THE SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL 1877-79 TO PRIVATE E. JONES, 2ND BATTALION 24TH (2ND WARWICKSHIRE) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST AND 2ND BATTALIONS THE SOUTH WALES BORDERERS WHO AFTER ENLISTING CIRCA JANUARY 1879 WAS POSTED FOR SERVICE WITH "G" COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION 24TH FOOT, AT RORKE'S DRIFT. South Africa Medal 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (officially named, engraved in serifed block capitals: 1595. Pte. E. JONES. 2-24th. FOOT.). Brooch marks skillfully removed from obverse at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock with only a faint trace of the brooch marks remaining (obverse legend still fully legible), few scattered minor rim nicks, otherwise Very Fine to Good Very Fine.
Medal accompanied by extracts from regimental muster rolls (WO 16/1579) for the periods October 1877-March 1878, April 1878-September 1878 and October 1878 to March 1879, copied medal roll extracts (2, original and published), confirming medal and clasp 1879, along with copied extract Norman Holme's "The Noble 24th".
Norman Holme notes with regard to Private Jones "From 25 Brigade Depot 21/1/1879. Posted to G Company, Rorke's Drift, 29/1/1879 (Orders Book, Rorke's Drift, Regimental Archive)".
1595 Private E. Jones is not recorded in the 24th Foot muster rolls during the period March 1877 to March 1879, indicating that Jones was still in transit when the actions were fought at Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift. The original medal roll, dated 28/2/1881, records Jones being then "with regiment".
Norman Holme records Jones as being entitled to the 1877-8-9 clasp. This is incorrect, both the original and published medal rolls confirming entitlement to the 1879 clasp.
When I purchased this medal it had a crude tailor's copy 1879 clasp attached. This has now been removed and replaced with a genuine 1879 clasp in order to restore the medal to its original, as issued, condition.
