Good for them!!!

Subject: Good for them!!! Thu Feb 14, 2013 11:26 pm

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Guest

“Private James Lee, a veteran British soldier, was about to be given a pauper’s funeral at Walton-on-Thames, yesterday, when some New Zealand soldiers intervened. Private Lee fought in the Zulu War of 1879, and later at Majuba Hill. From 1881-4 he took part in the Egyptian campaign, gaining the British medal, with three bars, and the Khedive Star. He died in Chertsy Union Infirmary. On the arrival of the coffin on the Thames side of the town wounded New Zealanders, on learning the circumstances, formed a bearer party, relieving the parish undertaker’s men. The Union Jack was placed over the coffin, and an Anzac bugle sounded “The Last Post.” (Source: Hull Daily Mail, 5 February, 1919)

Can anyone confirm if this man did serve in the Zulu War, and with which unit?

Petty Officer Tom

Subject: Re: Good for them!!! Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:11 pm

Was there an Isandlwana survivor named James Lee?

"(The Sunday Mirror (Perth, WA : 1920 - 1921)

We will speak out, we will be heard though all earth's systems crack; we will not bate a single word, nor take a letter back. Let liars fear, let cowards shrink, Let- traitors turn away; whatever we have dared to. think That dare we also say, We speak the truth, and what care we For hissing and for scorn, While some faint glimmerings we can see of Freedom's coming morn!

PERTH, SUNDAY, DEC. S 1920.'BRITAIN'S WORD, NO LONGER ITS BOND1' — Lord Haig.
WHY IS HE NOT EXPELLED?

Just how 'democracy' is working out in England may be seen by the following advertisement, which appeared in the London ...'Daily News' of January 25 last: 'Discharged young soldier (one with foot so may suit) to assist in light trade; must be able to stand without crutches for an hour or two; hours 9 to 7 ; wages, 15/.' The above bears out the recent in dignant pronouncement by Lord Haig, of the Glasgow whisky distilleries, that, having regard to the interests of returned soldiers, 'Britain's word is no longer its bond.' Why has Haig not been expelled from the military forces? Why has he not been deprived of that hun dred thousand war gratuity cash bond issued to him? Why is he allowed thus to 'slander the empire'? Why is he not advised to 'get out and live somewhere else?' How dare he criticise the sacred empire and its hideous defaulters?
' It was Lord Haig, of the Whisky Distilleries in Glasgow, who recently announced his profound disgust that British soldiers were not being accorded the humane treatment vouchsafed them on condition that they enlisted and shed their blood, their ears, their noses, their arms, their legs, and their humanity in the great shambles. Haig saw what a blinking prevaricator the empire was, and he spoke accordingly. But why has he not been expelled from the army and from the pension list, which carries a lump sum of £100,000 sterling? Yes, sterling, not a paper bond or promise to pay at some indefinite period. Haig believes that Britain has been recreant to her war promises, and he says so. And he has not been expelled by Lloyd George, Billy Hughes, Smuts, Massey, or any other super-patriot. Why?
Hasn't the same tale been told of this allegedly sacred empire ever since Queen Victoria was crowned Empress of India in the 'sixties'? Hasn't the empire always dis honored its LO.U.'s to returned soldiers? 'Haven't 'the boys' of the late shambles been taught the les son of the ages in blood and tears? How vividly have they been taught that hundreds of their comrades have already repeated the old, old story of the returned broken soldier dying like a dog by the way side? They have seen in person the broken victims of other 'Fights for the Flag'— as for instance the case of James Lee as mentioned in the 'Australasian' on April 19 of last year: Private James Lee, a survivor of Isandlwana in the Zulu War in 1879, the Boer War and
Majuba Hill in 1881, and the Egyptian campaign of 1881-84, and who gained the British medal and Khedive's star and three bars, was being given a pauper's funeral at Walton-on-Thames, when some New Zealanders learned the circumstances just preceding the burial, with the result that the Anzacs formed a bearers' party. Dispensing with the parish under takers, the men covered the coffin with a Union Jack, and buglers sounded the 'Last Post.
There you are, gentlemen! Isn't Lord Haig fully vindicated? Returned soldiers will please note how a mighty Empire rewards its broken sons.' What 'New World' was opened up for poor old James Lee after he fled at Isandlwana, Majuba, and Alexandria? He was being accorded a pauper's funeral when the Anzacs intervened! But, in the days of James Lee, soldiers did not form themselves into associations, unions, or leagues on their return. They dutifully accepted the role of Lazarus, and were given Lazarus treatment. In Australia 'Nationalism' is Dives, the soldiers are Lazarus. In Britain the Georgettes are Dives and the broken remnants of the war are asked to be x Lazarus. But they have within their ranks a leavening which revolts at the role of Lazarus being assigned to them; and Dives —he has his emissaries even in the ranks of Lazarus— holds up his hands in holy horror and sends his 'protests' sizzling over the telegraph wires. There is no end of trouble in sight for Dives and cobbers. The problem of fitting remnants of his bloody reign back into the old jobs is a bigger one than he is capable of facing with success.
The soldiers and their dependents are being taxed out of their socks to keep Billy Hughes, Lloyd-George, and oilier bum-patriots in the Beats of power. The gnat Aniwrican humorist foretold the cataclysm three years are gone, for Mr. Donor’s observations on The End of the War have appropriateness at ibis juncture that is to. Say, if the tax collector is regarded in the light of an after math belonging to many other realms than the financial, 'And so the war is over?' asks Mr. Hennessey. 'Only part is it,' replies Mr. Dooley. Their part that ye see in the pitcher papers is over, but the tax collector will continue his part."

