VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENT PRESENTATION BOWIE KNIFE

VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENT PRESENTATION BOWIE KNIFE
British Zulu War, Victoria Cross recipient "Alfred Henry Hook" 1888 Presentation Bowie knife. Custom made, bright clip point blade. Dual dedication engraving, "RORKES DRIFT ZULULAND 1879" on one of the blade and "PRESENTED TO ALFRED HENRY HOOK VC AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM BY LORD CHELMSFORD 1888" on the other. Silver plated cross guard, wood grips. Custom made leather sheath with hand engraved "Alfred henry Hook 1879" brass plate. Alfred Henry "Harry" Hook VC (6 August 1850 – 12 March 1905) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for valor in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. Alfred Henry Hook was 28 years old, and a private in B Company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Hook and five other privates were ordered on the afternoon of 22 January 1879 to protect approximately 30 patients unable to be moved from the temporary hospital at Rorke's Drift station. On 22/23 January 1879 at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, a distant room of the hospital had been held for more than an hour by three privates, and when finally they had no ammunition left, the Zulu burst in and killed one of the men and two patients. One of the privates (John Williams), however, succeeded in knocking a hole in the partition and taking the last two patients through into the next ward, where he found Private Hook. "These two men then worked together - one holding the enemy at bayonet point while the other broke through three more partitions - and they were then able to bring eight patients into the inner line of defense."
Blade Length: 11"
Total Length: 16.1/4"
Condition Report: Very good. Black spotting throughout the blade.