Brothers Sears

Just one for the record.
Great Nephew (John Sears)of Pte Arthur Sears 2-24/2404, 
A Company Rorke's Drift defender,  has said that Arthur was the brother of Pte Henry Sears 279, 1st Battalion 24th Regiment killed at Isandlwana.

Cheers Eddie

Thanks Eddie,

I must admit I wasn't aware of this until Kate mentioned it in her post a few days ago.

If you happen to be in touch with Arthur's descendant, I'd be interested to know whether he's aware of any family memorials which commemorate either (or both) of the brothers.....

Regards,

Tim

I Tim.

I found him and other decendants on a Facebook page: (Fireforce ventures) where there is a thread discussing Evan Jones Rorke's Drift defender. I will ask.

Tim.

I asked the question for you and he says that he is not aware of any memorial to either of the brothers. I say either, because, John has now told me that there were three brothers, one at Rorke's Drift (Arthur Sears) and two that died at Isandlwana. Having looked at the list of deceased at Isandlwana I only see one Sears.
He has said he has confirmed this by ancestry searches and the results have apparently shown, one as being clubbed to death and the other speared.
I have asked John if he can dig out the Ancestry record again to find his name.
So we are probably looking for an alias.

Eddie,

Many thanks, interesting to hear that there may be another brother involved at Isandlwana.....

I think I may have tracked down the brothers' parents John and Ann Sears -

John was buried in Sunbury cemetery on 23 Feb 1901 aged 82 while Ann was interred on 28 Jan 1903 in the same cemetery (although in a different grave) - I'm waiting to hear back as to whether either grave has a headstone (which of course could also commemorate their sons) but the fact that John & Ann are in different plots possibly indicates that they are in communal/public graves and therefore unlikely to be marked.

Regards,

Tim

Here's hoping Tim.

I am hoping John will get back to me soon.

Hi Tim/All

It just so happens I have received a message from John's wife, and as she says, he has made a mistake, there was only one brother that died at Isandlwana. However there were three Sear brothers that were serving in the 24th.

Sandra sends the following information, which matches your findings Tim. She is requesting if anyone knows where Arthur's medals are. She also requests as much information as possible on the third brother who served in the 24th, Joseph Sears:

I have done a large family tree...& became very interested when I discovered all about my husband (John's) side of the family while going back...I was thrilled with the Rorke's Drift connection.

My husband's connection is through William Sears 1.9.1846, who is my husbands G- Grandfather.
I will start with my husband John's G-G-Grandparents, John Sears 1816 - 17.12.1901 Sunbury Middlesex & Anne Ives 1819 - 1903, who were married 5.12.1841, In Hounslow, Brentford, and they had 8 children:

Charles 1842

Henry 1844 - 1879 ( Died at the battle of Isandlwana 22nd Jan 1879).

William 1.9.1846 (John my husband, this is his G Grandad), he married Hannah Hyatt, had 4 children.

John 1848

Joe 1850

Arthur 1854 - 1906, married Emma Park 1866 - 1914, had 7 children. ( Defender at Rorke's Drift) originally joined as a Bandsman.

Joseph 1856, married Jane , had 6 children and he later lived on the staines road and was a panel beater. ( Served with the 24th regiment? Number not known), was a musician just like Arthur, and was in India with Arthur, we know this as he was witness to Arthur's wedding to Emma 14th August 1882.

Clara 1860

Following on... family tree, John's G Grandfather, William 1846..one of his children was another William 1879 - 1959, died age 80, who was my husbands grandad, he married Florence Keeble 1877 - 1958, (died aged 81) they had 7 children.
The last one was Percival 1911 - 1997 (who was my husbands dad & he called himself Tom.

Hello Eddie,

I've heard back from Sunbury Cemetery and unfortunately it appears that neither John's nor Ann's grave has a headstone.

Thanks for the additional family information, although I suspect there may be a typo in there - otherwise Ann made it to the ripe old age of 111!

Regarding Joseph Sears I've found the following info in Norman Holmes' 'The Noble 24th'

SEARS Joseph - Private - 2-24/2405 - 2nd 24th A Company
Service details: Awarded good conduct pay at 2d 9/1/1879.
Battalion Orders Rorke's Drift 27/2/1879 - A Company to occupy No.1 post in-lying picquet. Arrived Casemate Barracks Gibraltar 13/1/1880 aboard HMS Orontes. Awarded South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 "Clasp 1877-8-9".

Regards,

Tim

Tim thank you, that has been amended.

