by Terry Jones
Do you have one of these?
This is a South Africa Medal, and it was awarded to the soldiers who served in the so-called Zulu Wars of 1877-79.
If you have one lurking at the back of a drawer, it probably means that one of your relatives fought in the Wars.
I am currently researching the Merthyr men, now largely forgotten, who fought at the two most famous battles of that war – Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift in 1879. These battles were of course immortalised in the films ‘Zulu Dawn’ and ‘Zulu’.
At the present time, I have identified four Merthyr men who fought at Rorke’s Drift on 22-23 January 1879, and 18 who died at Isandlwana on the 22 January 1879. I have also found out about a number of soldiers who returned to Merthyr unscathed.
As I said, these soldiers have been forgotten about in the annals of Merthyr’s history, and I would like to research as much about them and give them the credit they deserve.
If anyone has any information about anyone who served at these two battles, or if one of your relatives served in the battles, please get in touch with me at the following e-mail address:
I will be grateful for any information.