1. Home
  2. /
  3. Three Day Fine Arms, Armour & Militaria Auction
  4. /
  5. Catalogue
  6. /
  7. Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, B..
Catalogue Auction Information

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

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

Auction Info
Similar Items
Click image to enlarge

Lot 457Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879

Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879
Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879, the signed black ink annotation on blue paper is dated 27 Aug (19)32. The document reads, “Frank Bourne, Lieut Colonel, Late Colour Sergeant B Company 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment – which defended Rorkes Drift, South Africa on the 22nd & 23rd January 1879. 100 men defeated 3000 Zulus in this defence. The enemy loss was 351 Killed – (they took their wounded away with carts on the night). Our loss was 17 killed and 9 wounded”, interestingly he makes a correction to our loss numbers, appearing originally to put 18 killed. Signed in the lower corner and “Dorking Surrey”. A superb handwritten summary from one of the historically senior figures of the battle. Frank Bourne was born in the village of Balcombe, near Crawley on 27th April 1854. He enlisted in the British army at Reigate on 18th December 1872. He rose to Corporal before being promoted a number of times in a matter of weeks when he arrived in South Africa, becoming Colour Sergeant on 27th April 1878. At the time of the Battle of Rorkes Drift in January 1879, he was just 25 years old. Being the colour sergeant made him the highest ranking senior NCO at the mission station. For his part in the defence of Rorkes Drift, them Colour Sergeant Bourne was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M). He was also awarded a officers commission, but he turned this down as he would not have the private income to be able to afford it. He continued to serve with the 24th Regiment of Foot, later South Wales Borderers. In July 1880, he was appointed sergeant instructor of musketry and in 1890, was made quartermaster and honorary lieutenant.Although he retired from the army in 1907, at the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, he volunteered for service and served as a musketry instructor at Hythe, Kent. He was awarded an OBE for his services during WW1. He became a honorary Lieutenant Colonel in 1918. Bourne was said to be very proud of the part he played in the defence of Rorkes Drift and commemorated the event every year. He was the last surviving defender of Rorkes Drift when he died in Beckenham, Kent on 9th May 1945 at the age of 90. Bourne was buried in Beckenham cemetery. Categories: Private Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Anglo Zulu War
Estimate:
Lot closed - Winning bid:£2,200
Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000
Similar Items

 

  • Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879
  • Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879 - 2
  • Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879 - 3
  • Handwritten Summary of the Battle of Rorkes Drift by Colour Sergeant, Later Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Frank Bourne, Being Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his Bravery During the Defence of Rorkes Drift on 22nd and 23rd January 1879 - 4
mgctlbxN$MZP mgctlbxV$5.3.7 mgctlbxL$C