Shenanigans in the Mess

Posts : 254 Join date : 2017-07-21 Location : San Diego, CA

It's pretty common knowledge that Lieut. Nevill Coghill managed to injure his knee chasing after some chickens on January 20th. I've come across several references to this being an old knee injury. In the Family of Coghill, 1377-1879, an unknown family member writes that it was an old football injury. However, Adrian Greaves lists this as an assegai wound, courtesy of Lieut. Pat Daly attempting to show off his 'skill' at wielding said blade. Curious to see if there is any actual provenance for this statement by Greaves; he doesn't list his source, unfortunately.

Subject: Shenanigans in the mess Thu Aug 12, 2021 3:55 am

Hi Michael
In the book released by the Coghill family titled ' Whom The Gods Love ' Neville's Diary entry for the 20th certainly mentions the Chicken incident , it merely states he put his knee out .... but doesn't mention it was an old a Football injury , or an errant spear by Daly that caused the knee to go .
90th Salute

Subject: Re: Shenanigans in the Mess Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:09 pm

Michael,

The first time that I heard the thrown spear story was from the late David Rattray, whilst I was staying at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge back in 1991.

I’m inclined to go along with the family history version of the original injury.

JY

Subject: Re: Shenanigans in the Mess Fri Aug 13, 2021 2:53 am

"Never let facts get in the way of a good story". the Rattray mantra John.

Posts : 254 Join date : 2017-07-21 Location : San Diego, CA

No wonder Greaves left it unsourced! Football injury it is.

Subject: Re: Shenanigans in the Mess Tue Aug 17, 2021 2:29 pm

His he referring to Coghill's diary.

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"Dr Pollard continued: "So Coghill goes back to help him and in doing so throws away any chance of getting away. They are overrun by Zulus and die together."

He added: "I think Coghill left to save his own skin. A diary entry recorded he had injured his knee while chasing a hen, but it was known he had suffered a knee injury as a child".

Posts : 254 Join date : 2017-07-21 Location : San Diego, CA

In Philip Gon's Road to Isandlwana, p. 77.

'Despite a wound in his leg, from a misdirected assegai thrown by Daly', Coghill was able to attend two of the mandatory seasonal picnics, as well as a Masonic banquet, a ball in honour of the officers of a visiting German warship, and tennis-parties at Admiralty House'.

Major thanks to Ian Knight for steering me in this direction. Unfortunately Gon provides no footnote, but this does add some credence to the shenanigans story.

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