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Auction: 21030 - The 'Greca' Collection of Southern African Postal History
Lot: 373

Zululand
Military Mail
1879 Zulu War
1879 (5 May) Officer's envelope (small imperfections) from Lt. Henry Harwood to England, marked "Free in S Africa H.H. Harward, Lt. 80th. Regt.", bearing Transvaal 1876 6d. olive-black cancelled "14" and with two Utrecht datestamp at left, Petersfield arrival c.d.s. (20.6) on reverse. Photo

Note: The 80th. Regiment was on detachment in the Transvaal during the early campaign. On being relieved by the 24th. Regiment in 1April 1879, four companies joined Gen. Wood's Column at Kambula, advanced to Hlobane and then, with Maj. Gen. Newdigate's Second Division, advanced into enemy country. Lt. Harwood was present at the Battle of Intombi. During the height of the battle he rode to the fort at Luneburg for reinforcements, but on their return, the laager had been completely overrun and Capt. Moriarty and 43 men had been killed. Capt. Harwood was court martialled for deserting his men in the face of the enemy. He was acquitted by Sir Garnet Wolsely who refused to acknowledge the findings of the court thus effectively ending his military career

provenance:
John Robson, June 1993

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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£650