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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 60

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp 1878-9 (1153 Pte J. Hagan. 1/13 Foot.), slight edge bruise, good very fine

John Hagan was born at Keady, Armagh in 1844 and enlisted at Belfast on 20 April 1864 with 13th Regiment of Foot. Posted to the 1st Battalion he saw Home Service until 14 June 1867 before being sent to the Mediterranean and was promoted Corporal while at Gibraltar on 1 May 1868. Transferred to South Africa on 3 December 1874 he did not thrive in his new posting however, going before a Court Marshall on 10 July 1876 and reduced to a Private.

The 1st Battalion was with Sir Evelyn Wood's Column when it was engaged in the bloody Battle of Kambula. Here they faced four hours of heavy and sustained attacks by a Zulu estimated at 20,000 men, succeeding in halting the attack and forcing their enemy to withdraw. They later joined Lord Chelmsford's advance towards Cetshwayo's Kraal, forming part of the square which resisted repeated Zulu attacks.

Hagan survived the fighting, returning to Britain on 18 September 1879, he must have distinguished himself as he was promoted again to Corporal on 1 December and further advanced Sergeant on 10 May 1881. Seeing Home Service for the rest of his career he was to be promoted one further time to Colour Sergeant on 10 March 1894 before finally being discharged on 28 September 1896.

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Sold for
£1,600

Starting price
£700