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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 458Interesting Signed Document of James Alfred Rorke, Known as “Rorke of Rorkes Drift”

Interesting Signed Document of James Alfred Rorke, Known as “Rorke of Rorkes Drift”
Interesting Signed Document of James Alfred Rorke, Known as “Rorke of Rorkes Drift”, the handwritten document / letter was written at Buffalo River on 23rd October 1858. The letter begins, ”Dear Sir, I herewith transcript you a report concerning the statements that several persons of this ward have been over the Buffalo River to join a party against the inhabitants of Utrecht”. He is reporting that these people appeared to cross the river to trade with the inhabitants of the area, Zulu’s, he goes on to say that they did not take weapons with them. Signed to the reverse James Rorke. On this side of the letter it has been written, around the time, “Field-Cornet Rorke – October 23 1858 – Regarding certain persons in the Buffalo district, taking part in the Utrecht quarrel”. Some wear and a couple of small tears to the top of the document but otherwise a good example. James Alfred Rorke was born in South Africa in 1827, he was of Irish Descent. His father, also named James Rorke, emigrated to South Africa in 1823. His father acquired a property in the Cape. James Alfred Rorke purchased a farm of 1,000 acres in the new territory of Natal. Rorkes farm was on the border of the Zulu lands and included the ford across the Mzinyathi, which became known as “Rorkes Drift”, the famous scene of the battle which would take place in January 1879. James Rorke built the dwelling and store on the land. He was a frontier farmer and lived a very hard life. As the population of white settlers increased in the area, James Rorke became a respected and important member of the community. He became a lieutenant in the Buffalo Border Guard and various other volunteer units in the area. James Rorke died on 24th October 1875. His widow sold his farm to John Surtees, who occupied it only briefly before selling it to the Swedish missionary, Otto Witt. Rorkes Drift became the staging post for the British invasion of Zululand and was gallantly defended by the 24th Regiment of Foot on 22nd & 23rd January 1879 against the armies of the Zulu kingdom. Very few documents exist signed by James Rorke, the man who gave his name to one of the most famous military victories in the British armies history. Categories: Private Collection of Historical Documents Relating to the Anglo Zulu War
Estimate:
Lot closed - unsold
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500
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