War mementos to go under the hammer in London
THE Zulu War medal awarded to Dublin Corporal James Bushe comes up at Dix Noonan Webb in London on July 20. Cpl Bushe was one of 16 Irishmen known to have taken part in the defence of Rorke’s Drift — the former trading post of Irish merchant James Rorke — when a 150-strong garrison held off an advance by 4,000 Zulus in 1879. He suffered a nose wound from a bullet that killed one of his comrades, but later served in the Mediterranean, India and Burma.
A tailor by trade, he enlisted in 1870 at the age of 18. He was discharged from the army in 1891 and his later history is unknown. His medal is estimated at £40,000-£50,000.
