Photo of 6th Dragoons Mess Tent, Eshowe -- help identifying?

Hello, everyone!

I'm working for a client who has an interest in Zululand and collects albums kept by veterans of the Anglo-Zulu and/or Boer Wars. One was kept by Lt. David Dickson of the 91st Highlanders, another by Lt. Jones of the Duke of Edinburgh's Regiment of Foot.

In the third album, I am trying to identify -- or place, rather -- some folks in a photograph labeled "VIth Dragoons Mess Tent -- Eshowe". Here are the names, as I can read them:

C. Rutherford (followed by the initials A. V. D.)
C. T. Breton (VIth Drg.)
P. W. Forbes (VIth Drg.)
G. Stanley (the initials following his name are hard to read -- possibly C + J.S. ?)
A. Froom (VIth Drg.)
W. Holland (?!) followed by the initials R.E.
R. Grey (VIth Drg.)

For all those whose names were followed by "VIth Drg." I've been able to cross-check against Hart's Annual Army List, but I'm not sure who Rutherford, Stanley, or Holland belong to. And I'm more than a little worried that "Holland" may not quite be the name, but I don't have a better alternative currently.

Are these folks of the same regiment?
Could they be from a regiment also serving in the area at the time?
Any idea what their abbreviations mean?

There is a second photo on the same page with three men seated:  Rutherford again, Col. Curtis (of the 6th Dragoons), and a third man who will, I fear, remain unknowable forever due to the illegible and reprehensible squiggles directed at him. I can make out as much as "Staff Officer," and would hazard that his first initial is an M. Possibly. In the caption for this photo, Rutherford is assigned the initials V.S. "Fort Curtis" is written below this photo.

Apologies if I've posted this in the wrong section, or used incorrect terminology anywhere -- working with these albums has been quite the crash course in history and geography. I'd appreciate any help or suggestions, especially as my own interest has been so thoroughly piqued. Thank you!

[P.S. I've got some questions about Lt. Dickson, as well, but don't want to overload this post.]
[P.P.S. Would this be the correct forum to ask about another photo I'm trying to pin down? In Dickson's album, there are two photos of a bridge either being constructed or post-destruction -- I don't know enough about bridges to tell which -- and I'd like to identify the bridge or conflict, but have had no luck.]

A.V.D. = Army Veterinary Department. Charles Rutherford, appointed Veterinary Surgeon, 19th May 1879. 1884 Hart’s has him in South Africa.

V.S. = Veterinary Surgeon.

Assistant-Commissary Geoffrey Stanley, Commissariat & Transport Department.

R.E. = Royal Engineers.  The name you can’t make out is that of Lieutenant William Yolland, Royal Engineers.

The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons arrived in Natal in 1881 and remained there until 1890.

Fort Curtis was constructed under the supervision of Lt. Yolland, in October 1883, during a period of unrest in KwaZulu.  It was situated just outside of Eshowe.

I imagine the bridge could be the pontoon bridge on the Thukela (Tugela) River, as that was in the 91st’s area of operations.

Francis George Savage Curtis plays quite a part in restoration of King Cetshwayo kaMpande In 1883, and subsequent unrest in the region.

Curtis and the 6th Dragoons, would play their part in the operations against the last semblance of Zulu Royal resistance by Prince Shingana kaMpande In 1888.  

JY

This is fantastic, John! Thank you so much for sharing.

Excellent work JY .
90th

Update on the unidentified man in the second photo sitting with Rutherford and Curtis. Looks like the last name is likely McLean -- any ideas? I haven't had much luck pulling up a copy of Hart's Annual, etc. for the 6th Dragoons to check this against.

Alexander Chalmers McKean, or M’Kean in some references, 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons.

Commissioned as a Cornet 28th October 1871; promoted on the same day to Lieutenant; promoted to Captain 12th November 1878; Major 23rd January 1883.

Served during the 1st Anglo-Boer War 1880-81.

Served during the regiment’s deployment in Natal and Zululand with the rank of Major.  Awarded the C.M.G. - Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George - for his services in Zululand. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 18th October 1888.

Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 17th September 1894, retired May 1898.

Appointed an Officer of the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus on 2nd March 1923.

JY

John, thank you again!
You've truly been an enormous help.

I hope we get permission to share some more information with you.

The other figure to look out for in the photographs of that time-period of the late 1880’s in Natal/Zululand is Robert Baden-Powell, 13th Hussars.  “B-P” served under both Curtis and McKean, honing his scouting skills against the Zulu.

JY