It is great that you have found him, does his military record go further through to India? As he was present at his brothers wedding in 1882.

Can we take it from those details he was out with Lord Chelmsfords column, and was later sent to the out-lying Piquet.

Hello Eddie,

Looking at the entry for Henry Sears (killed in action) in 'The Noble 24th' there certainly is a further mention of Joseph:

SEARS Henry - Private - 25B/279 - 1st/24th
Baptised into the Non-conformist Church 5/5/1844 Sunbury-on-Thames.
Parents were John Sears, occupation General Labourer and Ann nee Ives; they married 5/12/1841.
Brothers/sisters: Charles baptised 27/3/1842 Sunbury-on-Thames. William baptised 6/9/1846 Halliford. John (the first) baptised 10/9/1848 Halliford, died in infancy. Joseph (the first) baptised 22/9/1850 Halliford, died aged 2 years September quarter 1852. Arthur born 29/1/1854 Harmondsworth, Staines, Defender of Rorke's Drift. Joseph (the second) baptised 23/3/1856 Sunbury-on-Thames, served with the 24th & SWB in India with his brother Arthur and was a witness to his marriage. Clara Ann baptised 13/6/1858 Sunbury-on-Thames.
Service details: Enlisted Liverpool 13/6/1874 aged 18.
Effects claimed by his Father John Sears.
Honours/awards: South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 "Clasp 1879".
Death: K-in-A Isandlwana Mountain, Zululand 22/1/1879 aged 22

Regards,

Tim

Tim, thank you once again.

I should imagine his medals to be at the museum in Brecon, does anyone know?

I have to add this in relation to Arthur's medals:

Arthur sadly passed away aged 51 years, on 15th December, 1906 at 85 Stephendale road Fulham, he had  been suffering from Tubercular Phthisis. He is buried in Fulham Cemetery, grave 6A, section C18. Shortly after the family moved to 88a Townsend road Fulham.

Arthurs medals were taken to the local pawn shop in Kings road Fulham to raise money for the family, and Arthur's son. "Arthur John" went each week to pay in the money to secure the return of his father's medals.
But Emma's health was fading and at the outbreak of the great war Arthur John had to re-enlist. Emma did not live long enough to know if her son returned home safely, and she died in 1914, and is buried with her husband at Fulham Cemetery.
The fact that we were at war and a sum of money had already been paid to secure the return of Arthur's medals was not taken into account, and they were sold to recover the debt.... Never to be seen again by the family. (Son Arthur did safely return) oh how I would love to see those medals.

In the late sixties Arthur and Emma's daughter "May" realised that she was the only person left who knew the oral history of her family, so she wrote down as much as she could remember, so there would be a written record of their heritage. The Journal was entitled "Emma's Daughter ' and it's thanks to her that so much of the families history was saved from oblivion.
She tried to get the Journal published without success and sadly she lost her eyesight and believed that her Journals only value was to the family themselves..May died aged 77 in 1987.

It would be great if we on this Forum could add to that Diary for May.
Three brothers served in the colours, two survived, Arthur and Joseph. What else do we know?

Cheers Eddie

Eddie,

Just found some information on the internet that Arthur's Long Service Medal was sold at auction December 2002 (Spink) for £2,200.

Regards,

Tim

Thanks Tim.

Singular, just his long service medal.?

Can I please ask, does anyone have access to 2-24 /2405 Private Joseph's Sears full military records?

Tim.

In relation to your post above about baptisms, there is no mention of John (The second). We know the first died in infancy, 1848, but when you indicated a John (The first) I was expecting a second, was there one listed in the 24th ?
I have listed in an above post all siblings, another one named is Joe born 1850, is also unmensioned, is there anything about him?

Eddie

Eddie,

Regarding Arthur's medals, yes it was just his Long Service medal I found a mention of.

Not sure about the reference to 'John (the first)' - I'll try and dig out my copy of Kris Wheatley's 'Legacy - Heroes of Rorke's Drift' book which has a chapter on Arthur and see if that offers any further information.

Regards,

Tim

Thank you Tim

Please include Joe.

Regards Eddie

Eddie,

Just checked Kris Wheatley's chapter on Arthur Sears and there is no mention in there either of a second John:

Charles (1842)
Henry (1844)
William (1846)
John (1848)
Joseph (1850)
Arthur (1854)
Joseph (1856)
Clara Ann (1858)

Regards,

Tim

Thank you Tim

Strange that. And not including Joe 1850, as mentioned by his descendants.

Cheers for taking the time Tim.