Hlobane and Kambula by Col J M Cowper 2/4th Imperial Mounted Infantry?

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Does this suggest there were 25 men from the 2/4th Kings Own Royal Regiment in the Imperial Mounted Infantry?
The description of the uniform would suggest so, Woodgate 2/4th, Wood's staff officer, is mentioned as the hero of the hour in the article and the 2/4th were based in that northern area with 4 companies at Utrecht, 1 at Newcastle, 1 at Balte Spruit, 1 at Luneburg and 1 at Conference Hill.
I cannot find any trace of any men from that Regiment in the Imperial Mounted Infantry lists scratch

There were IMI with Russell's force at Hlobane and a squadron at Kambula and it seems there were not enough brown corduroy breeches to go round

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Lancaster Guardian - Thursday 29 March 1956

Kate,

To replace the losses that 1st Squadron, Mounted Infantry had sustained at iSandlwana the 2nd Battalion, 4th (The King's Own Royal) Regiment supplied an officer, Lieutenant Richard Hawes MacCarthy and a number of other-ranks.

MacCarthy was invalided after Khambula. Two members of 2nd/4th attached to the squadron were wounded in action at Khambula: Private 11th Brigade/31 J. Anderson - slightly wounded and Private 11th Brigade/631 R. Beswick (also recorded as Bestwick) - severely wounded.

JY

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Smashing thanks John Salute

We now know they supplied 25 to the IMI

For those who are interested there are more details about MacCarthy here
https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t9820-lieutenant-richard-hawes-maccarthy-2nd-4th-regiment?highlight=maccarthy

Hope you enjoyed the article.
Kate

Kate,

An item mentioning Woodgate, and the accompanying illustration from The Penny Illustrated Paper & Illustrated Times of 21st June, 1879.

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When you go the Talana Museum next, and you exit the building with the Zulu War material in it, look back over your shoulder, almost hidden from view there is Woodgate’s original grave marker.

JY

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Thanks John thats a great little article.
I've seen his memorial on Spion Kop.
I should be at the Talana museum next week, I will have a look.
Kate Salute

Posts : 1080 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi Kate,
E.R.p. Woodgate is actually buried at St John's church, Weston, Mooi River, South Africa, there are also memorials to him in the churches at Belbroughton and Pembury, also Lancaster Cathedral the regimental church. There are pictures on the findagrave website.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Smashing thanks Rai Salute

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

I suppose John when I arrive in SA next week and they ask

"Why do you come to the Land of the ZULU?"

I suppose I will now have to reply

"I come here by the order of the Great White King Charlie"

Hmmmm, it doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it. Rolling Eyes

Kate,

Given the recent Foreign Office advice make sure you get out of OT Airport on the two’s & blues.

“Keep ‘em peeled.”

JY

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Not worried about that John.
The Lord of Hosts is with me. Very Happy

“I hope so, as I live and breath I hope so.”

JY

Kate
Bill kindly flagged this thread up for me. He's not sure about the figure of 25 and neither am I. It doesn't seem to fit. We're checking this and will get back to you.

Subject: Hlobane and Kambula COL J.M.Cowper 2/4 IMF Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:51 am

Hi Kate
When we get over in March / April we'll be going to Mooi river to where the 17th Lancers were camped at one stage , we can visit Woodgate.... and I think without looking it up Alfred Henderson is also buried there ?
90th

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Thanks Julian.
Regarding the description of their trousers I would assume it was only the musicians in the IMI who were issued with chords Joker

Looking forward to it Gary, I've a few other things I want to see whilst we are there.
I will give you a ring when I get back from SA in a couple of weeks.
Kate

Subject: Hlobane and Kambula COL J.M.Cowper 2/4 IMF Sun Oct 30, 2022 12:05 pm

Hi Kate
I'm away again from Nov 5th - Dec 6th .
90th Salute

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Thanks Gary. Have a lovely time.
Just re reading the article Julian and Bill, bearing in mind it was put together by the chap who wrote the Regiments history I'm wondering if that figure of 25 is correct as one would assume Colonel Cowper had access to all the Regimental archives when completing his work.
Just a thought.

Indeed, Bill is checking that very fact as I type...

Hopefully the King's Own Royal Regiment museum in Lancaster will get back to me soon.

I'm looking for the section covering the Zulu War which is in "The King's Own. The Story of a Royal Regiment. Vol 2 1814-1914 by Colonel Lionel Ilfred Cowper.

The above article written in 1956 was written by Julia Margaret Cowper (his daughter perhaps)? late Women's Royal Army Corps who wrote Volume 3 1914-1959

It is available on CD-ROM just waiting to see if it's viewable using Windows 10. The book is long out of print and costs a small fortune online.

Might anyone out there own a copy?

Posts : 3460 Join date : 2021-01-04

Did you get a reply from the regimental museum Bill?

Still waiting.
Julian

Apologies to all. I've not been on the forum much recently - busy, I'm afraid, a situation which is likely to last till the end of January.

Not yet,

I'm not expecting a quick reply, they come under the umbrella of the Lancaster City Museum. They have no dedicated curator/administrator anymore only one person who deals with the admin on a one day a week basis.

They however, appear to be on maternity leave. I've been told they are finding someone to cover but it looks like I will be waiting a while.

Bill

I'm sure your patience will be rewarded Bill!

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