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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 168

58th Regiment

The 58th 'Rutlandshire' Regiment was stationed at Grand Shaft Barracks, Dover when, on 11 February 1879, it received orders to hold itself in readiness to proceed on active service to South Africa. Embarked at Portsmouth in the hired transport Russia, the men arrived at Durban on 4 April and proceeded via Pietermaritzburg and Ladysmith to Landman's Drift.

Aided by the 5th Brigade R.A., the men set to work constructing Fort Whitehead at Koppie Allein. Using this fort and Fort Evelyn as staging posts, the Regiment conducted numerous reconnaissance missions and on 3 July a water picquet of the 58th was fired upon by Zulus concealed behind rocks, within a mile of the White Umvolosi. This action lasted for approximately three hours and one man was wounded.

Four companies of the Regiment were engaged at the battle of Ulundi; Lance-Corporal Tomkinson was killed and 13 others wounded. In Regimental Orders dated 4 July, Colonel Whitehead congratulated the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, on the coolness exhibited by them when under fire; General Newdigate thanked the regiment for its gallant behaviour during the action.

After Ulundi the regiment commenced building Fort Victoria and returned to garrison duties.

1034 Medals were issued to the 58th Regiment, 689 of them with the '1879' clasp.

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (29/905 Pte. W. Alberry. 58th Foot.), suspension sometime re-affixed, heavy contact marks, fine

William Alberry was born at Rogate, Sussex in 1855 and was a servant by trade upon his joining the 58th Foot at London in March 1878. He served with the unit in South Africa from July 1879-February 1880 and saw further service in South Africa from February-May 1881. The unit fought at the Battle of Laing's Nek in January 1881 and the Battle of Majuba Hill in February 1881 during the First Boer War, on the former day it was the last regiment to carry its regimental colours into battle and Lieutenant Alan Richard Hill won the Victoria Cross. Alberry was discharged in October 1884.

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Estimate
£240 to £280

Starting price
£190