South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (1828. Pte. J. Barber. 2-24th. Foot.) minor edge bruise, nearly extremely fine £800-£1,000

James Barber was born in Athey, co. Kildare, in 1849 and had previously served in the Kildare Rifles Militia prior to attesting for the 24th Regiment of Foot. He served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa, and was engaged against the Gaikas and other Kaffir tribes 1877-78, and was with Colonel Glyn’s 3rd Column at Sirayo’s Kraal on 12 January 1879. On 20 January the Column marched from Rorke’s Drift to Isandhlwana where they made camp. At 4:00 a.m. on 22 January the Column marched out of camp towards Izipezi and returned at 7:45 p.m. to find the camp over run and lost. The following day they returned to Rorke’s Drift to find the surviving men of the Zulu attack the previous day.

Barber also served in India 1868-73 and 1880-86, and in Bermuda 1886-88. He later lived in Stone, Staffordshire.

Sold with a postcard photograph of the recipient.