Description
South Africa Medal, 1877-1879, 1 clasp 1877-8-9 (1736 Corpl H. Richardson. 1/24th Foot.), naming engraved in slanting capitals. Very fine.
Corporal (Pioneer) Henry Richardson, one of 15 corporals of the 416 men of the 1/24th Foot killed at Isandhlwana on 22nd January 1879, had had a chequered military career. Promoted to Corporal in December 1871 he was reduced to Private in July 1873. He re-joined the Regiment "from desertion" in February 1877 and had regained the rank of Corporal within a month. After Isandhlwana, a published statement by a survivor, one Private J Bickley, shows that Richardson had found a horse to flee the slaughter, but fell and, because of wounds in his arm, he was unable to re-mount and was last seen lying on the ground.
