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I thought this a fair price for what are replacement medals - although authentic in every way and worn by the recipient, it's not quite the same as originals. I saw a face book comment by the family who were hoping to win them back that they had been unsuccessful.

I suppose at £22 000 without the 24% + VAT + 5% (outside UK) it was always going to be pricey for some.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1877-8-9 (2389. Lce. Sergt. J. Key. 2-24th. Foot.)

John Key attested at Secunderabad, India, on 28 August 1871, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot. He was appointed a Drummer in 1873, but reverted back to Private in September 1877, and was appointed a Lance-Corporal in May 1878. He was promoted Corporal two months later, on 3 July 1878, and served as a Corporal in ‘B’ Company at the epic defence of the mission station at Rorke’s Drift on 22-23 January 1879.

The majority of the defenders of Rorke’s Drift (97 out of a total force of approximately 154) were members of ‘B’ Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, commanded by Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, and in total the Company received seven of the eleven Victoria Crosses given for Rorke’s Drift (to Bromhead, Corporal William Allen, and Privates Frederick Hitch, Alfred Hook, Robert Jones, William Jones, and John Williams), the greatest number of Victoria Crosses given to a single Regiment for the same action.

Key was appointed Lance-Sergeant in ‘A’ Company on 18 February 1879, and transferred to ‘H’ Company the following month, being promoted Sergeant on 20 March 1880. He was placed on the unattached List at Secunderabad on 1 March 1884.

The medal to John Key sold for a hammer price of GBP 30,000. Totals: GBP 38,640. R 850,280. AUD 71,000. NZD 77,190. CAD 63,390. USD 48,010. EUR 43,360.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

SAGS (1) 1877-8-9 (1176. Pte. T. Lockhart. 2-24th Foot.)

Purchased from Peter Ireland Ltd, April 1977.

Thomas Lockhart was born in the Parish of St Michael, Manchester, and enlisted for the 25th Brigade at Derby on 6 February 1877, aged 19 and a fitter by trade. He joined the Regiment at Brecon on 10 February 1877, where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 12 days later. He served at the Cape of Good Hope from 1 February 1878, taking part in the Kaffir War of that year and the Zulu War of 1879. His presence with “B” Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift is confirmed on Chard’s roll, Bourne’s amended roll, and on Dunbar’s list. Despite not arriving in South Africa until February 1878, the medal roll confirms that he was issued with the clasp for ‘1877-8-9’. He afterwards served at Gibraltar and returned to England on 11 August 1880. In September 1881, whilst at Colchester, he was attacked and badly beaten by other soldiers and received a blow on the head which caused him to suffer from epilepsy. Following an examination by an invaliding board at Colchester on 30 January 1882, his epilepsy was found to be of a ‘permanent nature’, being ‘induced by an injury to the head received at the hands of soldiers of the Colchester Garrison who waylaid and maliciously ill-treated him without provocation and notice - causing a fracture of the orbit and displacement of certain other bones’. It was considered that his disability would ‘very seriously interfere with his powers of supporting himself’. He was consequently found unfit for further service and discharged on 18 February 1882, stating his intention to reside at 41 Butler Street, Manchester, the home of his mother. A second Injury Assessment Board held at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 13 June 1882, confirmed the above medical findings. The Court of Inquiry found the injury had taken place when absent when not on duty - he had broken out of barracks. He was awarded a pension of 6 pence per diem for 8 months. According to the Regimental Journal of 1938, Thomas Lockhart was then still alive.