Scarce 1879 South Africa Medal to an officer in Colonel Durnford's 1/1 Natal Native Contingent, medal in excellent condition, see history

A SCARCE SOUTH AFRICA 1879 TO AN OFFICER IN COLONEL DURNFORD'S

1/1 NATAL NATIVE CONTINGENT

SOUTH AFRICA 1877-9, CLASP 1879 'LIEUT: M. G. WALES. 1ST NAT: NAT: CONTGT'

M G Wales is not listed on the medal roll but is confirmed as a Lieutenant in Durnford's 1/1 Natal Native Contingent, order 208 28th Nov 1878 (Times of Natal 2nd Dec). His name (as M.J. Wales) appears in the list of NNC officers in the book, War Comes to Umvoti, by J.P.C Laband and P.S. Thompson. He and his family are recorded as farmers in the Klip River (Ladysmith) Division. It is not hugely unusual to find medals to men of the Natal Native Contingent not listed in the published rolls, indeed the last sold by Jager was to an Officer who escaped the battle of Isandhwana.

An M G Wales also served with the Ambulance Troop of the Mashonaland Mounted Police in the Matabele Rebellion of 1896 and it is quite possible this is the same man.

The 1st Battalion, Natal Native Contingent under Commandant Montgomery, formed part of Colonel Durnford's 1st Regiment Natal Native Contingent during the 1st invasion of Zululand. Elements of the 1st Battalion fought at the battle of Isandhwana on 22 January 1879 and sustained heavy casualties.

Condition NEF. Sold with a small amount of research. A scarce and desirable Natal Native Contingent's Officers medal.