Striking a match

Subject: Striking a match Tue Oct 04, 2022 8:03 pm

This is part of a letter from an officer who had arrived at Rorke's Drift 23rd January published in the Times.

In refering to Bromhead

With barely a man to spare, he still posted two men in the Commissariat Rum stores to prevent any from helping themselves. During every lull in the attack he sallied out, disarming the dead Zulus, and destroyed their weapons.
In the middle of the night he went with one man to see for himself how the reserve ammunition was holding out.
Cautiously striking a match, to count the boxes, the Zulus saw it and fired; the lantern was smashed and the man killed.

1. Who was the author?
2. Who were the two men posted in the Rum store?
3. Who got shot and killed?
4. Time ( in the middle of the night?).

The Cambrian, Swansea May 2, 1879.

Subject: Re: Striking a match Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:51 am

Louis Alexander Byrne was most definitely a acting store keeper so he was probably one posted at the Rum store, but (civilian attached ?) Yes maybe.
Along side him probably Private Henry Turner, as a storeman also.

Louis Alexander Byrne was Shot in the head, so he is probably the man who lite the match.

Subject: Striking a match Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:47 am

Hi Eddie
I think you'll findLouis Byrne was shot whilst handing a cup of water to the wounded Cpl Scammel , don't think he was holding a match ! .
90th

Subject: Re: Striking a match Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:01 pm

Thank you 90th

Got any ideas who the man could be?

It depends on the time of this event, but the only non patients or hospital defenders KIA remaining were, Anderson, at lot said about him, Chick, Fagan, and Scanlon?

Subject: Striking a Match Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:39 pm

Hi Eddie
The only people killed by Gunshot at RD were Pvt Edward Nicholas 25B/625 ; 1/24th , these from the 2/24th ..Pvt James Chick 25B/1335 D Coy 2/24th ,
Pvt Thomas Cole B25 /801 B Coy , Pvt John Fagan 25B/969 B Coy , Pvt John Scanlon 25B/ 1051 A Coy , and of course Anderson & Byrne . I think it might be a fanciful story , I doubt very much anyone was leaving the barricades to sally out and disarm Zulu's , let's not forget the Zulu's were in the Garden after the first assault , if you believe Smith when he says Anderon was shot by Zulu's in the garden ..... I'm sure Bromhead or whoever was supposed to have left the barricade could very easily have been shot if not speared , as I said a tad fanciful for mine .
90th

Subject: Re: Striking a match Sun Oct 30, 2022 1:52 pm

90th thank you

Yes I understand where your coming from. It does seem a bit fanciful as you say. I just thought I would raise it as a point for discussion.
If this event did occur it could only be one of three, as we know how Thomas Cole died.

Subject: Re: Striking a match Mon Dec 12, 2022 5:57 pm

Hi 90th/ All

I discovered that Colour Sergeant Mabin was placed in charge of the rum, it obviously not fanciful after all. This is stated in his account of the Defence of Rorke's Drift in a newspaper article written in The New Zealand Times 28 February 1914.

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