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Auction: 9033 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 2

The Q.S.A. to Victoria Cross Recipient Private F. Fitzpatrick, 94th Foot and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Mounted as Worn with a late 19th Century Victoria Cross named copy and Zulu War Medal a) Victoria Cross, a late 19th Century period copy, reverse of suspension bar engraved ´Private Francis Fitzpatrick 94th. Foot´, reverse of Cross engraved ´28th. Novr. 1879´ b) South Africa 1877-79, one clasp, 1879 (V.C. Pte. Francis Fitzpatrick. 94th. Foot.), contemporarily and competently renamed in large serif capitals, ´V.C.´ inscribed in Gothic script c) Queen´s South Africa 1899-1902, two clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902 (5268 Pte. F. Fitzpatrick. V.C. A. and S. Highrs:), ´V.C.´ officially inscribed in Gothic script, contact marks, generally nearly very fine, mounted as worn (3) Estimate £ 4,000-6,000 V.C. London Gazette 24.2.1880 Private Fitzpatrick, 94th Foot (listed jointly with Private Flawn, 94th Foot) ´In recognition of their gallant conduct during the attack on Sekukuni´s Town on the 28th November last, in carrying out of action Lieutenant Dewar, 1st Dragoon Guards, when badly wounded. At the time when he received his wound, Lieutenant Dewar had with him only Privates Flawn and Fitzpatrick, and six of the Native Contingent, and, being incapable of moving without assistance, the natives proceeded to carry him down the hill, when about thirty of the enemy appeared in pursuit about 40 yards in the rear, whereupon the men of the Native Contingent deserted Lieutenant Dewar, who must have been killed but for the devoted gallantry of Privates Flawn and Fitzpatrick, who carried him alternately, one covering the retreat and firing on the enemy.´ 5268 Private Francis Fitzpatrick, V.C., born Tullycorbet, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, 1859; served with the 94th Foot during the Basuto War, November to December 1879, including the capture of Sekukuni´s Town, 28.11.1879 The Attack on Sekukuni´s Town In November 1879 a force of approximately 1400 Imperial troops from the 21st, 80th, and 94th Foot, some 800 Colonials, and several thousand native levies under the command of General Sir Garnet Wolseley was assembled to attack the reputedly impregnable stronghold of the Basuto Chief Sekukuni. At 6:00 a.m. on the 28th November they lauched a three-pronged attack, with the 94th Foot in the centre. Wolseley gave permission for his Staff to join in the attack: ´The infantrymen with fixed bayonets charged. Thousands of knees pounding in unison had the sound of roaring surf. It seemed in harmony with the fusillades, the screams and yells, and the skirls of pipers - the very breath of battle. The pipers stood at the foot of the hill beating the ground with their feet while playing with fiendish energy´. Within three hours the whole town of approximately 3,000 huts had been captured; however, Sekukuni himself had managed to escape, although he was captured four days later. British casualties were 13 killed and 35 wounded. For their gallantry in saving the life of Lieutenant Dewar, Privates Flawn and Fitzpatrick were awarded the Victoria Cross, two of six given for the Basuto War. Both were presented with their Crosses by their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel P.R. Anstruther, at Lydenburg, Transvaal, on the 17th September 1880. Fitzpatrick served throughout the 1st Boer War, 1880-81; he returned to England, 1882, and was discharged in May 1888. He later married a girl from Glasgow, and re-enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for the 2nd Boer War. He died in Glasgow, July 1933, aged 73, and is buried in an unmarked grave in St. Kentigern´s Cemetery, Glasgow. Private Fitzpatrick´s original Victoria Cross and South Africa 1877-79 medal were lost in action against the Boers at Bronkers Spruit in 1881, and an official replacement was sent out to him in June 1881. The original Cross was subsequently found in the effects of a soldier in his rifle company who had been killed, and returned to the recipient, with the replacement being returned to the War Office (various correspondence included with Lot refers). At some stage Private Fitzpatrick sold his original V.C pair, and it was later bought by Lieutenant-Colonel H.F.N. Jourdain, Connaught Rangers, at Sotheby´s for £42-0-0 on the 21st June 1906 [It is highly unlikely that Fitzpatrick was the vendor, as he probably sold the pair many years previously]. After selling his original group of two, he used to wear this second group of three on visits to the pubs in Belfast with his nephew, who after his death inherited them, and later sold them to a dealer in Belfast. His original Victoria Cross and South Africa 1877-79 medal are now held by the National Army Museum. The Victoria Cross and South Africa Medal awarded to Private Thomas Flawn were sold in Spink´s first ever Medal Auction, 8.12.1983.

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£6,500