Widows allowed on the battlefield?

Subject: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Wed Oct 25, 2023 2:38 pm

Were the widows of soldiers who were at that time present in South Afirca have been allowed to go
visit the Battlefield at Ischlandwana or perhaps go as far as Rorke's Drift ?

Subject: Re: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Wed Oct 25, 2023 2:54 pm

Not that I'm aware of. Most of them were all shipped off back to England fairly quickly. I dare say a handful went there in a private capacity a fair while after.

Subject: Empress Eugenie Wed Oct 25, 2023 7:11 pm

So officially, the Empress Eugenie would have been the first vistor of the different battlefields.

Subject: Re: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Wed Oct 25, 2023 7:22 pm

Stefaan,

The former Empress Eugenie was accompanied on her 1880 pilgrimage by Katherine, the widow of Lieutenant & Captain the Honourable Ronald George Elidor Campbell, Coldstream Guards. Campbell had perished at the Battle of Hlobane, 28th March 1879.

JY

Subject: Re: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:12 pm

Thanks for the info John and Julian. As a side question have you any idea where did the ladies stay when
their men left for the campaign. Was there a barracks nearby?

Posts : 576 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

The families of the soldlers of the 24th were housed in Napier Barracks, Pietermaritzburg during the AZW campaign.

See on-line Journal of the South African Military History Society - Vol 2 No 5 - June 1973 - by R G Crossley.

Subject: Re: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Thu Oct 26, 2023 9:23 am

Kenny wrote:: The families of the soldlers of the 24th were housed in Napier Barracks, Pietermaritzburg during the AZW campaign.

See on-line Journal of the South African Military History Society - Vol 2 No 5 - June 1973 - by R G Crossley.

Thank you very much Kenny, much appreciated, a whole new source for me.I see there even are articles in Afrikaans which for me, being
Flemish, is easy to read.

Subject: Re: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:28 am

Most of the families sailed home on the mail steamer Balmoral Castle which arrived at London Docks on 22nd March 1879. ORs' widows received a pension (see Studies in the Zulu War, p. 7).

Subject: Re: Widows allowed on the battlefield? Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:39 am

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The Steamship Balmoral Castle.
(John Young Collection.)

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