(H. Pilley. Cooks Mte. H.M.S. “Active”.)

"Harry Pilley was born on 11th July 1855 at Cheltenham, the son of Henry and Jemima Pilley of 19 Winchcombe Place, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Rather than follow his father in the tailoring trade,Harry enlisted into the Royal Navy on 1st January 1873 and was posted as Boy 1st Class to Vanguard.Transferred to Royal Adelaide and Duke of Wellington as Cook’s Mate 2nd Class on 6 May 1876, his service papers note ‘run’ whilst based at Portsmouth. Fined £18, he was transferred to Lewes gaol for 90 days on 29th November 1876, before being released and sent to the corvette Active from 19th April 1877-25 October 1879. According to the London Gazette of 7th November 1879, 173 men from this ship served ashore in South Africa as part of the Naval Brigade, including seamen, Marines, Kroomen and medical attendants. Attached to No. 1 column commanded by Colonel Charles Pearson, 100 seamen from Active saw action at the Battle of Inyezane and successfully drove off an attacking force of Zulus with rockets, Martini-Henry rifles and a Gatling gun (London Gazette 11th March 1879, refers). Advancing to Eshowe on the same day as the disastrous defeat at Isandlwana, Pearson’s Column was besieged for two months until relieved on 3rd April. During the campaign, Active’s crew suffered one man killed and nine wounded in action, whilst nine died of disease during the siege and one man drowned whilst crossing the Tugela. Returning home in 1879 to allow Active to be rearmed andrefitted, Pilley returned to the Duke of Wellington but was invalided to the naval hospital at Haslaron 2nd April 1880. His medal was sent on 24th August 1881"

Source: Cloudfront

Hi Pete
Seems Cooks Mate Pilley was awarded the Sth African Gen service Medal without clasp , so he wasn't involved in Zululand .
90th

Hi All,
Harry Pilley born Harry John in Cheltenham to Harry and Jemima [nee Garness] Pilley, father was a tailor living at 3 winchcomb Place Cheltenham, 2nd of 3 sons. By 1901 he had married Maggie b.1863 Coleraine Ireland, they were living at 60 Hercules Rd Lambeth London, by 1911 the adddress was 79 Fitzalan St Lambeth and he is a milkman. Poss a Harry J Pilley served Hampshire Regt No.307426 in WW1 not 100% on the WW1, Probably dies oct/Dec 1936 in Camberwell District.
Rai KLH.

Harry Pilley was Buried in Nunhead Cemetery on 31 Dec 1936 Ref Consecrated Sq 134 No. 39243 this is a communal grave so is probably unmarked.
Rai KLH