Isandlwana Casualties - BRODERICK

Posts : 311 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Hello all,

I was wondering whether anyone has any further information relating to the following individuals named Broderick who appear as 2/3 NNC Isandlwana casualties in a number of publications including Julian's England's Sons & John's They Fell Like Stones:

1) Sgt Broderick A
(Also listed in Forsyth's medal roll under Pulleine's Rangers as Private BRODEROCK A)

Some time ago I was in touch with the archivist at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex, and she informed me that according to her records one former pupil who attended the school from 1875 to 1877 moved to S Africa and was killed at Isandlwana - his name was ALAN BRODRICK.

2) Sgt Broderick M
(Also listed in Forsyth's medal roll under Buffalo Volunteer Rifles & Levy)

A memorial in East London City Hall, South Africa, commemorates various volunteer casualties and includes a Sergeant J Broderick of the Buffalo Volunteer Rifles killed at Isandlwana - presumably the initial 'J' was inscribed in error and should have been 'M'? (Thanks to forum member Rai for finding this memorial on the Genealogical Society of South Africa website).

Terry Sole's For God, Queen & Colony offers first names for the two individuals above as Alfred & Martin respectively, and that Alfred was Martin's uncle; however, I would be interested to know if there is any further evidence that Alfred Broderick & Alan Brodrick are the same person, and that there was indeed a family connection to M Broderick?

Regards,

Tim

Posts : 311 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Just by way of a quick update, I'm grateful to forum member Brian Norris for alerting me to the existence of a letter held in the Pietermaritzburg Archives which answers my original question.

The letter, written by Thomas Broderick in September 1879 to the Colonial Secretary in PMB, enquires into the personal effects of his son and brother who were both killed on 22 January whilst serving as Sergeants in the NNC.

The two dead men are named in the letter as Alfred & Matthew, and the wording suggests that the former was Thomas' son and the latter his (Thomas') brother; this therefore seems to contradict the assertion that Alfred was the uncle of M Broderick and that it was in fact the other way around. It also confirms that M stands for Matthew rather than Martin.

Regards,

Tim

Subject: Re: Isandlwana Casualties - BRODERICK Fri Feb 18, 2022 12:53 am

Great work Tim

Do we know if their descendants still live in South Africa, I need to spend more time Researching the NNC.

So if I got it right Terry Sole has in wrong
that Martin is Mathew and he was the uncle to Alfred

Was there ever taken any group photos of the NNC officers

Subject: Isandlwana Casualties - Broderick Fri Feb 18, 2022 2:57 am

Hi Tim , hope you're well ? , nice pick up and excellent work from Forum member Brian Norris
Cheers Mate
90th Salute

Posts : 311 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Aussie/90th,

Not sure about any descendants in South Africa, Thomas Broderick's address is given as Queen's Row, Camberwell Gate, London.

The first page of the letter reads as follows:

Sir,

I am instructed by the [Secretary?] of State for the Colonies, [the Hon?] Mr. Hicks-Beach, to write to you respecting the affairs of my son and brother, Alfred and Matthew Broderick, two Sergeants in the 2nd 3rd Bat. N.N.C., who were lost on the 22nd Jan. last.

Included with the letter is the Minute Paper, which shows the trail of various offices & individuals which the correspondence passed through - included in this is the Staff Paymaster, who erroneously names Matthew as 'Martin' in his notes - perhaps this name was also wrongly used in other records seen by Terry Sole, but personally I'd be content to take Thomas' word for it.

As Matthew seems to have previously served in the Buffalo Volunteer Rifles, I have tried on several occasions to contact the regimental museum in East London (SA), but with no luck so far.

Regards,

Tim

Subject: Re: Isandlwana Casualties - BRODERICK Sat Feb 19, 2022 12:42 am

Good Work mate keep it up.

Subject: Isandlwana Casualties - Broderick Sat Feb 19, 2022 11:59 pm

Hi Tim
Cheers Mate
90th Salute

Subject: Re: Isandlwana Casualties - BRODERICK Sun Feb 20, 2022 3:50 pm

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Source: Royal Green jackets (Green Machine paper)

Posts : 311 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Just to muddy the waters a little further....

Having just found my CD containing scans of the original SA Medal Rolls, I looked up the Brodericks and found M Broderick's Christian name clearly stated as 'Martin' - given his own brother's assertion that it was Matthew, I'm hoping I'm right in assuming that this is down to a simple clerical error by the individual who compiled the roll.

Also, I've heard back from the historian at the Kaffrarian Rifles Museum Trust who has kindly been looking into this for me; all their regimental records refer to a 'J' Broderick killed at Isandlwana as per the memorial in East London City Hall, so at this stage it's still difficult to tell whether Sgt J Broderick of the Buffalo Volunteer Rifles and Sgt Matthew/Martin Broderick of the NNC are one and the same!

Regards,

Tim

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