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Messages - John Young

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1
Armed Forces / Re: Army Surgeon Dugald Blair Brown, 1847 - 1896
« on: Saturday 11 November 17 08:15 GMT (UK)  »
Lynrod,

I would certainly be interested in the contents of the letter.

If possible.

Regards,

Isandlwana

2
Armed Forces / Re: William A. Smith EKR The Buffs
« on: Sunday 23 February 14 13:29 GMT (UK)  »
Ann,

There was a Sergeant 3rd Regiment/2394 William Smith, in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd (East Kent) Regiment - The Buffs who served against the Zulu in 1879.  I know it is one digit out from what Ken has given above, but it is a possible.  The fact he has a regimental - rather than a Brigade - number indicates an old soldier.

John Y.

3
Armed Forces / Re: 3rd Burmese war 1885-1887
« on: Saturday 10 August 13 23:27 BST (UK)  »
Ian,

Lance-Corporal J. Alexander, 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers.

The 17th Lancers were sent out after the disaster at Isandlwana.  They served in a Cavalry Brigade under the command of Major General Frederick Marshall, and took part in the 2nd Invasion of Zululand.

The 17th Lancers were involved in some minor skirmishes during the advance to Ulundi, where King Cetshwayo kaMpande had his 'capital'.  On 2nd June, elements of the 17th Lancers took part in the search for the body of the exiled Prince Imperial of France, who was killed in an ambush on 1st June, whilst serving as a 'volunteer' with the British forces.

The 17th Lancers' major engagement in the Zulu War was the Battle of Ulundi, which was fought on 4th July 1879.

For an account of the Battle of Ulundi, see my account on:  http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/ulundi/index.htm

John

4
Armed Forces / Re: Identification of Mid 1800's English Uniform (Photo)
« on: Friday 02 August 13 12:43 BST (UK)  »
Les,

The uniform dates from post-1866, as he is wearing an infantry-pattern patrol jacket that was introduced in that year.

I strongly suspect it is the uniform of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary having seen other officers of that unit wearing a like patrol jacket.

John

5
Armed Forces / Re: Native Natal Contingent officers Zulu War
« on: Sunday 23 June 13 01:24 BST (UK)  »
Alan,

There's an interesting engraving in The Penny Illustrated News, which shows Lieutenant H. C. Young at Isandlwana, based purely on his story.  When my collection is out of storage I will post the image should you like to see it.

Back in 1991 I spoke to Captain Stafford's niece, who recounted his story as if in first person. 

Stafford in his account, published in The Natal Mercury of 22nd January 1929 gives the following information:

Quote
... The fleet-footed Zulus kept at our heels, and a small gain I had made on them was lost when at one of the dongas I came across a wounded man. After several attempts on his part to get a foot into one of my stirrups I managed to pull him up behind me. Re had an assegai wound under his arm and was so weak from loss of blood that I could hardly feel him holding me. He had managed to tell me that he was Young of Lonsdale's Horse [sic] when we got to a donga 12 feet wide. In taking the jump my horse's hind feet did not get a firm hold on the other side and it slipped. While it was recovering itself poor Young lost his seat and fell back.

The Zulus were then right on top of us, and poor Young was killed, although Harry Davis, who had come up, and I did our best for him. A little further on we came across Lieutenant Erskine, unable to go further on account of an assegai wound through the calf of one of his legs...

Regards,

John Y.

6
Armed Forces / Re: Please identify uniform and give a rough date.
« on: Monday 28 January 13 15:51 GMT (UK)  »
Ken,

I think that you'd be hard pushed see the numbers on his shoulder straps, given the angle of the pose he has adopted.

The yellow in sepia-tone photographs was explained to me some years ago, when I was puzzled by an image of Colour-Sergeant Anthony Booth, V.C. of the 80th (Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment.  For an example please see http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/intombi.htm

Regards,

John

7
Armed Forces / Re: Please identify uniform and give a rough date.
« on: Sunday 27 January 13 20:12 GMT (UK)  »
Judy & Ken,

I don't know if I'm going to upset the applecart here, but I don't think the soldier in the photograph is the person in question.

The person in the photograph is wearing the full dress pre-1881 tunic of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot, a regular line battalion.  This further borne out by the glengarry badge which is also that of the 38th.  The yellow of the facing colour appears dark due the photographic process of the period.

The pattern of waist-belt he is wearing is the 1871 Pattern Valise Equipment belt, which was replaced in 1882.

It might by worth while contacting the Staffordshire Museum in Lichfield, as I think they have a researcher there.

John

8
Armed Forces / Re: ANGLO ZULU WAR 11 JAN 1879
« on: Tuesday 22 January 13 23:46 GMT (UK)  »
WkdWitch,

I would hazard an educated guess and say he did not serve in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

The only Henry Hayward I can find in the Medal Roll was killed at the Battle of Isandlwana, on 22nd January 1879.  He was the Armourer-Sergeant of the 1st Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment.

The only Royal Artillery man with the surname Hayward, was a Gunner W. H. Hayward, 'N' Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery.  N/6 left Southampton on 24th February 1879, bound for Durban, arriving on 31st March 1879.

Given the date of his enlistment, I imagine that your relative had just concluded his recruit training just prior to the last major battle of the Anglo-Zulu War, which was fought at Ulundi on 4th July 1879.

The only ship carrying replacements/reinforcements to leave Portsmouth after his enlistment was the Orontes which departed on 1st May 1879 and arrived in Natal, South Africa on 4th June 1879, but there were no artillerymen amongst the drafts.

Sorry,

Regards

John

9
Armed Forces / Re: Can anyone tell which regiment from this photo?
« on: Monday 03 December 12 14:42 GMT (UK)  »
Haze73,

Just clarifying the previous answers he is a Fusilier, post-1874, but pre-1881.  The trefoil knot on his sleeves can be dated to that period.

He is also wearing the 1871-Valise Pattern waist belt.

If he is 5th (Northumberland) Fusiliers the facing colour on the sleeves and collar would be 'Gosling Green'.

You can discount Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery & the Grenadier Guards as they wore a Pillbox forage cap rather than the Glengarry cap as worn in the photograph.

John


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