Pte E Stephens B Coy

There is a Pte Thomas Stevens 25B/777
B Company, on the Roll of Defenders.

Is this the same man in this newspaper article? Though the surname is spelt different and the initial is E.  
In his letter home he indicates clearly that he is a member of B Company 2-24th:

The Cardiff Times And South Wales Weekly News, Saturday May 29, 1879.

Heading of article: Interesting letters from local soldiers.
Writes to his parents at the Robin Hood Inn, Dowlais on 5th Feb 1879 from Rorke's Drift, Pte E Stephens, B Company, 2-24th.

In the letter he explained the details of what happened at Isandlwana before the Zulus attacked the location where he was. He goes on to say the following:

This occured about 10 or 12 miles from where our Company is staying.
Well one or two escaped at about two O'clock to our camp and reported that the Zulus had taken possession of the camp ( Isandlwana?), and they were making for us little lot.
Dear mother, a farthing would have bought all our lives. Then we got our guns and ammo, struck camp and barricaded the old store house as well as we could.
 
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I know there is only one Stevens on the roll, as indicated above.
Is it the same person?
Were there two Stevens in B Company at the same time but names spelt differently?
Or is this E Stephens indicating otherwise?


Eddie

1879Graves

Do you have any details on this fellow?

Hi Eddie

Thomas Stevens was born at Exeter, Devon. Trade - Bricklayer. Attested at Brecon on 9th March 1876, aged 22 years. Religion - Church of England. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Next of kin - father ‘Robin Hood Inn’ Dowlais, Glamorgan. He served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. Appointed Lance-Corporal 20th January 1877. Promoted Corporal 12th August 1877. Confined on 13th January 1878, tried and reduced to Private on 19th January 1878. Served in South Wales Borderers from 1st July 1881, but did nit join the regiment. Transferred to Army Reserves on 17th March 1882, and recalled to Army Service on 2nd August 1882. Re-transferred to Army Reserves on 8th February 1883. Married Ellen Calvert at Merthyr on 1st September 1883. Discharged from Army Reserves on 16th March 1888. Medal for South Africa with Clasp ‘1877-8-9’. On Chard’s list he is incorrectly named as ‘Stephens’. His regimental service number was 777.

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Yes same person.

Andy

Thank you so much.

Reading his account I realised the name differed from the Stevens on the list.
But what about the Christian name being E in Stephens case? Seemed strange.