Family of Rorke’s Drift hero trying to buy back his lost medals

The Essex family of one of the heroes of Rorke’s Drift that inspired the film Zulu is trying to buy back his lost medals after they saw them put up for auction. Alfred Saxty was just 20-years-old at the time of the famous battle in January 1879. He was one of 150 British and colonial troops who bravely defended the station of Rorke’s Drift in South Africa against 4,000 Zulu warriors in what is recognised as one of the most famous battles in British Military history.

His medals from the battle – after which a record 11 Victoria Crosses (VC) and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to survivors -are to be auctioned next month and are expected to fetch up to GBP20,000. Saxty’s ‘shocked’ ancestors had no idea their relative’s medals were still in existence until reading about them. His great-great-grandson even says he used to ask his parents which of the characters in the classic film Zulu, starring Sir Michael Caine, was his relative.

The 1963 classic film Zulu depicted the battle of Rorke’s Drift (Image: The Kobal Collection / Diamond Films)

Now the ‘proud’ family is campaigning to raise the money necessary to purchase the medals before they go to auction next month.

Saxty’s ancestors say they plan to display the medals in a museum so future generations can learn about their brave relative and his comrades’ story. The campaign medals from Saxty’s South African and Burmese campaigns will go on sale at auction house Noonans of Mayfair’s sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria next month. They have been put up for auction by an anonymous private collector.

But David Saxty – Alfred’s great-grandson – believes the medals should be in the possession of him and his family. The 70-year-old, who is a father of two and grandfather of three himself, explained the family were surprised to learn the medals were still in existence. The retired lorry and cherry-picker operator, who lives in Canvey Island, Essex, with his wife Jan, said the first the family knew of the medals was from a 2006 book called Legacy Heroes of Rorke’s Drift, by author Kris Wheatley.

The book describes Alfred Saxty as having ‘stood his ground’ against the Zulu warriors despite ‘knowing that the garrison was hopelessly outnumbered’ and that his chances of survival were ‘slim’. On their surprise discovery of the existence of the medals, David said: “My nephew Aaron picked up on it after reading it in the paper – none of us knew that they were being sold or that they ever even existed, so it was quite a shock for us. Alfred was a bit of a rogue…

He had altercations with officers, two marriages… It’s quite an interesting can of worms. “But we are very proud of him in our family; not many survived from Rorke’s Drift.

The last we had heard about the medals was in the book, which said he’d lost the medals in Burma and had had to apply for replacements.

David Saxty and his wife, Jan, the family of one of the survivors of the legendary Battle of Rorke’s Drift, immortalised in the film Zulu (Image: Saxty Family / SWNS)

“My grandfather was Alfred’s son, but I was three when he died; too young for him to have said anything about his dad. It would be nice to keep and have the medals in a museum; then everyone could see them and learn the story. “I think that’s a nice idea because the Battle of Rorke’s Drift is such a big part of British history.

I’m surprised a collector has got them. I feel the medals belong to the family.” Saxty, who served as a Corporal in ‘B’ Company of 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, was one of the last survivors of the battle.

He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot at Brecon and served in South Africa from 1 February 1878 to 12 January 1880, during the Anglo-Zulu War, fought between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom in 1879. Britain, which instigated the war in an effort to emulate the previous century’s forming of a federation in Canada, eventually emerged victorious from the conflict – ending Zulu dominance in the region of southern Africa. Saxty, along with 150 fellow British and colonial comrades, successfully defended the mission station of Rorke’s Drift, on the border of the Zulu kingdom and the then-colony of Natal, against sustained attacks from between 3,000 and 4,000 Zulu warriors over 12 hours of fierce fighting.

Alfred Saxty’s medals (Image: Noonans / SWNS)

A record 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded after the battle, which saw the death of around 500 Zulu warriors and 17 defenders, with one of the awards going to Lt Gonville Bromhead – played in the 1964 film Zulu by Sir Michael Caine.

Saxty was quickly promoted to the rank of Sergeant the day after the battle and later served in Burma and India before eventually being discharged in February 1895. He died in Newport, Wales, where he lived with his sister, in 1936, aged 77. The Legacy Heroes book describes how one of Alfred’s sons, Wilfred, fought in ‘two World Wars’ before ‘stealing a train’ to ensure the safety of his family.