Guest

Another account of Lee’s funeral:

“New Zealand soldiers spontaneously gave a military funeral at Walton-on-Thames yesterday to Private James Lee a veteran of the Zulu War of 1879 and one of the survivors of Isandlwana. Later in the Boer War, Pte. Lee was standing beside General Colley on Majuba Hill when the latter was shot. He also fought in the Egyptian campaign and held several decorations. He died in Chertsey Union Infirmary. The Anzacs placed a Union Jack over the coffin, and a bugler sounded “Last Post.” (Source: The Aberdeen Daily Journal, February 5, 1919)

Something about this story just doesn’t seem right.

What regiments, other than the 24th, were at Isandlwana? I can only think of a scattering of men who were in the mounted infantry. Which regiments were at Majuba? If I remember correctly it was only the 58th and 92nd. The 92nd were not in the Zulu War, and the 58th did not arrive until early April.

Petty Officer Tom

Subject: Re: Good for them!!! Fri Feb 15, 2013 10:51 pm

Hi POT.
I've checked the Mtd Infantry Roll in Robert Hope's work ' A Staffordshire Regiment In The Zulu And Sekukuni Campaigns
1878- 79 ' . No Lee on the Rolls . If anyone will know it will be Julian Whybra , hopefully he'll see this thread . Does anyone have his revised Edition Of Englands Son's ? , mine hasnt arrived yet .

I've just checked the Forsyth Roll , there are two Private J. Lee's in the 2 / 24th , J.Lee 1773 Medal with Clasp 1879 , J.Lee 2640 Medal no Clasp .

There is also a J.Lee in the 1 / 24th , Private J.Lee 882 1 / 24th ; KIA Isandlwana , Medal with Clasp 1879 ( well it cant be him ! )

I did check the copy I have of Julian's Englands Son's , no mention of a Pvt Lee being a survivor of Isandlwana , it may of course be the case he was with LC , and over the time he's been stated as being a survivor as he was there , although not during the fighting .
I think this would be a common occurance over the years .
Cheers 90th. Salute

Subject: Re: Good for them!!! Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:00 pm

Hi POT .
In answer to your question the 24th were the only Imperial Regt at Isandlwana , as you said a smattering of other Regt's were in the Mtd Infantry , and as I posted , There is no Pvt Lee in the Roll I have .
Cheers 90th Salute

Subject: Re: Good for them!!! Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:20 pm

Chertsey admissions and Discharge

There is only one James Lee, stated as being "Dead" but not in the parish of Chertsey. But his funeral was in Walton-on-Thames. As stated on the list.

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/171399/Chertsey-BG-admission-and-discharge-K-Z.pdf

Subject: Re: Good for them!!! Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:47 am

SAVED FROM PAUPER BURIAL.
Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3751, 10 April 1919, Page 1

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Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

Did this chap take part in the action at "Majuba Hill"

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