A SCARCE SOUTH AFRICA 1834-53 TO A CAPTAIN IN THE 90TH FOOT WHO TOOK PART IN THE WAR OF THE AXE 1846-7

SOUTH AFRICA 1853 ‘CAPT W.V.JOHNSON 90TH REGT.’ Sold with a 90th (Perthshire Volunteers) Regiment of Foot Officers waist belt plate.

Gentleman Cadet William Victor Johnson of the Royal Military College was appointed an Ensign in the 90th Foot 12 June 1840 and promoted Lieutenant on 25 April 1845 and Captain on 23 February 1849. He resigned his commission in 1854 and married Catherine Delicia Walters on 17 May that year. On 10 May 1862, Johnson was appointed Ensign in the 10th Corps, County of Berkshire Rifle Volunteers.

Captain Johnson served with his Regiment in Kandy (Ceylon) between 1840 and 1846, the Regiment arriving in the Cape in April 1846. The 90th would take part in the 2nd Kaffir War 1846-7; the War of the Axe (Seventh Xhosa War). In 1847 Johnson was reported as in command of wounded troops preparing to be returned from the Cape. In January 1848, the 90th sailed for England, being stationed their until sailing for Cork in early 1851 and moving to Dublin in 1852.

Captain Johnson died in 1891.

Condition VF, couple of minor EK’s, attractive dark patina, with original ribbon and buckle pin. Belt plate with part of ‘C’ from ‘XC’ on silvered fitting absent). Reverse impressed with Feur de Lys; reverse fittings removed for display.