Article
George Frederick Hodsons Shako 24th Regiment Of Foot
Posted on 3 July 2026 • by RavenYardAntiques
Provenanced objects connected to the Battle of Isandlwana rarely appear on the open market. The following item comes from a long-standing collector friend of mine, whose late 19th-century helmet collection is truly world-class.
For record purposes only, I illustrate Lieutenant George Frederick John Hodson’s 1869 Pattern Officer’s shako, complete with its tin, formerly worn while serving as Aide-de-Camp to Sir Bartle Frere.
Lieutenant George Frederick John Hodson, who was killed at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, was the second son of Sir George Hodson, Bart., of Holybrooke, Bray, County Wicklow, and of Green Park, Westmeath. He was born in Dublin on 26 November 1854 and educated at Haileybury College, Hertfordshire. On 28 February 1874, he was gazetted to a lieutenancy in the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment, joining the regiment at Aldershot. In May of that year, he embarked with his battalion for Gibraltar, proceeding six months later to the Cape.
Shortly after his arrival in South Africa, Hodson was appointed Aide-de-Camp to Sir Bartle Frere. He subsequently served as orderly officer to Colonel Glyn throughout the Gaika and Galeka campaign of 1877, during which his name was mentioned in despatches on more than one occasion.
At the conclusion of the campaign, he returned to his duties with Frere, retaining the appointment until November 1878, when his regiment was ordered to Natal in preparation for the invasion of Zululand. Hodson took part in the advance of the Head-Quarter Column in January 1879 and was present at the storming of Sirayo’s stronghold in the Bashee Valley on 13 January.
During the catastrophic engagement at Isandlwana on 22 January, he was among the first to fall, reportedly during the final desperate rally made by three companies of his battalion to the east of the camp.
— The South African Campaign 1879, J.P. Mackinnon
Note: Lieutenant Hodson served in C Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, under Captain Younghusband. I have been unable to establish whether his body was ever positively identified. However, as three unidentified officers were found near Captain Younghusband, it is reasonable to suggest that Hodson may have been among them.
For record purposes only, I illustrate Lieutenant George Frederick John Hodson’s 1869 Pattern Officer’s shako, complete with its tin, formerly worn while serving as Aide-de-Camp to Sir Bartle Frere.
Lieutenant George Frederick John Hodson, who was killed at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, was the second son of Sir George Hodson, Bart., of Holybrooke, Bray, County Wicklow, and of Green Park, Westmeath. He was born in Dublin on 26 November 1854 and educated at Haileybury College, Hertfordshire. On 28 February 1874, he was gazetted to a lieutenancy in the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment, joining the regiment at Aldershot. In May of that year, he embarked with his battalion for Gibraltar, proceeding six months later to the Cape.
Shortly after his arrival in South Africa, Hodson was appointed Aide-de-Camp to Sir Bartle Frere. He subsequently served as orderly officer to Colonel Glyn throughout the Gaika and Galeka campaign of 1877, during which his name was mentioned in despatches on more than one occasion.
At the conclusion of the campaign, he returned to his duties with Frere, retaining the appointment until November 1878, when his regiment was ordered to Natal in preparation for the invasion of Zululand. Hodson took part in the advance of the Head-Quarter Column in January 1879 and was present at the storming of Sirayo’s stronghold in the Bashee Valley on 13 January.
During the catastrophic engagement at Isandlwana on 22 January, he was among the first to fall, reportedly during the final desperate rally made by three companies of his battalion to the east of the camp.
— The South African Campaign 1879, J.P. Mackinnon
Note: Lieutenant Hodson served in C Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Foot, under Captain Younghusband. I have been unable to establish whether his body was ever positively identified. However, as three unidentified officers were found near Captain Younghusband, it is reasonable to suggest that Hodson may have been among them.
