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Auction: 18002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 269

(x) Border Horse

The Border Horse was raised originally as Weatherley's Horse, after its Colonel, Frederick Augustus Weatherley. On the death of his father-in-law, Weatherley inherited a large sum of money, the majority of which he invested in the recently formed Transvaal Gold Mining Company Limited. The company was formed in London after the discovery of gold on the farm Eerstelling in the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (later to become the Transvaal). The mine failed to flourish and on being told that it was about to be shut down, Weatherley decided towards the end of 1875 to go to South Africa to see if it could be rescued; first resident in Pretoria, thereafter Eerstelling in early 1876, he took charge as Managing Director. With one eye on mineral rights over Government land in Zoutpansberg, Weatherley joined President Burger's Force as a staff officer, and then was appointed by Chelmsford, much in need of mounted troops, to raise one hundred and fifty Volunteers; the public became aware of the formation of the regiment with the appearance of an advertisement placed in the Transvaal Argus and Commercial Gazette on 20 November 1878.

Colonel Weatherley and 38 of his men would fall at Inhlobane on 28 March 1879. Sprawled on top of his body lay that of his 14-year-old son, Rupert, who was serving under him as a Sub Lieutenant. When last seen, the Colonel was 'supporting his son on one arm, while with the other he was slashing right and left furiously at the Zulu around them.'

This famous mounted contingent was heavily engaged at Kambula the next day, and at Sekukini's Town in the following November.

246 Medals were issued to the Border Horse, 58 of them without clasp and 158 with the '1879' clasp.

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Sergt. J. Murray. Border Horse.), good very fine

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Sold for
£1,200