Zulu medal won by heroic soldier makes nearly £50k at Stourbridge auction

The medal of 1524 Private Joseph Bromwich 2-24th Foot, who fought in the Ango-Zulu War, was sold to a Midlands private collector for £48,980.

It was inherited by a Black Country couple through their family, who had no idea of its value.

Around 150 British and colonial soldiers defended a mission station in the Battle of Roke's Drift in South Africa.

The fight lasted for 12 hours and was against a Zulu force of thousands.

It proved the inspiration for the 1964 blockbuster movie Zulu, starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker.

Private Bromwich, who is buried in Bilston, served in the battle, aged just 22, alongside his elder brother Charles

The medal was originally estimated to be sold for around £20,000 at Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge on Saturday, but went for over twice as much.

He was born in St Mary's, Warwick, on November 18 1856, enlisting into the 28th Brigade 24th Foot, Second Warwickshire, on August 27, 1877, stating his civilian trade was a porter.

He transferred the day after to the First Battalion 24th Foot, Second Warwickshires, and on January 31 1878 to B Company of the Second Battalion 24th Foot.

He was present at the Defence of the Rorke's Drift Mission Station on 22 and 23 January 1879, with his name appearing on the roll completed by Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard VC of the Royal Engineers, which was completed just days after the action.

Private Bromwich was discharged from the Army in 1882, suffering from hepatitis, and settled with Bilston-born wife Betsy, in Aston, opening a boot and shoe repairing shop.

Eventually moving to the Black Country and continuing to work as a boot and shoe repairer.

His wife died in 1914 and the following year, he was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. He died on the February 25 1916, aged just 60, and is buried in an unmarked grave in a Bilston Cemetery.