Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand

Subject: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Wed Jun 10, 2020 5:39 pm

Hi Everyone

I have a SAGS medal to Lt. F. Williams of the Diamond Fields Horse. According to the medal roll he was in action against the Pokwane and the Griquas in 1878 and the Zulus in 1879.

My question is - where were the DFA in action in the Zulu battles and, more specifically, can anyone tell me if Williams is mentioned in any reports/books?

Regards

Rory

Subject: Diamond Fields Horse Wed Jun 10, 2020 6:56 pm

Hi Rory
The DFH never fought against the Zulu's , if you look at the Medal Roll there were only 4 medals issued with the Clasp 1877-8-9 , another 4 with the Clasp 1878-9 , and 1 with the 1879 Clasp , that's 9 out of 305 that were in Zululand at some stage . Lt Williams would have to have been in another unit , as would those with the 1879 Clasp. Andy Cherry is a Guru at finding these Men's attestation Papers , hopefully he reads this post .
90th

Posts : 3379 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Rory

I have been unable to find anything on Lt. F. Williams at this time.

You need to study mo

Andy

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:01 pm

Thanks Andy

I'll take the weekend to trawl through the medal rolls - perhaps he appears on one of them other than the DFH, with the comment "issued off DFH roll"

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:07 am

On 22nd May 1905 Mr John O'neil applied for his medal from serving as a Sergeant in the Diamond Field Horse during the Zulu War under Commandant Mcpherson.
I do have his written application also the endorsement from Justice of the Peace John A Coetzee

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:15 am

Thanks Frank - does this mean that there was a DFH presence in Zuluand? Can anyone shed light on McPherson? In which Column he served, in which actions etc.?

Regards

Rory

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:26 am

Im pretty sure there was a DFH presence:
Trooper Peck lodged a claim for his share of the captured cattle
FSP Stow did a similar applications.
I have a few more instances of claims being submitted so there was a certain presence.
The Kimberly Africana Library has a lot of photos and information but due to the virus is not open at the moment.
Frank

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:42 am

There are no records of an official presence on the battle honors etc so its highly possible they were attached to something like the FLH.
Cam Simpson in his "Frontier Light Horse' mentions that in forming the FLH men were drawn from lots of different companies such as the DFH. Ive gone through his listings and there is no mention of a F Williams only a G Williams

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:45 am

Rory I have e mailed a couple of records to you.

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:53 am

This is what Cam has on Mcpherson:
William Patrick Grant 91851-1936)
Captain DFH 1878
Commandant A Troop, Kimberly Horse 1879 operations Transvaal 1879
Captain and troop commander, Right wing, Kimberley Horse 1880.
Basotho Gun War 1880-81

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 12:21 pm

Database: All Archives Repositories and National Registers of non-public records
NAAIRS - Result Details
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Result Summary
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Document 2 of 2
DEPOT SAB
SOURCE GG
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 1163
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 27/281
PART 1
DESCRIPTION F WILLIAMS REQUESTS INFORMATION REGARDING HENRY STURK, SUPPOSED TO
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE ZULU WAR.
STARTING 19130000
ENDING 19130000

William Henry Sturk was a gold miner on the East rand, Benoni area.

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 12:40 pm

Many thanks for all that Frank. Let's hope Cam can shed a bit of light on the matter.

Subject: Diamond Fields Horse in zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 4:19 pm

The DFH as a unit wasn't involved in Zululand . Looking at the Forsyth Medal Roll the unit had 305 medals issued , 127 were returned to Woolwich Mint , Clasp 1877-78 ( 156 ) Clasp 1877-78-79 ( 4 ) 1878 ( 140 ) 1878-79 ( 4) 1879 (1 ) total 305 . Unfortunately there's no mention of a McPherson . He was no doubt as Cam has mentioned in a different unit , wonder if he was at either of the Skirmishes at Morosi's Mtn June / Sep (?) , or Sekukuni in November 79 ? .
90th

Subject: Re: Diamond Fields Horse in Zululand Mon Jul 06, 2020 5:52 pm

The unit was at Lydenburg close to the Sekukini kraal so yep would agree. The Mcpherson name has crept in because of the O'Neil letter. The FLH were in the same place at the same time so highly possible there could have been some inter company 'transfers', theres also the possibility of the Woods irregulars coming into contention. There are a number of mentions of DFH members in the Zulu war so there was a pretty fare representation but there is no mention anywhere in the officiial history of the 'regiment' of the zulu war.

Subject: Diamond Fields Horse in zululand Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:58 am

Hi Frank
See my earlier post re the Medal clasps for the DFH , there are only 9 medals issued that have the ' 1879 ' clasp which is the ' Zulu War ' clasp , so not a fair representation in my eyes , considering there were over 300 in the unit in 77-78 . The 1879 clasp also encompasses Morosi & Sekukuni who were not part of the actual zulu war itself , but the two Campaigns were issued the same Medal and 1879 Clasp , hope this makes sense ! ? . Some probably found their way into differing units once they'd finished their ' time ' in the DFH .
90th Salute

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