Private 121 John Hughes 2/21st Regiment Stolen watch Gunner David Mewett

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Natal Witness 4th July 1881
Theft of watch by soldiers - Gunner David Mewett R.A. and Private John Hughes 21st Regimnet were brought up at the police court on Saturday on the charge of having stolen a watch from the person of F. Laatz from Umvoti County. It seems that Laatz was returning to the Plough Hotel from Andrews Canteen at the Willow Bridge accompanied by two others, when the soldiers insisted upon accompanying him. On Laatz putting his hand in his pocket, he found that his watch had disappeared. The soldiers were taken to the Station and the watch taken from the pocket of Hughes. The prisoners were remanded until this morning.

I think this is the same man as in the title as in the medal rolls it shows
2/21st Regiment 121 Hughes J 1879. No medal. Discharged with ignominy.

I would have though Dravot and Carnehan would have been better surnames for the accused. Shame Laatz wasn't a mason.

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And the result

Natal Witness 5th July 1881
The Theft of a Watch - Hughes and Mewett, the two soldiers convicted on Saturday of stealing a silver watch from F. Laatz farmer Umvoti County, were yesterday sentenced by the City Resident Magistrate to two and one months hard labour respectively. Both men bore good characters, but the evidnce was most clear.

I’m told that Brother Peachy once masqueraded as a Lieutenant in the 24th Regiment… Joker

Posts : 3458 Join date : 2021-01-04

Perhaps he was like Hook or Hitch afterall?

Brother Daniel’s stuntman for the bridge fall had been at Rorke’s Drift as well.

JY

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