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Three Day Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction (100) 26/07/22 11:30 AM Closed

Starts Ending 26/07/22 11:30 AM CEST

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Lot 455Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War

Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War
Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War, the two sided hand written letter is page 2 and 3 with clear signature to the reverse, his home address in London and date 3rd March 1880. The letter makes reference to Rorkes Drift and the battle of Gingindhlovu. He is asking questions about the Zulu tactics and why his columns were not attacked, “If you have been able to because I should much like to know – why they never attacked my force – either at fort Chelmsford or ….. - or during the march of the convoys be which I was crossing the …..”. He then goes on to write more personal correspondence which was relative to the receiver of this letter, which was quite possibly his brother, Lieutenant Colonel John North Crealock, who was Lord Chelmsford military secretary during the Zulu war. Some fold lines and small creases but generally still in good condition. Accompanied by a print from the sketch by Lieutenant Colonel Crealock on January 23rd 1879, of the men from Chelmsford Column arriving at Rorkes Drift with the bodies of Zulu warriors around the defensive position of the mission station. Sketch being in the supplement to the Illustrated London News on March 8th 1879. Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock CB CMG was born on 31st March 1831. He gained a commission in the 90th Light Infantry on 13th October 1848. He rose through the officer ranks becoming a Captain in 1854. He took part in the Crimean war, landing at Balaklava on 5th December 1854. He took part in the siege of Sebastopol. He again rose through the officer ranks and became a Major. He served in the China Expeditionary Force during the 2nd Opium War and was present during the operations at Canton in December 1857 and January 1858. By 20th July 1858, he had been made a Lieutenant-Colonel. He continued to serve in India and then again back in China where he was involved in the capture of Pekin. In 1870 he rose to the General ranks. After the defeat at Isandlwana, Lord Chelmsford appealed to the War Office for reinforcements. Major General Crealock was sent as commander of the 1st division. He was also to take command of the British forces in South Africa, if Chelmsford became incapacitated. Crealock’s role in the Zulu war was to pacify the coastal towns and to help supplies make it through to the troops inland. His convoys of supplies were so slow in getting through that they were nicknamed “Crealock’s Crawlers”. Crealock returned to the UK after the Zulu war and retired from the army in 1884. He died on the 31st May 1891 at his home, 20 Victoria Square Pimlico, London. Crealock, like his brother, was an accomplished artist. Many of his works can be found in early publications on India, China and Zululand. Categories: Private Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Anglo Zulu War
Estimate:
Lot closed - Winning bid:£1,000
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

 

  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 2
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 3
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 4
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 5
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 6
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 7
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 8
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 9
  • Signed Part of a Letter from Lieutenant General Henry Hope Crealock, Commander of the 1st Division During the Zulu War - 10
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