Private 25B/293 J H Meredith 1/24th Regiment kia iSandlwana

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Stalybridge Reporter - Saturday 29 July 1916

Kate
That would be:
MEREDITH John Henry – Private – 25B/293 – 1st/24th H Company
Born: Rhosyoside, Ruabon, Denbighshire, Wales 27/12/1854.
Parents: Henry Meredith born in Ruabon, trade Tailor of Ruabon and Ann Meredith.
Killed in action: Isandhlwana Mountain, Zululand 22/1/1879 aged 24 years.
Effects claimed by his father under AGL82 – E/76460/11.
Enlisted at Manchester, Lancashire 17/6/1874 aged 19 years 6 months for the 25th Brigade. Attested at Manchester 19/6/1874. Arrived in South Africa 31/1/1875 serving at Simons Town and Cape Town before going to St. Helena. Served in H Company on St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean 8/8/1876 – 31/8/1877. Arrived in South Africa with draft from St. Helena 31/8/1877. South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1879.

Hi Kate
Sorry to go off topic but recently while searching the Stalybridge Reporter for the year 1879, I found a letter by Sergeant James Fowden 1st Battalion 24th, which I hadn't seen before. The original article was from the Rochdale Observer 8th March 1879. When looking at the original there was another letter from a 2nd Battalion soldier James Llewellyn, again another letter I hadn't seen before! Both these soldiers were killed at Isandlwana.

John

Just as a side note.

There is a duplicate issued medal in existence to Meredith.

I'm 99.9% certain that John Henry Meredith was my great grandfather's brother. I'm interested in family history and recently stumbled across a very old newspaper clipping about my great grandfather in some family documents. The clipping mentions that he had two brothers (?) who were killed at the Battle of Isandhlwana and who were mentioned on a roll of honour that was hanging in The 'Q' Inn in Stalybridge, which is where they lived.

I decided to do some digging online and found a list of casualties from the battle which included J H Meredith. I also discovered this forum.

After checking my family tree, I did indeed find my great grandfather's brother was J H Meredith, born 1854/55, and their sister Emma Holmes nee Meredith.

As I say, the newspaper clipping in the family documents was very old, so I suspect the roll of honour at the 'Q' Inn unfortunately no longer exists, although an internet search indicates that the pub is still there.

There were no two other Merediths kia at Isandhlwana. The clipping is incorrect.

In addition to John Henry as given above there were two other Merediths in the 24th. The first in the 1st bn did not participate in the Zulu War, the second, as Eddie says, was in the 2nd bn and out with Chelmsford on the 22nd:

MEREDITH Hugh – Private – 25B/828 – 1st/24th
Born: Macclesfield, Cheshire, England c.1857.
Service details: Served in the 16th Brigade for 9 months. Served 24th Foot 5 years 3 months. Served 2 years 4 months in South Africa. Served in the Kaffir Wars 1877-8. Serving at St. Botolph Camp, Colchester, Essex c. April 1881 aged 24 years. Continued service with the South Wales Borderers 1/7/1881. Discharged 5/12/1882. Description: Aged 25 years, height 5’6”, light hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion, character fair, trade – Nail Maker. An Injury Assessment Board held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London 5/12/1882 confirmed that he was suffering from Valve Disease of the Heart – first in 1880, believed to be caused by service. Entry of Syphilis on medical history sheet. He is able to contribute somewhat to his upkeep. Awarded a pension of 7d per day for 21 months. Intended residence 8 Back Cross Street, Stalybridge, Cheshire. CH/1610b. To the army reserve for 1 year. Total service 7 years 4 months.
South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1877-8.

MEREDITH William – Private – 25B/1020 – 2nd/24th F Company
Born: Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Death: Died in Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales 10/4/1933. Buried in Pontypool 15/4/1933.
Service details: Enlisted at Pontypool, Monmouthshire c.1877. Attested c.1877. Originally given a 2nd/24th number. Served in the Kaffir (sic) & Zulu Wars 1877-8-9. Awarded good conduct pay at 1d 3/1/1879. Arrived at Casemate Barracks, Gibraltar in the Mediterranean 13/1/1880 aboard H.M.S.Orontes.
South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1877-8-9.
For his letter see the Red Soldier by Frank Emery.
N.B. His regtl. number had belonged to Private William Brady 1st/24th who died 27/1/1878.

Hi Eddie and Julian,
Thanks for the information that you've provided, which is brilliant! I was aware that my great grandfather, James Meredith came from a big family and had numerous siblings, although I've never really known anything about them. While James did have a brother called William, I don't think the William that you've mentioned is a relation as my ancestors have no links to Pontypool (at least that I know of). However, Hugh Meredith from Macclesfield looked familar, and after doing a bit of digging on Ancestry.com, I'm certain that he is the other brother that I mentioned in my earlier post.
In addition to the fantastic information that you've provided about Hugh, I also managed to dig up this old newspaper cutting that mentions him and his service. Interestingly, the cutting states that Hugh was "an army reserve man, who served in the Zulu War", so I'm guessing it dates from around 1882 based on the information you've provided, although Hugh lived until 1927.
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Hi Neil 

John Henry Meredith mentioned, was born in Wales and you believe him to be your great grandfathers brother, in that case William could also be related, born in Wales.

Eddie
I'm not sure about that. Denbighshire and Cheshire have contiguous borders across which a family can easily spread naturally. They are a long way from Monmouthshire.

My family history research indicates that Julian's suggestion is exactly what happened - John and Hugh's father (my great great grandfather, who coincidentally was also called William) was originally from Wrexham, Denbighshire; he moved through Macclesfield and ended up in Stalybridge along with numerous children, including John and Hugh.

I haven't found anything to link my family to south Wales or Pontypool and "MEREDITH William – Private – 25B/1020" definitely isn't a close relative of Hugh or John according to the information I hold, although there's nothing to say that he isn't a distant relative.

Hi Neil 

You have to be careful you see, the English will always attempt to claim as many Monmouthshire lads as they can.

You know, judging by the number of Welsh people teaching in Essex schools, one might think that the Welsh were trying to claim Essex as a part of Cymru Irredenta!
Happy New Year! / Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!