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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 237

Frontier Light Horse

Raised by Lieutenant F. Carrington at King Williams Town, Cape Colony, in 1877. Command soon passed to Major Redvers Buller, K.R.R.C., under whom the F.L.H. served in the final stages of the Ninth War, suffering casualties. In July 1878, the unit, 276 of all ranks, marched from King Williams Town to Pietermaritzburg in Natal, and from there to Sekukuniland in the Transvaal. During September and October the corps saw service against the Sekukini and in November returned to Natal and fought through the Zulu War of 1879 with Wood's Column.

At Hlobane on 28 March 1879, the F.L.H. acted as the rear-guard during the withdrawal and subsequently lost nearly 20% of the 156 all ranks engaged. Their Commanding Officer was killed and was succeeded by Captain C. D'Arcy, who on reconnaissance with Sergeant O'Toole would both go on to win the Victoria Cross. The unit was armed with Martini-Henry carbines with a short sword bayonet.

478 Medals were awarded to the Frontier Light Horse, 179 of them with clasp '1879'.

The Zulu War Medal awarded to Trooper A. Whitecross, Frontier Light Horse, who gallantly saved the life of Trooper Patterson at Hlobane Mountain - for which he was 'mentioned' by Lieutenant-Colonel Buller

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (209, Tpr. A Whitecross, Frontr. L. Horse), very fine

Alexander Whitecross was born in Scotland circa 1837 and served with Pulleine's Rangers in 1877-8 before joining the Frontier Light Horse, with whom he served from 14 July 1878-8 August 1879.

A good account of his gallantry is offered by Greaves in Crossing the Buffalo:

'So steep was the descent down the Devil's Pass that many of Buller's men and horses fell to their deaths; for the survivors, their ordeal was to become even more serious as the Zulus from the main force now reached the lower reaches of the pass and began closing in on both sides. The Zulus began firing at point-blank range into the desperate soldiers while others darted among them, stabbing and spearing to death.

Trooper Patterson had managed to lead his horse safely down the pass and had just mounted up when he was speared from his horse leaving him defenceless. As the Zulus closed to kill the injured rider, Trooper Whitecross drove them off by using his rifle as a club. Patterson was hauled to safety and both lived to tell the tale.'

His named was 'mentioned' by Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Buller in the despatches of 29 March 1879.

It is understood he served in Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guard during the Basuto Gun War of 1880-81 but died in November 1893 and did not live to claim a Medal (Frontier Light Horse in the Anglo-Zulu War 1879, refers).

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Estimate
£800 to £1,200

Starting price
£600