The intriguing South Africa Medal awarded to Corporal James Graham, 90th Light Infantry, the only soldier of his Regiment who was present during the defence of Rorke’s Drift

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (1123 Corpl. J. Graham. 90th Foot) mostly renamed in an attractive contemporary style not seen on issued South Africa 1877-79 medals, suggesting it was renamed for the recipient, nearly very fine £2,000-£2,400

Dix Noonan Webb, March 2010.

The intriguing case of Daniel Sheehan, 6th Foot, alias James Graham, 90th Light Infantry, and his presence at Rorke’s Drift has been the subject of two articles in the OMRS Journal (Autumn 1988 and Spring 1989).

Daniel Sheehan was born near Cork in July 1851, and enlisted for the 6th Foot in December 1870. By early 1876 he had been promoted to Sergeant but, later that same year, he went absent for a week and was sentenced to be reduced in the ranks to Private. In December 1876 he passed into the Reserve for a further six years service in the Liverpool District but, for reasons unknown, he went to Ireland and re-enlisted at Birr into the 90th Foot, changing his name to James Graham. Army Records caught up with him inside the month and, after two months in confinement, he was convicted of fraudulent enlistment and put in Military Prison until June 1877.

Sheehan’s later service is picked up in the ‘The Regimental Journal of the Cameronians’:
‘On release, Private 1123 James Graham returned to the 90th and with the regiment proceeded to South Africa where in January of 1878 the regiment saw service against the Gaikas and Galekas in the Eastern Cape Frontier. Graham, despite his previous transgressions, had been promoted to Lance-Corporal on 7 January 1878. He was not with the 90th when the regiment marched to Helpmekaara year later in January of 1879 on its way to Dundee and Bemba’s Kop as part of No. 4 Column commanded by Sir Evelyn Wood V.C. Lance Corporal Graham was transferred to the “Payment of the General Depot” on 1 November 1878, his years of rapid promotion in both the 6th and 90th Regiments were indicative of a soldier working in orderly rooms where promotion was always accelerated. His transfer also meant he became part of the Central or No. 3 Column. The column commanded by Lord Chelmsford. The logistics of transporting a British army in Africa, complete with its Artillery train, provisions for men and beasts, tents, ammunition etc. must have been a monumental task in 1879. The selection of well qualified clerks from all available units would have been made to facilitate the paperwork required to keep supplies rolling to units in the field.

At the commencement of the campaign against the Zulu nation, Lord Chelmsford and his staff decided a three-prong thrust into Zulu-land would be the best initial tactic to find and destroy the bulk of the enemy. The Central or No. 3 Column crossed the Buffalo river at Rorke’s Drift. The site was chosen as a supply depot and hospital as the existing buildings were ideal for the purpose, the location was near a ford which the Royal Engineers would bridge over to further the speed of supplies to the army. L/Cpl. Graham was stationed at Rorke’s Drift with Sergeant Milne of the 3rd (Buffs) also transferred to the “Payment of the General Depot” here with Staff Sergeant Mabin of the General Staff and members of the Army Service Corps, all under the command of Commissaries Lieutenant Dunne and Lieutenant Dalton. The service of Graham as a clerk in the supply depot is important, as most published histories wrongly show him on the sick list. His service documents do not reveal any medical problems at this time. During the battle of Rorke’s Drift Lance-Corporal Graham would have given a good account of himself. He was a qualified Musketry Instructor from his service with the 6th Regiment. Using the Martini-Henry rifle he was more than capable of knocking down the enemy at any distance the rifle could reach. After the battle Graham and Sergeant Milne were kept at their duties with the supply depot until 1 September 1879. This meant he was not with the 90th during the battles of Holbane, Khambula and Ulundi. Returning to the 90th, Graham found the Regiment was being sent to India in October of 1879. While serving in India Graham was promoted to Lance-Sergeant in December of 1879 and further promoted to Sergeant in May 1880.

In 1881 the 90th L.I. had, with the Cardwell reforms become the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles. Graham would have been fully involved in the evolution of the regiment into a Rifle Battalion. Shortly after this Graham was given a restoration of 6 years and 29 days Good Conduct towards pension. Further promotion to Colour-Sergeant followed on 19 March 1887. In February 1885 he married Mary Ann Daly at Bareilly in India. He had also reverted to his original name prior to his marriage. He was posted to the permanent staff of the 1st Lanark Rifle Volunteers on December 1888, and sailed for home on 25 January 1889. He was finally discharged in Scotland on 15 December 1891.’

Graham’s presence at Rorke’s Drift is confirmed by Lieutenant Chard and by Colour-Sergeant Bourne on his amended roll. Furthermore, his service papers state ‘Present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift 22.1.79’.

Sold with a quantity of additional research including service papers and both aforementioned OMRS articles.