SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 81
The Zulu War medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Quentin McK. Logan who, as a Lieutenant in command of ‘E’ Company 2/24th Foot, witnessed the immediate aftermath of Isandhlwana and Rorke’s Drift, his accounts of which were published shortly afterwards in his old school magazine The Cheltonian
SOUTH AFRICA 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (Lieut Q. McK. Logan. 2-24th Foot) nearly very fine £4000-6000
Quentin McKinnon Logan was born on 23 May 1857, at Jamaica, British West Indies. He was educated at Cheltenham College and gazetted as a Sub-Lieutenant in the 24th Foot on 28 April 1875, being promoted Lieutenant on 28 April 1876. He served in South Africa from February 1878 to January 1881, seeing service in the Kaffir War of 1877-78 and the Zulu War of 1879. Having sometime attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was an Instructor of Musketry from October 1880 until 2 February 1881, on which date he was promoted to Captain. Whilst serving with his regiment in India, Logan was detached to Malliapuram on the Malabar coast, in May 1885 to suppress a Moplah rising. He became a Major in June 1886 and retired as a Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1893.
Lieutenant Logan’s letter home, dated 1 February, from Rorke’s Drift, with news of the massacre at Isandhlwana and the heroic defence of Rorke’s Drift, was published in The Cheltonian, April 1879, page 54. It began by outlining the frustrating search for Zulus that Chelmsford’s force undertook on 22 January. Logan tells of a rumour at mid-day that the camp had been attacked, and that no tents could be sent out to them that day. The reality, of course, was far worse, as described in the following extracts from his letter, more recently published in The Red Soldier by Frank Emery:
“About four p.m. we were suddenly bidden to fall in, and told, or rather I heard it said, that the camp was surrounded, and we had to relieve it. The tired men brightened up, and we marched off at a rattling pace for a twelve mile tramp, to have a slap at the niggers. About three miles from camp we halted to get water, and the General addressed the regiment. He said ‘Twenty-Fourth! our camp has been taken. I mean to retake it this night, and know how well I can rely on you. We shall very likely have to go in with the bayonet, but take it we will.’ We cheered him, and then fell in the order of attack; the guns in the centre, and three companies (24th) on each flank, with natives on our right and left flanks. With field glasses I could see some tents still standing, and thousands of Kaffirs trooping away far to our right with waggons and plunder. By the time we were a mile from camp it was dark. About 500 yards from where the camp had stood, the guns commenced shelling, to find out if it was occupied by Zulus. The infantry on the right and left marched on, and took up positions on two hills, to the right and left of the Isandhlwana Hill, without opposition. As I advanced over the very rough ground I stumbled over the bodies of soldiers and Kaffirs, but had not much attention to bestow upon anything, as I was in support of the companies in my front, and had much ado to keep native troops who were on my left from crushing in between men and the men in my front. I had to rush at them with my sword, and use every Kaffir word in my dictionary to keep them out of our ranks. The natives were panic-stricken, and, had we been attacked, would have borne my company away in their flight. Thank Heaven, we found not a living Zulu in our front.
Having thus advanced on the left flank towards Black’s Koppie, and gained the camp ground, Logan’s company settled down after being on the march, with little food, since two o’clock that morning. They rested uneasily.
Sleep was impossible for a time; but we were not worn out, and I know I slept a little. But on jumping up when some shots were fired, I fell down with cramp and shivering. We could see the Zulu signal fires all around us, and I never expected to get out of Cetshwayo’s territory alive, as we appeared from the position of the fires to be completely surrounded.
When they went on towards Rorke’s Drift at dawn the next day [23rd January], Logan felt a special excitement because he had been transferred from ‘B’ Company (the defenders) to command ‘E’ Company, and so was anxious to see how his comrades had fared overnight:
B Company fought for dear life and honour; and the Zulus, drunk with victory and plunder, could not believe that it was impossible for their savage yells and numbers to strike terror into the hearts of the few white men. The fiercest attacks were made on a small house used as a hospital. Now the Zulus by mere weight of numbers would force their way in among the patients; driven out at the bayonet’s point, in they would pour again; until at last flames enveloped the building, and before all the sick men could be got out, two were burnt to death. At daylight the savages retired, leaving five hundred dead lying around the walls. As our column approached the fort I, who commanded the rear company of the rearguard, saw the smoke of the burning hospital; and my heart bled for my real company, whom I expected to see cut up as the men at the camp had been. It was a great relief when I could see red coats come out to greet the advanced guard who first approached Fort Bromhead. I was unlucky in not being with my own company. I should have seen some fighting, and could then call myself a soldier. As it is I have been under fire sometimes, but from what I see and hear the defence of this fort was most gallantly conducted. The men have the pluck, but without a good officer they are like sheep. I am busy (as acting Quartermaster) trying to get the men supplied with clothes, as they have lost all.”
Sold with copies of The Red Soldier by Frank Emery, and The Noble 24th by Norman Holme.
www.dnw.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250