A rare Zulu War hard-wood knobkerrie, African fighting club, carved with naming details for Captain J. H. Laye, of the 90th Regiment with Battle Honour for “Zlobanie, 24 January, 1879 and fitted with a silver band around the neck, engraved “ZULULAND 1879”, together with an original photograph of Captain Laye and three fellow officers. Laye was subsequently present at the battles of Kambula, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches, and Ulundi for which he received the brevet of Major.
African hard-wood Knobkerrie/ African Fighting club, 36cm x 5.6cm at the widest point of the head, the neck with applied silver band engraved “ZULULAND 1879”, with London Hallmarks for 1883; the shaft ornately carved “CAPTAIN J. H. LAYE. OF. XC. II” with sword piercing a Zulu shield carving below and “ZLOBANIE. 24. JANUARY. 1879.”, with union flag above and thistle with shamrock band below and “SONS UNKNOWN TO YIELD, FROM CRESSY’S LAURELL’D FIELD” to lower shaft.
Sold with an original portrait photograph of Laye in dress uniform with hand written note “Mr. Laye, 90th Regt”, also photographs of Mr B. Hill, N & E. Y. A. Militia; Mr D. Sandermanb, 16th Lancers; Captain Wintour, Nd. & E. Y. A. Militia. These all mounted on white card with attractive printed central floral design.
Condition: Shaft sometime shortened, attractive age toning to wood and silver band. Good Condition
Captain J. H. Laye served with then regiment throughout the Zulu War and was present at the engagement on Zunguin Nek and the Battle of Kambula for which he was Mentioned in Despatches. He was also present in the action at Ulundi for which he was given the brevet of Major.
It is interesting to note that the Knobkerrie is carved with the name of the relatively unknown small engagement of Zlobanie on 24 January 1879. This being the date that the left column, led by Colonel Evelyn Wood, received news of the massacre at Isandlwana. Wood decided to withdraw his troops back to safer ground in the Kraal. At this point, only the left column is militarily effective with Chelmsford’s central column having being destroyed, and Pearson’s right column being under siege at Eshow. It is most likely that on this day, during the action at Zlobanie, that Captain Laye obtaining this knobkerrie and chose to have this action carved into it rather than the later actions that he was involved in.
