ROYAL ENGINEER BURIALS NEAR HELPMAKAAR/DUNDEE

Is anybody able, perhaps based upon SAHRA(BSU) primary source research, to provide a detailed series of locations for the 5th Field Company Zulu War dead buried in the Rorke's Drift-Helpmekaar area.

London Gazette references usually simply say 'Helpmekaar' without subspecifying places of burial in any further detail.

I can provide names annd dates of death if that helps.

Hi Gabion, Welcome to the forum.
I havent tried looking up name sfrom the Zulu War, but you might want to try Find a Grave.
Heres the link to the website. Its pretty easy to use since you know the dates of death and their names.

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Hope this helps

Thanks joe

Gabion

Quote :

"I can provide names annd dates of death if that helps"

Post the names it will give us something to go on.

Thank you for your fast replies.

7 Royal Engineers were killed in action during the Zulu War, all of them at Isandlwana. Except for Colonel Durnf0ord, reburied at Fort Napier, the remainder lie somewhere on the battlefield.

30 died of sickness. Of these, Captain Wynne is buried at the Euphorbia Redoubt at Fort Pearson on the Lower Drift, whilst Lt Clarke is buried next to Colonel Durnford at Fort Napier.

Of the 5th Field Company dead, with associations to the Helpmakaar-Rorke's Drift area we have the following 'corrected' details (as names and dates):

Sapper H (Henry) Thompson Died 28 February 1879
Driver W Beckett Died 28 February 1879
Driver F (Frederick) Mandy Died 6 March 1879
14491 Sapper FW (William) Russell Died 27 February 1879
14141 Sapper G Betts Died 20 February 1879

All of these appear to be listed with Helpmakaar as their place of death, or at least as the location of the unit HQ reportoing their deaths. However, Sappers Russell and Betts are recorded by name on the rear face of the 24th Foot obelisk at the Rorke's Drift walled military cemetery. Except that they are incorrectly inscribed as "Pte (Private) .......R.E."

There are no surviving (readable) grave markers at Helpmakaar that name amny REs (as at early February 2010). Nor are there any readable grave markers with RE namnes on them at the enclosed burial site to the East of the remains of Fort Northsampton at Rorke's Drift. Any vestige of Fort Jones at Dundee is also long gone.

Any ideas?

Gabion. Came across this. from the RE Website.

The grave is in Euphorbia Hill cemetery, overlooking the River Tugela and the remains of Fort Tenedos. The inscription reads:



And just out of interest.
Captain Wynne (Officer Commanding 2nd Field Company) was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major to take effect from April 2nd 1879 - the granting of this posthumous promotion would have assisted his widow.

Warren Wynne was an interesting and impressive man who, ultimately, worked himself to death by persisting in carrying out his military duties whilst far overcome by the exhausting and debilitating effects of 'the enteric'. Perhaps he realised that his death was a foregone conclusion.

The circumstances are well covered in the small book "A Widow-Making War".

Wynne had assumed command of the 2nd Field Company at Shornecliffe, merely a few weeks before it embarked with 5th Field Company for the Zulu War (on the same ship). Yet, as is affectingly described in the book, he had succeeded in esytablishing a rapport with his officers and men such that several were reduced to tears or overcome by emotion at his burial.

There were military Wynne descendents until fairly recently (the early 1970s) though not as Royal Engneers.

Captain Warren Richard Colvin WYNNE - Royal Engineers
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Photo Copyright © John. Young.

Doe's anyone happen to have a photo of WYNNE'S Grave. I have look on the forum, couldn't see one.

Yes

:lol!: Where.

Hi OldH

I will post it under the Pictorial catalogue of AZW Graves & Memorials for you

:lol!: