Location of Special Service Officers 1878/9

Locations of Special Service Officers at the end of 1878/ begining of 1879.

"The Natal correspondent of the Morning Post furnishes the following interesting statement of the disposal of the special officers who recently went out to South Africa :—
Major Huskisson, 56th Foot, is at Port Durban, as commandant, with Captain Somerset, Rifle Brigade, as his staff officer;
Major Bengough, 77th Foot, has been appointed commandant of the 2nd Battalion 1st Regiment (Native Levies);
Captain Cherry, 32nd Foot, is commandant of the 3rd Battalion 1st Regiment Natal Native Contingent;
Captain Gardner, 14th Hussars, is sub-director of transports at Pietermaritzburg, as is Captain Huntley, 10th Regiment, at the Mooi River; and as are Captain Essex, 75th Foot, and Captain the Hon. R. Campbell, Coldstream Guards.
Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel Hopton, 88th Foot, is director of transports at headquarters ;
Captain Brunker, 26th Foot, commands a squadron of the Frontier Light Horse;
Captain Macgregor, 29th Foot, is on the staff of Colonel Pearson, half-pay, late 3rd Foot, commanding the Tugela District;
Captain Pelly-Clarke, 103rd Foot, is sub-director of transports on the Lower Tugela;
Captain Spratt, 29th Foot, and Lieutenant Lawrence, 18th Royal Irish, on the same duty at Durban ;
Captain Barton, 7th Fusiliers, is staff officer to Colonel Dumford, R.E., who is to command a native contingent.
Major Graves, 3rd Buffs, is on the march towards the Lower Tugela. He has Captain Hart, 31st Foot, for his staff-officer, and Lieutenant the Hon. H. Gough has a company in his regiment (the 2nd Regiment Natal Native Contingent).
Captain Russell, R.A., is in command of a rocket battery, and Captain Ulick de Burgh, 5th West York Militia, has been appointed to a company in the Native Contingent."

Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service - Wednesday 05 February 1879

Note Captain Howard Molyneux Edward Brunker, 26th (The Cameronian), an infantry officer, is put in charge of a squadron of FLH whilst the only cavalry captain in the above list, Alan Gardner, is made a sub director of transport.

"Typical of Her Majesty's Army. Appoint an infantry officer to do a cavalryman's work"

( Howard Molyneux Edward Brunker was born 9th February 1844 in Limerick, died 12th January 1914 at Albany House,Alexandra Road, South Farnborough, Hampshire. The Regiments in which he served were : 15th Foot; 26th Foot and Scottish Rifles. He gained the Abyssinia Medal and  South Africa Medal and Clasp. Dates of Service: 1860-1892. I can find no trace of any previous cavalry or mounted experience prior to 1879)

Excellent List Kate
90th

For those interested in such personnel there is an often-overlooked complete list of officers engaged on special service in Zululand (arranged by regiment with useful, detailed records of their service) on pp. 299-316 of Mackinnon and Shadbolt.

Thanks Gary.

Yes Mackinnon and Shadbolt is a smashing book.
I've always wanted a first edition Mac and Shad if I can find a nice one and am happy to live on bread and water for a month.

In a similar format Shadbolt's Afghan campaign of 1878-80 (no Mac as there are no burghers) is also superb.

Kate I do have a 1st edition, limited edition Moroccan red leather-bound. My pride and joy. When my father passed away in 1994 I used part of my inheritance to buy a copy from an antiquarian dealer. It was a big expense for me at the time, one I've never regretted, and each time I use the book (which is frequently) I am reminded of my dear old dad.
There are times when bread and water can be a welcome meal.

Thats a lovely story Julian.
Makes the book even more special.