War Medals

SOUTH AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1877-79 : 21ST. FOOT A CASUALTY AT THE SIEGE OF POTCHEFSTROOM IN 1881

Bar, '1879', officially engraved naming - 1720 Pte. A.DAVIDSON, 2-21st. Foot (Royal Scots Fusiliers) : (ARCHIBALD DAVIDSON - Born at Edinburgh, and enlisted in the 2nd.Battalion, 21st Foot in August 1878 : The Battalion was deployed for service in South Africa and disembarked at Durban on 23 March 1879, when it was detailed to join Newdigate's Division for the second invasion of Zululand. At the Battle of Ulundi on 4 July 1879, the Battalion formed a portion of the right of the hollow square and with the 58th.Foot, bore the brunt of the first desperate onslaught of the Zulu charge, large numbers of the enemy got to within thirty yards of the line before the galling and destructive fire which was poured into them could stay their advance. The Battalion later took a prominent part in the attack on Sekukuni's Stronhold in November 1879, and was still serving in South Africa at the outbreak of the First Boer War. DAVIDSON was promoted to Lance-Corporal during the Boer War and was present with his Company throughout the epic siege at Potchefstroom, where on 18 December 1880 he was severely wounded by gunshots to the left forearm and left hip. So severe were his wounds, that at the end of the siege he needed to be invalided to England, and was discharged as being unfit for further service from 6 September 1881. DAVIDSON is mentioned by name in the book "A Rain Of Lead" which recounts the Siege of Potchefstroom and gives details of how he was wounded. - "DALLRYMPLE-HAY and DUNNE with a couple of Fusiliers were standing on the roof of the Goal absorbed in watching their signaller receiving the message that proved to be the order to withdraw when, without warning, at 2.40pm a Boer volley shattered to truce twenty minutes early. Lance-Corporal DAVIDSON dropped, shot in the arm and thigh. Thankful not to be hit themselves but livid that the Boers should have fired at them while white flags were still flying, the group scrambled to cover carrying DAVIDSON to safety. DALLRYMPLE-HAY fortunately had some surgical knowledge and attempted to stop the blood spurting from DAVIDSON's wounds using a silk handkerchief proffered by DUNNE. When this proved insufficient, DALLRYMPLE-HAY took off his own shirt, tearing it into strips to make bandages. His prompt action and skill undoubtedly saved DAVIDSON's life..") : Sold with verification, related research and a hard bound copy of the book - "A Rain Of Lead" by Ian Bennett. A medal to a rare British casualty at the Siege of Potchefstroom. NEF - £2750