RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: RobinEssex on Sunday 17 December 06 13:24 GMT (UK)
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In October 1934 my gt gt grandfather, John William Theobald, was the subject of an article which appeared in Lincoln's 'Chronicle and Leader' newspaper.
The headlines to the article were:
A KING IN A CRATE
Lincoln Veteran of the Zulu War.
Thrilling Memories
Cetywayo Bretrayed By His Cooks.
Here are some extracts from the article:
'When he was 20 ( 1874) Mr. Theobald gave up woring on the land to join the Royal Artillery. As a groom , he sailed to South Africa with horses of the regiment in 1879,.....
Mr.Theobald was one of the gallant band of 60 men who defended the small mission station of Rorke's Drift, on the border of Zulu-land, against repeated attacks of 3,000 Zulu warriors, and he was present at the capture of King Cetywayo, which resulted in the appointment of an English resident and the division of the country in 13 districts, each governed by an independant chief. Ulandi was the chief military kraal wheer the king resided.
According to Mr. Theobald, Cetywayo was not found when the troops visited Ulandi, but the soldiers surprised two Zulu men and a woman, cooking a hearty meal over a glowing fire.
The officer in charge had the men arrested with a view of questioning them as to the whereabouts of the king and the remainder of the tribe, but for along time the natives would not speak. At last however, combines were produced and the blacks gave in. King Cetywayo and his wives and his tribesmen were arrested . The royal family were hustled into a large box, the tribesmen and their women werer packed into other boxes. and the prisoners were taken to Cape Town much to the joy of the soldiers.
In 1882 Mr. Theobald was discharged from the Army on account of ill-health.'
My main interest is in if my gt gt grandfather was at Rorke's Drift or if he was just spinning a yarn 55 years after the event?
Various lists have been produced as to who was at Rorke's Drift but there seems to be additions all the time so i'm not sure just how reliable these lists really are.
Any comments / info would be appreciated.
Cheers
Rob :)
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Hi Rob,
Welcome to Rootschat!! :)
My first thought is that I'd suspect the accuracy of that article, especially as it states 60 defenders of Rorke's Drift (there were more like 140 defenders).
As you say, there are a couple of rolls of Rorke's Drift defenders that differ in the detail. The list I would trust most is the following:
http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/battle/roll.htm
Will check the medal roll, see if I can spot him.
Neil
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Hi Rob,
I can't really add to what Neil has said with respect to your gggrandfathers reputed service at the defence of Rorkes Drift, you can see a copy of Lt Chards original roll of the defenders here;
http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/ChardRoll.html
King Cetshwayo and his wives were transported from Ulandi in an army field ambulance, I would think that the idea of his being 'packed into a box' is a reference to his immediate capture when he and his family and followers were surrounded by a strong mounted escort,thus 'boxing them in', either that or it is a reference to the box shape of field ambulance,they certainly weren't put into crates! :o
Regards,
Arf :)
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Hi Neil, Hi Arf
......thank you both for your replies and links.
Mucho appreciated. :)
I think maybe on the balance of evidence that John Theobald wasn't involved which is slightly disappointing.
I always did find it strange that he didn't go into any detail of Rorke's Drift during his interview instead of concentrating on Cetywayo's capture.
Maybe he was in the area but not actually involved in the action?
I'm just grateful that he wasn't camping near by and went over to complain about the noise !! ;D
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This could be him from the medal roll:
1028 Driver J. Theobald, A-Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery
received South Africa medal wilth clasp for 1879
You could look for his service record at Kew.
Neil
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Neil,
you're a star.....thanks very much for the info.
I do have a couple of post-war photos of John ,proudly wearing his medal....I just wish i had a scanner to show you.
Thanks again for all your help. :)
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Dear Robin,
Your Great Great Grandfather was my Great Grandfather. I have his army paybook, papers and other momentos including his sharpshooting medallion which he is wearing in the 1934 newspaper article. I have an original copy of the article which I will need to re-read but I don't think there is any mention of his service at Rorke's Drift in his paybook although there is records of various stations and medals received. His campaign medals all passed to my uncle,(one of his grandsons).
Regards,
Bernard
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Hi Bernard - and a very warm welcome to RootsChat!
I don't think the original poster (Robin) has visited us for a few months. If you want to contact him more directly, click on his name and send him a Personal Message (PM). He should then get an email telling him that you have tried to make contact.
Kind regards
Dave
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Thanks Dave, I will try that.
Regards,
Bernard
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This is my ancestor Lieutenant Nevill Josiah Aylmer Coghill was born Drumcondra, Co. Dublin, Ireland on 25 January 1852. He died with Melvill trying to save the Colour.
Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill was born at 4 Clarendon Place, Marylebone, Central London on 8 September 1842. He died aged 36 when trying to save the Colour from Isandlwana on 22 January 1879.
He, along with Coghill, were among the first recipients of the posthumous Victoria Cross in 1907.
Lieutenant Nevill Josiah Aylmer Coghill was born Drumcondra, Co. Dublin, Ireland on 25 January 1852. He died with Melvill trying to save the Colour.
When the situation at Isandlwana seemed hopeless, Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine ordered Melvill to save the Colour. He was accompanied by Coghill, he having sustained an injury to his knee earlier in the day when trying to catch a chicken for Lord Chelmsford's supper. It was this injury which meant that he was unable to go with Chelmsford's force moving to the South East in search of the main Zulu force.
Lt. Melvill
Lt. Coghill Melvill and Coghill made their way through the battle and through to the Buffalo River. Coghill was first to arrive and managed to cross to the Natal side. He turned to see Melvill plunge into the water, with the Colour in its case, only to have his horse shot from under him. He was swept to a large boulder, Coffin Rock, showing out of the torrent. He was soon joined by an NNC officer named Higginson. Melvill asked for help to save the colours but it was torn from his grasp by the strong current and disappeared.
Coghill turned to help the two in the river, but then his horse was shot in the head, plunging him into the water. He struggled to the rock and all three men then managed to swim to the Natal side of the bank. Higginson went to look for horses, while Melvill and Coghill struggled up the steep sides of the valley. They were killed by supposedly friendly natives who had been threatened by the Zulus on the opposite bank with death, had they not chased Melvill and Coghill and killed them.
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Dear Rob.
I am a relative of yours :o!!!! John Theobald is ALSO my great great grandad :D!!!! I recognised the story too as I have been told it by my mother!
John and Eliza had a daughter lily - she married Charles Murrell and had my grandma Kathleen Murrell, who married John Maw and had my mother Carol Maw, who ,married my father, Steven Goodrich - and had me!! Natalie Goodrich!
hello distant relative!!
Natalie ;D
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Dear Bernard,
I am also a relative of yours too!! Please see my above post to Rob!!!
Natalie
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He was my great grandfather and travelled all over with the army, mainly base at Colchester, Essex. He was a groom and stayed with the same major for years. Everytime he came home on leave another child was conceived and they were often named after where had been on his army jaunts. Like May Malabar, Olive Tregelia. etc. what a character.