since it has the engraving

Browndown rifle meeting
Highest possible
200 yards
1887
T.H Anstey Major RE

I haven´t found out really what the Browndown rifle meeting was, but i found a lot of information about Thomas, thanks to these helpers here on the forum.

If you are intereseted what it looks like I post I link here.


https://2img.net/r/ihimizer/img192/9320/bgare.jpg

BR Daniel, Sweden

Hi Rod .
A wonderful gesture on your families behalf donating Edgar's medal to the museum . What Edgar and his men saw and endured that day doesnt need to be expanded upon here . Horrific to say the least easily springs to mind . Luckily for most of us we will never find ourselves in such a dire situation , and if we do , one can only hope
we would act in the same way as he and his men . RIP Edgar and to all of those brave souls that fell with you on the 22nd January 1879 .
Bill .
Is it possible you can post a photo of the Anstey display on the forum ? . If so , thanks in advance .
cheers 90th.

the ceremony went very well on Sunday
Bill, the curator was there in full regalia ( looked quite hot - it was a lovely warm November day, quite strange and unseasonal)
Bill told us the story of the battle and what was known of the desperate final 20 minutes for the Edgar and the men he was with.
I did go down to that dry riverbed a few years ago and found the Cairns of that last stand. a lonely spot

The chairman of the executive of the museum which there, and did a great job passing round the wine.
Rob,the brigadier of the 24th was there as well.

For our part we managed about 18 'Ansteys' from 16 to 85
This included two grandsons of TH Anstey, Edgar's brother who surveyed the battlefield and recovered his body.
This also included my son Thomas and my other son Peter who has the wonderful middle name of Edgar. In retrospect I ought to have included the Oliphant as well.

Anyway I did not manage any photographs of the new cabinet. However, hopefully one day soon we can add some extra items to it.
It seems that the British Museum has been sitting on ( might be uncomfortable) the assegais and shields that were bought back by Thomas Anstey with the body.
Perhaps they also have the missing notebook.
My cousin Brian remembered the final entry which was to do with Edgar been able to share a meal with someone.
A previous entry had bemoaned the fact that he'd been forced to leave behind his dogs before the regiments' entry to Zululand. Lucky for the dogs.
Finally, in true Victorian style, there was a bloody handkerchief. Let us hope they can be recovered and added to the small display.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Photos supplied by Bill Cainan
Curator The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh
The Barracks, The Watton, Brecon LD3 7EB

Absolutely fantastic. We have spoken about this medal for years. And now to finally see it what a great way to end the day.

Bill thanks very much for the photo's.

Rod. Thanks very much for the overview of the event. I'm please it went well, Thank you and family members concerned for donating the medal to the museum. Lt Anstey was a hero to a lot of people. Now they will get the chance to see his medal in the museum.

Bill .
Wonderfully displayed , you deserve a pat on the back .
Admin .
Thanks for posting the photographs .
Rod .
Again thanks to you & your family for making this possible .
Well done to all involved , Excellent job .
Cheers 90th.

Agredan

Browndown was a military rifle range near Lee on Solent in Hampshire, they held an annual "Navy and Military" competitions there. A while back a silver goblet belonging to T Anstey, commemorating a prize at Browndown, I beleive was subject of a topic on another forum

The range was backed by the Solent estuary, it housed 100, 200, 500 and 1000 yard ranges with butts. I found a nice note in 1889 they ordered some "Woods Patent" Windmill turning target boards. In 1888 they applied to have an area of the Solent cordoned off, as shipping was at risk of "Flyovers", question raised in Hansard Parliamentary papers.

It is still MOD land today.

A very fitting display to a very courageous man.
Looking forward to seeing it.

I make no apology for reviving a long dead topic! Does anyone have a clearer copy of the letter from Caroline Anstey? I can't quite make out all of it in the photos posted.

Michael,

If you are prepared to wait, I will be at the Museum on 14th October, I can verify the contents then. Or you could contact Amanda Rosewarne, the Museum’s Curator, I’m sure she would help a fellow Californian.

JY

John,

Do you have a good email for her?

Cheers, Michael

Michael,

I have dropped you an email.

JY

Edgar Anstey - his stories are the gift that keeps giving.
I'll look forward to hearing about this letter and am separately in touch with Weekend Warrior.

Edgar's sister-in-law, Caroline Anstey, was married to his elder brother Thomas. (He who surveyed the battlefield, retrieved and repatriated his brother's body etc.)

She has her own fascinating and separate link to 1978 in Zululand: In later life, she was a neighbour and friend of the Emperor Josephine, the wife of Napoleon III, the nephew of Bonaparte, who lived in exile in Surrey.
The fate of their son in Zululand, the Prince Imperial Louis Napoleon (Napoleon IV) will be well known to you. The end of a dynasty.

Nothing to do with her unusual friendship, tough of interest. Her grandfather was John Samuel de Grenier de Fonblanque - of French Huguenot ancestry. He fought in the 1812 war in America with the Royal Fusiliers. In August 1812, he (and others!) burnt down the White House in Washington.
One day I'm going to write her story.

Strictly speaking, it is neither a letter nor hers.  At the time in 1879 Caroline was not married to Thomas, though she would do be.