An early memorial to the Prince Imperial?

The site of the Prince Imperial's grave had several markers placed on it over time. There is reference to a cairn being set up on the site on 2 June when the Prince's body was recovered, which is presumably the "small pile of stones" on the site sometimes referred to. As is well-known, a much more impressive memorial was set in place by a party under Major Stabb of the 32nd L.I. in March 1880.

However, I came across references in various newspapers to a much earlier (pre-March 1880) cross being set up. The Southwark Mercury (one of a number of British newspapers to carry the same brief report) in October 1879 noted that :

"Lieut. Arthington Worsley and a few of his comrades in the Natal Native Contingent have visited the place where the Prince Imperial was killed and put up a cross in memoriam."

The Morning Post on 9th October 1879 had rather more to say and clearly indicates that the Cross had been put up by late August:

"THE SPOT WHERE THE PRINCE IMPERIAL FELL
In a private letter dated Fort Newdigate August 21st, just received from Lieutenant Arthington Worsley, Natal Native Contingent, he says “Digby and I and one of the fellows in the 21st [? sc. 2nd 1st] Regiment, are going over today to the place where the poor Prince Imperial was killed to put up a cross in memoriam”."

None of the other accounts has anything much more to say than this - but I haven't heard of this visit and marker before.

Note: The officer identified is interesting. Arthur Arthington Worsley and his brother Digby Thomas Worsley both went together to South Africa in the 1870s and both were commissioned late in 1878 into the Natal Native Contingent (transferred from the Commissariat and Transport Dept.). The brothers served together in 2/1st (Bengough's) battalion of the NNC. It seems that after the war both brothers tried to make a go of it in South Africa but for one reason or another had returned to the UK by 1884.

Digby Worsley met a sad end, having volunteered for service in Bechuanaland in 1884 :

“The Pembroke Castle, having on board the 1st Mounted Rifle Regiment (Methuen’s Horse) for imperial service in the Cape Colony consisting of 12 officers and 304 non-commissioned officers and Troopers ... arrived at Cape Town on Friday the 19th November 1884, and hauling alongside the docks at 6 am, disembarked her troops after breakfast. On the 9th December 1884 when the Pembroke Castle was en-route for Bechuanaland, Trooper Digby Thomas Worsley, late Lieutenant of the Cape Native Contingent who was employed on the Commissariat throughout the Caffre War of 1877-78 and as baggage master to Lord Chelmsford’s Column in the Zulu campaign, was lost at sea. He was last seen by Sergeant Hore at Trooper at 3.30am”.

He was apparently washed overboard in a heavy sea and never seen again.

His brother, Arthur Arthington Worsley, went on to become manager (I don't think he was ever the owner) of the beautiful Plas Rhiwaedog estate at Bala in North Wales - the historic mansion now a very sad and dilapidated sight. He was admitted to Holloway Sanatorium, Virginia Water, Surrey, in 1891 and died there in 1894 aged 41. He now lies at Christ Church cemetery, Virginia Water. His wife and daughter both returned to South Africa to live.