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Messages - davidrossiter

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Armed Forces / Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« on: Tuesday 01 April 14 16:46 BST (UK)  »
Garen,

Not a problem, it would seem then that there was a HQ Coy, in which case I imagine as you say it was elements of this company that stayed behind to deal with the defence of Kandahar (QMs dept etc).

Have done a bit of looking around I think that the British Army had begun to phase out grenadier and light companies, although many battalions still use this designation for Companies into the present day. I think in the 66th because the designation of Companies was A-H that the light and grenadier companies had by this point been removed.

I am not sure whether that site I quoted had perhaps just put anyone who died during the war or could not be accounted for afterwards as being killed at Maiwand.

Thanks for the email address!

Kind Regards,

David


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Armed Forces / Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« on: Sunday 30 March 14 21:15 BST (UK)  »
Garen,

Thanks for your swift reply! Great knowledge!

I'm wondering if you may be able to answr a couple more questions:

1. Did Regiments in those days have a HQ Company or was the HQ just a small addition to A-H?
2. Was A Coy still a grenadier Company and H Coy a light Company at this point?
3. Yes like you I assumed due to numbers that Sydney was probably there. I can imagine that must have been pretty harrowing for them both knowing that somewhere on the battlefield a brother was in harm's way. Talking of numbers on this site http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/british_regiment/royal_berkshire_66th_regiment_maiwand_afghan_medal_casualty_roll_4.htm there seems to have been far more deaths at Maiwand than the official death numbers state (I know there is some difference in figures for casualties) but this site suggests 481, which I think would be a bit high?
4. Do you still have an email address for the descendants of Sydney? it would  be useful to link up.

Thanks for your help so far, a fascinating part of British History not much talked about now. I shall endeavour to find out which Company they were in from the Wardrobe Museum as suggested.

David

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Armed Forces / Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« on: Friday 28 March 14 18:35 GMT (UK)  »
Garen,

I have been completing some family research on the Poole's of the 66th regiment (James and Sydney). They are cousins of my direct Calway/Callaway line (you will notice their mother Callaway). I also serve as a Captain in the Mercian regiment so have a vested military interest in these two as well.

You have James on your site as being wounded at Maiwand, I am guessing that this has been worked out by the fact he is admitted to the hospital on 30.7.1880 due to a sword wound received in action. Also I note that you have put a note on saying that he is not recorded on the official casualty list (he also does not continue to say that he was wounded on his final medical record although where he was admitted to hospital it mentions the sword wound).

My thoughts here were perhaps he received the cut at Maiwand, having escaped the battlefield (a sword cut to the hand being painful enough to make fighting difficult) he fled to Kandahar but because he was walking wounded and perhaps could still use a weapon he is not registered as a casualty. A couple of days later the injury is infected and he remains in hospital for 21 days. He then recovered to fight at Kandahar. Was this your line of thought?

I am aware that 2 Companies were detached to garrison Kelat-i-Ghilzai (partaking in the last part of the Kabul-Kandahar march), but also some stayed back in Kandahar to provide a garrison for this and did not deploy to Maiwand (Lt Edwards who writes his diary is part of this force) do you know which Companies were detached to Kelat-i-Ghilzai and which one(s) remained in Kandahar, not fighting at Maiwand?
Is there any way of finding out what Company James was with at Maiwand?

What was the role of the 66th at the Battle of Kandahar as I am aware some people stayed behind to guard the Kandahar Citadel but I do not think these were awarded the clasp?, and the rest were part of the Field Reserve. Did this actually engage?

You also have Sydney down as being at Maiwand. Do you have evidence that he was there? I am guessing he wasn't detached to Kelat-i-Ghilzai as he did not have the Kabul-Kandahar Star, but could he have remained in the citadel with the defence detachment that the stragglers from the battle flee back to?

Lots of questions there so hope you don't mind me picking your brains! I was amazed when I found that these two (both from Somerset) were at Maiwand (or thereabouts). We learnt all about the battle at Sandhurst but I didn't for one minute think I would have relatives who actually fought there!

Look forward to hearing from you,

David


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