Height: 24.5cm (9.5in)
Patinated bronze. Standing figure of General Sir Redvers Buller in pith helmet and field service uniform, holding a pair of field glasses in his left hand. Titled ‘Natal 1900’ to the front of the integral base. Attributed to Sydney March.
Buller’s early career was distinguished by winning the Victoria Cross during the Zulu War, 1879. His later career was marred by reverses to the Natal Field Force the Boer War en route to the widely celebrated Relief of Ladysmith. Accordingly he became one of the subjects modelled by the sculptor Sydney March for the Birmingham art founders Elkington & Co for their ‘magnificent Stock of Bronze Statuettes of our leading Generals in South Africa. These - Price in Solid Bronze, £5.5.0 - rank as Art Productions of the Highest Class, and have been declared, by those best qualified to judge, to be faithful portraits.’
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General Sir Redvers Buller (1839-1908) was the scion of an old West Country family and was educated at Eton. He entered the 60th Rifles in 1858, served in the China War (1860), Red River Expedition in Canada (1870), Ashanti War (1874) and Kaffir War (1878). In the Zulu War of 1879, where he commanded a raid on a large herd of cattle that were on the top of Inhlobane Mountain, he set off with 500 mounted men of the Frontier Light Horse. The ascent was so steep that it was hardly passable for horses, but they succeeded in gaining the summit, when Buller saw about 6 miles away a force of 20,000 Zulus advancing on them. The men beat a hasty retreat, men and horses struggled, fell and crowded together. The advancing Zulus promptly fell upon them spearing the horses and the men. Buller performed many heroic acts. Rallying his men he rode time after time at the hordes of enemy and by his personal courage, cool behaviour and undaunted resolution held them in check and covered the retreat, saving many lives. His afterwards served in the First Boer War (1881). He was in the Intelligence Department during the Egyptian War (1882), and was present in the battles of Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir for which he was mentioned in despatches and knighted. He served in Sudan (1884) and promoted Major General. On the outbreak of war in South Africa in 1899, at the age of 60, he reluctantly accepted the command of the British forces and successfully conducted the operations for the Relief of Ladysmith. However he was scapegoated after the battle of Colenso went desperately wronged for the later action at Spion Kop, In Britain the political and military establishments needed someone to hold accountable and Buller was targeted. However, the public rallied to his support, and in 1905 an equestrian statue of him was erected in Exeter, a rare honour for someone still alive.
Sydney March (1876–1968) was the second of nine children, eight of whom became artists. Three of the March family became sculptors, Sydney, Elsie (1884-1974), and Vernon. The other five artists were Edward (1873-1941), Percival (b.1878), Frederick (b.1881), Dudley (1881-1962), and Walter (b.1889). The ninth sibling was a sister, Eva. Originally from Yorkshire the March family moved to London around the turn of the century when Sydney enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools and where he was awarded the first prize medal for a model of a statue or group. Between 1906 and 1932, he exhibited thirteen times at the RA, primarily portrait busts, statuettes, and equestrian statues. The March family established their own sculpture studio at Goddendene, Kent, in 1901. Sydney also worked with the art founders Elkington, and was responsible for royal portraits, including Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra and George V, as well as his series of British Boer War commanders, Roberts, Kitchener, Buller, French, Baden-Powell and Byng.