a larger force overran his fortress in November 1879. The defenders of the fortress were killed almost to a man, largely by African soldiery. Anglo-Zulu War Even though an independent commission had adjudged in 1878 that most of the Zulu claims to border territories were justified, the repeated infractions and raids which were either perpetrated or provoked by the Zulu subjects of Cetshwayo led to a decision by the British commissioner in the area, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, to finally reduce the independence of the Zulu Kingdom. He demanded a complete disarmament on the part of the Zulus and the imposition of a British residency. When Cetshwayo ignored this demand, British forces invaded Zululand in January 1879. After an initial British defeat in the Battle of Isandlwana, reinforcements ensured British victory in the Battle of Ulundi, after which most of the Zulu chiefs sought peace. Cetshwayo became a fugitive and was eventually captured and imprisoned in Cape Town. Description The medal was struck in silver and is a disk, 36 millimetres in diameter, with a swivelling suspender. Obverse The medal's obverse displays the diademed head of Queen Victoria, facing left. The medal is inscribed "VICTORIA" at left and "REGINA" at right around the perimeter. Reverse The reverse shows a crouching lion on a plinth in front of a protea bush with a single flower. The medal is inscribed "SOUTH AFRICA" around the top perimeter and has a military trophy consisting of a Zulu ox-hide shield and four crossed assegais in the exergue. Clasps Seven clasps were awarded, inscribed as shown below, to recipients who had served in a campaign in the year(s) denoted on the clasp. Only one clasp was awarded with each medal. "1877" – 153 clasps awarded. "1877-8" – 5,822 clasps awarded. "1877-8-9" – 3,525 clasps awarded to recipients who had qualifying service in all three years. "1877-9" – Eight clasps awarded to recipients who had qualifying service in 1877 and 1879, with no service in 1878. "1878" – 2,009 clasps awarded. "1878-9" – 1,185 clasps awarded. "1879" – 18,332 clasps awarded. In addition, 5,610 no clasp medals were awarded to members of the military who, during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, had been mobilised in Natal but who had not crossed the Tugela River into Zululand. This included Naval shore parties. Since fighting was confined to the northern side of the Tugela, the no-clasp medals are frequently