Beschreibung:

A Fine Collection of Medals Relating to Rhodesia and South Africa Pair: Trooper J. Schulz, Rhodesia Regiment, late Victoria Column and Gwelo Volunteers, a member of the Shangani Patrol who left a dramatic account of the last stand of Major Allan Wilson’s party and of their own retreat under Major Forbes and Commandant Raaf; he was subsequently killed in the relief of Mafeking British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, 1 clasp, Rhodesia 1896 (Corpl. J. Schulz. Victoria Column.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Mafeking (611 Tpr: J. Schulz. Rhodesia Regt.) good very fine (2) £3000-4000 Footnote Julius Schulz was born at Westville outside Durban on 22 March 1866, the third son of Dr Schulz M.D. to study medicine at the University of Berlin, the Alma Mater of his father, grandfather and great grandfather, all of whom were doctors. He was, however, expelled for participating in duelling contests and never completed his studies. He joined the Victoria Column on 4 October 1893 as a Corporal. In the later 1896 war in Rhodesia he served firstly as a gunner with the Bulawayo Field Force and then as a Trooper in the Gwelo Burghers. Schulz was one of 49 men of the Victoria Column as part of Major Forbes’ reduced force of 94 men who retreated to Bulawayo after Major Wilson and his brave band of 34 men of the same column fought to the death on the opposite bank of the Shangani River. The retreating Column was attacked on 8th, 10th and 12th December, 1893, and finally met up at the Longwe River on 14th December with a relief force sent out from Bulawayo. Schulz wrote a 19 page account on his experiences in this war and in particular of the Shangani Patrol and his escape. The following extracts are of interest, particularly the general dislike of Major Forbes, even Shulz’s unwillingness to name him in his account, and the great admiration held for Commandant Raaf: ‘Seeing us retire, the Matabele, thinking we were running away, came out into the open, and charged us - a sight that can never be forgotten by those who saw it. We waited until they got within fifty yards of the laager, and then opening fire with two maxims and a battery of 7-pounders against their maddening rush - an indescribable sight - swept the field and demoralized them completely. We followed that up by charging them at the point of the bayonet, and so scattered them in all directions, that their wounded and dying and dead, were found nine miles away from the battlefield... At the time it was said that a thousand of the enemy bit the dust; and soon vultures thickened the air, hovering over the field, which had now become one of death. After five days forced marching, we reached the banks of the Shangani River. It is impossible for me to go farther with this account, without making mention of God’s beautiful nature to be seen in those, as they were then, wild parts of which the white men knew naught - the trees, the flowers, the birds, to say nothing of the herds of antelope and big game of all descriptions. All this could not fail to appeal to one, even when in the midst of a great struggle for supremacy, for it was all most beautiful. The sun had set, and the day was drawing to a close. We were in an open space, with bush around us on three sides, and the Shangani River, dry and sandy, on the fourth; but though we were now a party of tired men, there was one among us who put brightness into the situation. It is when men are thus thrown together, away from the world, that certain sterling features of human character may show so plainly in one man, that they cannot fail, at such a time, to touch even a heart of stone. We had with us a man with such features of character - I allude to Commandant Raaf, a MAN every inch of him. On the eve of the cutting up of “Wilson’s Party”, in square, we lay down, with the enemy in the bush all round us, for Raaf said, “Men lie down, rest, I will walk round you during the night and watch” - How m