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LH International man of mystery. I am managing to put a few more bits and pieces together. The whole medical issue of Durnfords Column is bit of a puzzle, but what else do we expect from iSandlwana? JY is of the opinion that Durnford didn't need a medical team because he was of to RD and then iSandlwana and they already had established teams. Doesn't really fit to well for me because when Durnford was ordered to RD he didn't have to much of a clue where he would be heading, in conjunction with Chelmsford or not. If not and he maintained his independence his medical support could have been miles away.Cheers
Don't forget that LC himself doesn't want to tke with his column the 22 january wagons and ambulances... Cheers
ymob
Posts : 2191 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France
Dr Thrupp was with Chelmsford's column the 22 january on his own initiative (according to a letter writing by him). It's not Chemlsford who took the decision to take food's wagon and ambulance(s) with his column the 22 january. LC considered that the wagons could slow the relief column. Cheers Frédéric
Frank Allewell
Posts : 7086 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 71 Location : Cape Town South Africa
Frank, On this subject, I have no clear position. Some testimonies tell us two ambulances others only one. I wonder if there is a confusion with the food's cart?. (Ambulance + the cart of food=2 ambulances). Thrupp wrote nothing about this subject (according to a letter published in the BPP). I know that Dr Busby wrote at least one letter published in a British newspaper but I never read it. Sorry.
Cheers Frédéric
ymob
Posts : 2191 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France
Just a precision about the lettrer written by Dr Thrupp : published in the BPP or in the "London Standard" (or both!) Actually I can't verify, I am not at home. Cheers. Frédéric
ymob
Posts : 2191 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France
"Dr Thrupp was, I believe, a civilian surgeon in Natal, who volunteered for war service and was appointed as the RMO of 1st/24th. I know nothing about him prior to this. (Keith's post refers). He was not only with Glyn's Column at the end of the war, but at the beginning too - he was at Isandlwana on the fateful day.
In the early hours of the morning, when Lord Chelmsford made the decision to divide his force, advancing with the 2nd/24th and leaving 1st/24th in camp, he also gave orders that no wagons were to be taken. Nobody relayed this part of his order to the Principal Medical Officer (PMO) Surgeon-Major Peter Shepherd, who decided that while he himself would stay in camp (hence 1st/24th taken care of), Dr Thrupp would go out with the Flying Column, taking two wheeled ambulances with him (contrary to the GOC's orders). He went with a handful of medics and drivers, would have tailed along behind the troops, struggled at the big dongas intersecting the Isandlwana plain,and by the time he caught up, whatever excitment there was on that side of the plain was just about over. By now concern was growing about what was going on behind them at the camp. He would have participated in the chilling return to Isandlwana that evening, slept somehwere on the battlefield, and would have been one of the last to arrive at Rorke's Drift the following morning, also of course a charnel house by this stage. He would have helped Surgeon James Reynolds (exhausted) with his surviving patients and the newly wounded, the majority of the B Coy men having cuts and grazes of one kind or another. After that...dunno, sorry."
ymob
Posts : 2191 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France
[i]"Dr Thrupp was, I believe, a civilian surgeon in Natal, (...) he was at Isandlwana on the fateful day.
In the early hours of the morning, when Lord Chelmsford made the decision to divide his force, advancing with the 2nd/24th and leaving 1st/24th in camp, he also gave orders that no wagons were to be taken. Nobody relayed this part of his order to the Principal Medical Officer (PMO) Surgeon-Major Peter Shepherd, who decided that while he himself would stay in camp (hence 1st/24th taken care of), Dr Thrupp would go out with the Flying Column, taking two wheeled ambulances with him (contrary to the GOC's orders).
Bonsoir, Letter From Dr Thrupp, "Rorke's Drift, January 31". " (...) On the 21st inst, we heard that an army of Zulus was approaching and encamped ten miles distant from us; therefore the next day, at three a.m., the whole of our column set off to meet the enemy, leaving the 1-24th Regiment (...) about eight hundred men in all. I should have stayed in camp with the 1-24th in the ordinary course of things, but I expected a big fight, and so set off with the column, taking two of my horses and my civilian servant. (...)"
Source: "The Standard", "The isandula disaster", 31 March 1879
Cheers
Frédéric
ymob
Posts : 2191 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France
About C. Reed, i found this but I don't think it's useful...
"Local general order n°48, dated 4 March 1879, "Times of Natal", 7 March 1879: (...) 4. The following reliefs will take place in the Army Medical Department, on the 14th instant, the Commissariat Department providing the necessary transport. Civil Surgeon Ryley, to Krantzkop, to relieve Civil Surgeon Reed whose engagement will have expired".
Source: "Local General orders relating to the AZW of 1879" (Keith I. Smith)
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