Other members of the Saxty family also fought in wars, with the book describing the lineage as having ‘made their indelible mark’ and ‘shown the courage that was on display at Rorke’s Drift and inherited by them through their bloodline’. The book also describes Alfred Saxty as being ‘five feet seven and a half inches tall’ and having ‘a fresh complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair’ and being ‘Roman Catholic’. It also says he enlisted in the Army aged just 17, but gave his age as 19 and his name as Alfred Saxty – instead of his real name of Albert.

Aaron Saxty, son of David’s brother Martin and great-great-grandson of Alfred Saxty, says his family’s history gives him great pride. The 41-year-old father of four, said: “When I saw the headline of the article about the medals going up for sale, I was absolutely gobsmacked. “We thought the medals had all been lost to time, so to see them going up for auction answered a lot of questions.

The Battle for Rorke’s Drift is quite important as an historic event and something that is talked about a lot. We get invited as a family to attend events up and down the country because of Alfred.” Aaron, who works in telecommunications as a solutions architect and lives in the town of Calne in Wiltshire with his wife, Diane, and their four daughters, says he used to ask his parents which one of the soldiers in the film Zulu was his relative.

Martin Saxty (left) and brother David Saxty – both great-grandsons of Alfred Saxty (Image: Saxty Family / SWNS)

He said that seeing the medals displayed in a prominent army or war museum would bring an immense feeling of pride and justice to the family.

“I don’t want to mount the medals on my wall, but I don’t want them in a collector’s box somewhere, either,” Aaron said. If we bought them, we could loan or donate them to a museum. “Various family members are going to donate towards buying the medals, but it would be great to get some national backing as well.

We are very proud that most of my male family members have fought in several World Wars, and I have my grandad’s medals from World War II on my wall. “But because the Zulu war was very important given the history and the legacy, it would make us incredibly proud to have the medals displayed with his whole story – warts and all.” The Legacy Heroes book also details Alfred’s chequered and adventurous life as well as his not-so-heroic exploits, such as when he was caught drunk on duty in 1881 and imprisoned, and his amorous exploits whilst serving in Gibraltar – which left him needing medical attention whilst his battalion sailed to India.

Julian Farrance, from the National Army Museum in London, explained that the awarding of the record number of Victoria Crosses given in history was an attempt by the government to ‘deflect attention’ from the ‘disastrous’ action at Isandlwana earlier the same day. The Battle of Isandlwana was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu war, when 1,300 British and colonial troops perished at the spears, shields and rifles of some 20,000 Zulu warriors. Mr Farrance added: “There are several reasons why Rorke’s Drift still holds a place of significance.

Partially it is the positively bountiful award of Victoria Crosses given to the defenders, which was actually an attempt by Lord Beaconsfield’s government to deflect attention away from the disastrous action at Isandlwana earlier that day. “Partially it is the influence of the famous film Zulu. The impact of this film is obvious.

Many of us have watched Messrs Caine and Baker defend the mission station on an annual basis – usually at Christmas. “However, the most important reason that it retains its significance is due to the almost mythic nature of the action: a small band of defenders faced with overwhelming odds but somehow winning through, still speaks to us to this day, because it is a stirring story.” Saxty was born at Buckland Dinham, near Frome in Somerset, and enlisted for 25 Brigade at Newport, Monmouthshire in September 1876, aged 19.

After seven months of service in the Mediterranean, Saxty’s regiment moved to India in August 1880 and served in Burma between May 1886 and January 1887, before returning to India again. Saxty was confined in May 1881 and charged with being drunk on duty. He was sentenced by Court Martial to be reduced to the rank of Private, and to serve 56 days imprisonment with hard labour and stoppage of pay, in addition to being fined GBP1 and forfeited Good Conduct Pay.

He steadily regained his steps in rank to become Sergeant again in December of 1885. After his service in the Burma campaign, Saxty re-engaged for the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment at Madras in October 1887, ‘for such term as shall complete 21 years’ service.’ He transferred to the 2nd Battalion of that regiment on New Year’s Day 1888 and then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 14 July 1891. Reduced to the rank of Corporal in October 1894, he was discharged at his own request at Thayetmyo, Burma, on 28 February 1895.

Saxty was admitted to In-Pension at Chelsea Hospital on 12 June 1930 but reverted to Out-Pension in October 1933 to live with his sister in Newport, Monmouthshire, where he died three years later, at the age of 77. He was buried with military honours at St Wollos Cemetery, Newport, on July 15, 1936. Noonans’ Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale will be held on Wednesday, April 19.

References

1. ^ The remote Essex village that once had two train stations but now has none (www.essexlive.news)
2. ^ Man fought off thug with a traffic cone to defend injured police officer (www.essexlive.news)