Natives manning the gun.

Can someone tell me who the coloured chaps are manning the gun. I always assumed that it was the army who only recruited the local natives. After all too much knowledge can be dangerous. They would have known how to fire the Guns that were captured at Isandlwana, if they had decided to change sides.

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hi littlehand .
The navy had a detachment of men recruited in West Africa known as " Kroomen ', these would be the Natives
in your picture .
cheers 90th.

They generally had colorful names probably given to them by the sailors they served with:

Block Double
Joseph Elijah
Jib Flying
Mac Foy Henry
Everyday Jack
Ropeyarn Jack
Bull John
George Jim
Soup Pea

To name a few that were onboard HMS Forester which seems to have had a large percentage of Krooman who received the medal with 1879 clasp.

The 'Natives' are indeed 'Krooman' from the West Coast of Africa who were often employed on Royal Navy ships in African waters. Kroomen were known for their skill in handling small craft in the coastal waters. On board ship they would most likely be employed as Stokers or Domestics.

The sketch showing Kroomen manning a gun is based on a photograph of the crew of HMS Active taken in 1879 at the Lower Tugela. In the photograph the gun is positioned further to the right and is in front of the sailors.

I would think that Kroomen who served in Zulu War would be entitled to the 1877-79 medal, but those Kroomen listed on the medal rolls for 'Active' and 'Forester' have a line drawn through their names. I am assuming that this means the medals were not issued. Kroomen were not recruited into the navy, but were hired only for the duration of the deployment. Locating these Kroomen two years later would not have been possible.

Petty Officer Tom

Were the Kroomen employed just for the Zulu War, or did they return to England with the Regiment.

littlehand,

The Krooman were hired by Royal Navy ships for the period that the ship was to be on station at the West Coast of Africa and Cape of Good Hope (roughly a 3 year period.). Afterwards, the Kroomen would be dropped off at their homeland (Sierra Leone) on the ship's return to England; or they could be hired on by another ship. Several of HMS Forester's Krooman in 1879 appear on HMS Boadicea in the 1881 Census.

It is interesting that the Kroomen who served on 'Boadicea' are not listed on the Medal Roll.

Petty Officer Tom

Tom Everyday's, HMS Active, medal existed in the Douglas Morris collection, piaired with an Ashantee medal. Does he appear on the rolld with or without the line through his name?

Pick

Pick,

He does appear on the medal roll for 'Active' as Jack Everyday. He qualified for both the medal for the action against the Gaikas, Galekas, and other Kafir Tribes 1877-'8 and the Zulu War 1879.

I found him on the DNW site.

'Tom Everyday was born in Kroo Country, Africa. First entered on 30 December 1865 aboard H.M.S. INVESTIGATOR as a Krooman until May 1867. Joined H.M.S. BITTERN 21 August 1871, earning his Coomassie clasp for duties ashore during the Ashantee Campaign. Discharged from BITTERN March 1874, then served aboard H.M.Ships SPITEFUL and FLORA from which vessel he was invalided back to Sierra Leone from Bombay by a Mail Steamer in August 1875. He joined H.M.S . ACTIVE as Krooman Jack Everyday on 30 July 1877 and earned the clasp ‘1877-8-9’ for duties ashore in the Naval Brigade from 17 December 1877 to 7 March 1878, but in September 1879 he was rated as a Domestic 2nd Class (Gun Room Steward). Drafted to H.M.S. ASIA as a Krooman in October 1879, changing his branch in March 1880 when he became a Stoker 2nd Class upon joining H.M.S. ORONTES. Remained in the Engineering Branch until pensioned nineteen years later having served aboard H.M. Ships URGENT, GRIFFON (1881-84), ASIA (1884-86), CANADA (1886-89), ANSON (1890-93) and various other vessels until pensioned on 16 June 1899. Although he had received three Good Conduct Badges without deprivation by December 1888, he was never recommended for a LS & GC medal after serving more than 33 years.'


I sent you a PM

Petty Officer Tom