A superb South Africa Zula War and Third Burma War pair awarded to Private Edward Read also known as Private Edward Leon, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, who would be present in the aftermath of both the Battle of Isandlwana and the epic fighting at Rorke’s Drift, and in a remarkable surviving account detailed the frightful scene of seeing the dead bodies of his former comrades lying along the sides of the roads from Isandlwana and then the subsequent burying of the victims in deep graves to prevent the spread of disease. He would later admit enlisting under a false name and would take part in the fighting during the Third Burma War of 1885 to 1887.
Pair: South Africa Medal 1877-1879, 1 Clasp: 1877-8-9; (985 PTE. E. LEON. 2-/24TH FOOT) India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Burma 1885-7; (985 Pte. E. Read 2d Bn S. Wales. Bord.)
Condition: edge-bruise to the reverse rim of the South Africa Medal at 4 o’clock, otherwise Nearly Extremely Fine
Edward Read was born in Hungerford, Wiltshire and attested at Cardiff on 16th December 1876 giving his trade as Labourer and a false name of Edward Leon, which he later confirms in an official declaration given at Secunderabad on 25th February 1881 and which thus confirms that the South Africa Medal and India General Service Medal are as issued to the same man.
Read would serve at home from 14th December 1876 until 31st January 1878 when he would travel to South Africa and take part in the Zulu War as a part of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot. Not being present at the Battle of Isandlwana and arriving at Rorke’s Drift the day after the battle had ended, Read wrote a letter home to reassure his family, a copy of which is present:
‘Dear Father and Mother and dear Friends at home, you will be glad to get his note. I am sure it is a miracle that I escaped being cut to pieces by the Zulu. As it happened the day our camp was attacked we went in search of the enemy, we started very early in the morning and went about fifteen miles from camp. We were engaged at fighting for about four of five hours and then we went to a place where we intended stopping all night, between two large hills but as luck happened one of our dear mates escaped on horse-back and he rode up to the general as unconcerned though nothing had happened. He said: ‘My Lord the camp is taken by the enemy and all our dear white boys are cut up’. You may guess how we looked a tone another, it was an awful affair. The General did not say anything personally to the men until we got withing a mile and a half of the camp when we halted and formed up, and he said to us all: ‘My dear men we have lost our camp and all ammunition, be careful with what you have, we only carried seventy rounds per man, we must take the camp from the enemy.’. So we gave three cheers and advanced towards the camp. The guns were shelling as we went forward. We got into camp without losing a man, we stopped there all that night, watching the enemy, they were returning over hills and mountains. When day broke the sight was a frightful one. We were surrounded by dead bodies and most of them we knew, for about three miles all along the roads. You could see several that had tried to get away but was killed in the attempt. Even the poor little band boys were butchered and hung up to a wagon. The same as sheep. It is far different fighting here to what it would be with a European country. If it was only shooting a fellow it would not be so bad but they cut you open and take your heart out and eat it. They that that it makes them strong, and if they leave it in they think that you would come to life again. Well, as I was telling you about stopping there that night, the next morning we proceeded to Rorke’s Drift a place about 12 miles from where this occurred. As we passed the Amayovia mountain we could see the stores in flames and thousands of blacks around. We hurried towards the house that belonged to a Dutch missionary which was used as a hospital for sick and wounded. We crossed the Blood River and went to the place where the stores were. There was a company of ours there and they did some good work. They made a fort, corn in bags and sacks, only lost 14 men. We were digging holes to bury them for four days, because we must put them in deep in fear of fever. We are stopping still at the same place. It is eighteen days since officer or man took his clothing off. We have built a wall all around us and now we fear nothing. Bryand is all right. We have to be on the look out every other night and one half sleeps, but all of us are with our rifle in our hands. Goodbye dear friends. I liver in hope of returning when this is over and then I will tell you a tale. I must say goodbye now. Love to all brothers and sisters.
From your son, Ted.’
Leaving South Africa for Gibraltar on 12th February 1880 and leaving there for India on 10th August 1880, he would officially declare his enlistment as being under a false name on 25th February 1881 in the cantonment at Secunderabad in front of the cantonment magistrate. Remaining in India until 7th December 1887 he would be present on operations during the Third Burma War of 1885 to 1887.
Then returning to the UK he would be discharged time expired at Brecon on 15th December 1887.
