Full medal write up
SOUTH AFRICA 1877-9, 1879 CLASP, ‘TR HALL.VICTORIA MOUNTED RIFLES.’
The Victoria Mounted Rifles left Verulan on 2nd December 1878 for the Zululand Frontier as part of the Natal Volunteer Force assigned to Colonel Pearson column. Here they would serve with 4 other small Volunteer units; the Alexandra Mounted Rifles, Durban Mounted Rifles, Stanger Mounted Rifles and the Natal Hussars. These units, along with the troops from Pearson’s column would fight at the battle of Inyezene on 22nd January 1879. However after on Eshowe being besieged, the Victoria Mounted Rifles, along with the other Natal Volunteer units of Column, were sent back to Natal . For the next few months they would do patrol work on the border and would be joined by more men who hadn’t joined earlier.
Prior to the second invasion of Zululand, a call was made for volunteers to serve in an ad hoc unit, made up from the Volunteer units that had served with Pearson’s column and the since arrived Isipingo Mounted Rifles. 20 men from the Victoria Mounted Rifles volunteered to serve in what would be called the Natal Volunteer guides. This unit which was approximately 55 in number, commanded by Captain Friend Addison, would take part in at the battle of Gingindlovu and other operations, before finally returning home in August 1879.
There is quite a variation in naming styles on Colonial issued medals, however the medals to the Natal Volunteer units have a particular style of naming, suggesting they were issued all at once. Rumsey’s name however was additionally noted on original medal roll, which would explain the slightly different style of naming on the medal. The naming is however 100% and is the type seen on medals to the Frontier Light Horse and other Colonial units.
Just 50 Medals were awarded to the Victoria Mounted Rifles, all with the '1879' clasp. Additionally, Trooper Hall is 1 of only 38 men recorded to have served in the Natal Volunteer Guides.
Condition VF. A little wear around ‘IFLES’ or better. A very scarce Colonial Volunteers medal.