![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | Rorke's Drift Defender's Medals in Spink Sale | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | Medal Sale . | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
peterw
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 |
Posts: 865 |
Location: UK |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:39 pm |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/posttop_left.gif) |
![Reply with quote Reply with quote](templates/Morpheus/images/lang_english/blue/icon_quote.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
Graham
You rather missed the point I was making. Medals to RD defenders have commanded a premium for many years, but the estimate for this group appears to be very high for an "ordinary" defender, aside from the fact that he was an NCO.
The medal to Pte Bushe, who was wounded in the defence, sold last year for �31,000 at auction. The group of medals to Harry Lugg sold in 2005 for �26,500 against an estimate of �18-22,000. Both men feature in a number of accounts.
By contrast, little is known of Sgt Burke, and he appears on the Bourne roll only. Consequently I would have expected this to be estimated between �18-22,000.
The medals and museums versus collectors debate has been rehearsed here before; suffice to say that I don't believe all medals belong in museums. Both have a role to play as custodians of our military heritage.
Peter
|
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
The Scorer
Joined: 27 Nov 2006 |
Posts: 340 |
Location: Newport |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:45 am |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/posttop_left.gif) |
![Reply with quote Reply with quote](templates/Morpheus/images/lang_english/blue/icon_quote.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
I was going to post this elsewhere, but I'll put it here as it's relevant to the earlier question about the VCs.
I'm currently reading Michael Ashcroft's book which accompanied the Five series "Victoria Cross Heroes". It's actually quite good, but there's one part in there which intrigued me. The Ashcroft Collection includes the VC awarded to John Chard, and the postscript to the explanation of what happened at RD goes on to talk about it's acquisition by the Collection.
In the book, Michael Ashcroft writes that the highest amount that the Collection had paid for a VC at an auction was �200,000 for the one awarded to Sergeant Norman Jackson, VC, RAF in the Second World War. However, he then goes on to say "I am prepared to reveal here that we paid considerably more for Chard's when we acquired it in a private sale. However, it was worth every penny because it records arguably the most heroic stand in British military history."
I was familiar with some of the story of this medal after its award, as I understand that it's a quite interesting story in it's own right. Is it right that Sir Stanley Baker bought it but then found that it was a fake - but then found that it wasn't? I was also told by the Curator of the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham in 2003 (or thereabouts) that no-one knew where the medal was .... but this isn't correct as the Collection bought it is 2001. Does anyone know anything else about this, please?
Many thanks!
![Very Happy](images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif)
|
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | Ordinary Defender ! | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
Sapper Mason
Joined: 05 Sep 2005 |
Posts: 333 |
Location: ANGLESEY |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:48 am |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/posttop_left.gif) |
![Reply with quote Reply with quote](templates/Morpheus/images/lang_english/blue/icon_quote.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
Dear Peter ,
Medals and their worth is a subject i have very little knowledge about , who is to say one medal is worth more than another ? , those who put value on such things ? . Because of the nature of ANY medal acredited to a Rorke's Drift defender each medal by that very nature will be worth a lot more to a collector .
Is there such a creature as an " ordinary defender " , as to little knowledge on Pte { Sgt } T Burke there is a lot of information on him actually , i have ( as others perhaps ) a copy of his service record and subsequent civilian life . i can`t accept anyone who took part in the defence of Rorke's Drift as an " ordinary defender " , " Sapper " .
PS : Would you consider for instance FRED HITCH VC as an ordinary defender and the monetary value of his ORIGINAL VC is ??? . It is out there somewhere but due to the fact it was stolen all those years ago makes the chances of us all seeing again NIL , what a terrible circumstance . I hope the purchaser of the medal ( s ) of Thomas Burke will put them where they belong , in Brecon , thank you .. ![Smile](images/smiles/icon_smile.gif)
|
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
peterw
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 |
Posts: 865 |
Location: UK |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:05 am |
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/posttop_left.gif) |
![Reply with quote Reply with quote](templates/Morpheus/images/lang_english/blue/icon_quote.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |
A photographic album belonging to Sir Henry Newbury (whose SAGS was sold at Spink last year) is being auctioned on November 20th at George Kidner Auctions in Lymington, UK, as reported in the Daily Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3391265/Naval-surgeons-Anglo-Zulu-War-images-to-be-sold-at-auction.html
Here's the Spink description:
Sale 7012 Lot 1015
The South Africa 1877-79 Medal to Staff Surgeon Sir H.F. Norbury, Later Director General of Naval Medical Services [K.C.B.], Honorary Surgeon to Their Majesties King Edward VII and King George V
South Africa 1877-79, one clasp, 1877-8-9 (H.F. Norbury, Staff Surgn. R.N., H.M.S. "Active"), toned, extremely fine, and a rare clasp to Royal Naval personnel, with photograph of recipient
Estimate � 650-750
Sir Henry Frederick Norbury, K.C.B., M.D., F.R.C.S., R.N. (1839-1925); educated at Oundle School; studied medicine at St. Bart's, London and the University of Malta; M.R.C.S 1860; appointed Surgeon in the Navy, 1860; M.D. 1870; Staff Surgeon 1872; appointed to the corvette H.M.S. Active on the Cape and West Africa stations, October 1876; and whilst on her books he was landed in Medical charge of the Naval Brigade during the Kaffir War, 1877-78; served in the Transkei as Senior Medical Officer of six different columns of troops and was present in numerous skirmishes and in action at Quorra River and the Battle of Quintana (M.I.D. and strongly recommended for promotion); during the Zulu War of 1879 he was again landed and in charge of the Active's Naval Brigade and served as Principal Medical Officer of Colonel Pearson's Column being present at the Battle of Inyezane, January 1879, and the relief of the garrison of Ekowe (M.I.D. several times); joined General Crealock's Columns as Principal Medical Officer to the entire Naval Brigade and advanced to Port Durnford (Twice M.I.D.); Fleet Surgeon, July 1879 (C.B. July 1879; he also won the Gilbert Blane Gold Medal); appointed in charge of the Naval Hospital at the Cape of Good Hope, August 1879; he held the latter position for three years, during which time he was made M.D. of the University of the Cape; after a brief period at Impregnable training ship for boys, he was promoted Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets, April 1887; transferred to the department of the Director General to assist the then incumbent, Sir James Dick, 1890; Norbury spent five years in this capacity before being promoted Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets, 1895 (Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John); he succeeded Sir James Dick as Director General of Naval Medical Services, 1898 (K.C.B.); elected Honorary Fellow of the Royal Naval College of Surgeons, 1900; retired 12.11.1904, having been Honorary Surgeon to both King Edward and King George and having written The Naval Brigade in South Africa (a photocopy of which is included with the lot).
Approximately 5 medals with '1877-8-9' clasp awarded to Naval Brigade Officers (Norbury, Lieutenant Craigie, Lieutenant Hamilton - all on Active and Commander E.H. Davis and Lieutenant Cockran on Bodicea. Approximately 111 '1877-8-9' clasp award to the Royal Navy. |
Note that the estimate was somewhat adrift of the �3,600 hammer price...
Peter
|
|
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/ftr_right.gif) |
![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_left_post.gif) | | ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/blue/hdr_right_blue.gif) |
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
All times are GMT
Page 1 of 2
|
|
|
| ![](./templates/Morpheus/images/spacer.gif) |