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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 11

South Africa 1834-53 (Joseph Edwards, 12th Lancers.), suspension a little slack, contact marks and light edge bruising, nearly very fine

The 12th Lancers were the only cavalry regiment present for the 1850-53 campaign against the Basuto; this is one of 340 medals issued to the unit.

Joseph Edwards was born at Romsey, Hampshire in 1832 and attested at Westminster on 5 October 1850 with the service number 1162. The regiment embarked for the Cape in 1851 as reinforcements, where it faced similar problems to the dragoons in respect to the small Cape horses; weapons too were hardly ideal for the warfare which faced them, contemporary sources stating the men's lances became useful ridgepoles when makeshift tents were required.

Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Pole ordered all officers to carry carbines or rifles while his advanced guards used double-barrelled carbines. The lancers helped to successfully clear the Waterkloof stronghold, but two squadrons were badly mauled in November 1852 when they moved against the Basuto chief Mosesh:

'Suddenly they were charged by a host of Basuto horsemen who had been concealed in dead ground. Tottenham and the men acting as rear-guard were enveloped by the enemy. Many were cut down, for in close work nine-foot lances were no match for assegais and light axes which could be used as swords or throwing weapons.'

Besides the lancers lost with Tottenham, several men under Captain Oakes and a troop of the Cape Mounted Rifles were cut off early in the action. Desperate riding saved most ranks but some rode into a morass and were butchered. In total, 27 N.C.O.s and men of the 12th were killed.

The regiment served there for two years before returning to Britain: later posted to the Crimea, Edwards earned a Sebastopol clasp but was invalided to Scutari Hospital at some stage of the war. Advanced Corporal on 8 August 1856 he was serving in that rank on the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny. The regiment served in India for four years with Edwards earning the Central India clasp.

Advanced Sergeant after the Mutiny on 24 September 1859, Edwards held the rank for only one month before being reduced to private as a result of drinking in barracks on 28 September 1859. He managed to return to the rank of Corporal on 5 February 1861, continuing to serve until 3 October 1862 when he was discharged with his character described as 'very good'; sold together with copied research and handwritten research.

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£140