Anonymous Surviving Bombardier from Isandhlwana

About six years ago Frederic Bomy found a letter dated 1.2.1879 from an Anonymous Bombardier in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph of 27th March 1879. The letter described his escape from Isandhlwana on one of the barebacked battery horses and mentioned that he was the battery clerk.
Initially in England’s Sons (9th ed) I suggested that the author was 665 Gunner Wm. Green who had a Sheffield connexion later in life (but I could not find that he was ever a bombardier).
Lieut. Curling described in an undated letter (8 x 21.2.1879) in the Curling Papers how his servant and his groom escaped on barebacked battery horses.
1387 Driver Elias Tucker’s letter to his parents, 28th January 1879, The Western Morning News, 28th March 1879 described himself as Curling’s servant – implying that Green must have been his groom. But there is no record of either having been battery clerk.
There was one Bombardier escaped – 765 Bmbdr. Albert Wyatt - (acting 1.1.1878, confirmed 10.6.1878-18.12.1879 when he reverted to Driver). The probability of evidence is that this man was the Anonymous Bombardier letter-writer. So far though, we have failed to find a connexion to Sheffield nor any mention of his appointment as battery clerk.
If anyone should come across any such connexion – we would be pleased to hear!!
Julian (with all due acknowledgement to Andy Cherry and David Woodhead who’ve helped develop the story this far)

Thanks John. Wyatt's service records show the various appointments and reductions re being a bombardier. Green's show none. Both have plenty of minor offences and fines. (Gratis Andy).

Hi All,
Albert Thomas Wyatt attested 14 Dec 1874 age 19 Occupation Baker, born circa 1855/56 Cathrington Portsmouth Hants, baptised 10 march 1858, Parish Church Cathrington Father Henry Mother Harriet. From his Papers No.3200 10th Brig RArt, later numbers 765[ZW N/5] 10437, to 24th Brig 1 April 1875 this became 5th Brigade, 1 Feb 1878. He is a Bombadier to S A 9 Jan 1878 to 31 Jan 1882 to UK. Discharged 26 Dec 1886 at Preston served 12 yrs. Next of kin Father Henry Cathrington Portsmouth. Served Kaffir 78, Zulu 79 Transvaal 80-81 Natal Field Force papers also state present at Isandhlwana. Inteded residence 5 Selborne Rd, Brockhampton, Havant. He was reduced to Driver 19 Dec 1879. A second enlistment paper states Married Fanny Barter at Cathrington 2 Aug 1884.
Actual marriage is to Fanny Carter at Cathrington 2 Aug 1884. 1891 census address West St Havant, Albert T, born 1858 Horndean, he is a Fellmonger [Dealer in Animal Skins], M to Fanny born 1861 Soberton Hants, 4 Children all born Havant 1886 to 1890. He re-enlists short servive for one year No. 10738 born Horndean age 44 occupation Baker 11 May 1900 R Field Art, discharged 10 May 1901, papers state served South Africa 1879 and Medal, married to Fanny residence 18 Upper Clifton St, Forton, Gosport. This is why he appears on the 1901 census at Woolwich in the RA married born 1858 Horndean. 1901 census 18 Upp Clif St, Alverstoke Fanny now with 7 Children all born Havant 1887 to 1900. 1911 census 22 Coronado Rd, Gosport, Alverstoke M to Fanny 2 Children 1898, 1903, Albert is a Skilled Labourer.
Albert T dies Dec Qtr 1911 age 53 in Alverstoke District, Fanny dies March Qtr 1937 in Gosport District. It seems he spent his whole life in Hampshire except when he was in the Artillery.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

Rai
Many thanks for the research showing he had no connexion to Sheffield.  The newspaper account refers to the bombardier as a Sheffield soldier. This might have been the editor's presumption, the letter being sent perhaps to a friend/relative in Sheffield, or else the letter-writer was one of the other surviving artillerymen who had been appointed bombardier by 1.2.1879 vice a bombardier kia.
It wasn't Goff since he wasn't with the battery, nor Sergt Costellow, I don't think it was Green or Tucker since they were delivering ammunition and not in camp.  Not Martin or the shoeing-smiths Steer and Townsend.  Hallaghan later died a Gunner not a bmbdr.; Baggeley deserted in October still a Driver. That leaves Burchell and Price.
One of them must come from Sheffield and have been appointed bmbdr post-Isandhlwana.

Hi Julien,
The records i have access to, there are three Thomas Hallaghan in the UK about our time match, born 1847, 1853 and 1857 the latter two both leave for America 1874 and 1883, the 1847 chap appears in the 1901 census born Leeds address Leeds Union Infirmary as a Patient ex coalminer. No deaths in the UK BMDeaths strangly. There is one Irish birth 1851 Balbriggan Dublin, there are a number of minor records [ dog licence] between 1882 and 1914 nearly all for Clashmore Waterford, the name does not appear on the Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives, website, unfortunately i do not have access to Abbotts N/5 article to follow up on. Nothing on Baggeley, or Burchell, need Price first name.
Rai KLH

In an effort to track down an 'anonymous Bombardier' with a connexion to Sheffield, I decided on an alternative approach. He might be a previously unidentified survivor, a bombardier, and the battery clerk It would fit in with numbers of N/5 survivors.
I've been looking at ALL the bombardiers from N/5 to see where they were on 22nd Jany.
There were 5. Nash and Parker were kia at Isandhlwana. Lewis was at Rorke's Drift in hospital. Wyatt was a Hampshire-man and that leaves Walter Brierley born 1857. He attested in 1876 aged 19 but died of wounds received at the Ingogo in 1881.
Among the acting bombdrs. 2 were kia at Isandhlwana and one, William Cox born 1849, attested 1867 aged 17, was discharged in 1882.
I've searched the census records for Sheffield/Yorkshire but have not found a Brierley or Cox that fits the bill.
Of the two I can't imagine that an acting bmbdr. would be given the job of battery clerk so my inclination is towards Brierley.
I wondered whether anyone has anything on either man which might connects him to Sheffield at all?

I've followed up almost all the Walter Brierleys from Yorkshire/Lancashire border and can account for most of them. There's one. registered birth Apr Quarter 1859 in Huddersfield, Yorks., that I can't trace any further. For those abroad, Huddersfield is close to Sheffield. I'm wondering if that might be him. He could have lied about his age on attestation. Brierley is a very Yorkshire name in origin.
Thanks to those who've pm'd me with info and those who're still working on it.
Still under review then.

There are a large family in Lancashire. Another that I have found is :

Find my past:

Walther Brierley age 52, born 1859. Bury Lancashire.
1911 Census Prestwich. Wife Elizabeth Eileen Brierley and 5 children.

I don't know if that is of any help, but it seems closer than Huddersfield. No military info.

Eddie
Alive in 1911 - that can't be the N/5 Walter because he died from wounds at the Ingogo in 1881.

Julian

Thank you.