Insignia To 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Rgt of Foot - Rorke's Drift

An excellent collection of insignia to the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot immortalised by their stand at Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo – Zulu war of 1879.

The collection comprises:

A Victorian Officer’s die stamped and gilded Shako Plate in very good condition with 24 at centre surrounded by the garter all encompassed in a wreath of laurel leaves and surmounted by the crown and with two loops to the reverse.

Of note is the Sphinx on Egypt tablet at the base. This dates the Shako Plate to between 1869 and 1878 and is absolutely correct for the pattern still in service at the time of the Zulu war in 1879 as the Regiment was already in South Africa.

A 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot Victorian Glengarry Badge in die stamped brass and dating from between 1871 and 1881. The Badge features the Sphinx on Egypt tablet over 24 at centre surrounded by a banner with 2nd Warwickshire and with Crown atop. Two vertical loops to the reverse. Very good condition with a slight bend to one side.

A pair of gilded collar devices with the Sphinx and Egypt tablet in very good condition each with a pair of loops to the reverse.

Six 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot gilded brass Buttons all in very good condition.

The Battle of Rorke's Drift (1879), also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead, 24th Regiment of Foot began when a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from their main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, diverting 6 miles to attack Rorke's Drift later that day and continuing into the following day.

Just over 150 British and colonial troops defended the station against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The massive but piecemeal attacks by the Zulu on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the much smaller garrison but were consistently repelled. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded among the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.