Alfred Ducat - N.N.C. Help with plotting his career

I have long had the medals to the above who served in the following:

Captain, 104th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Fusiliers)
Private, No. 8 Troop, Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, Ninth Frontier War
Trooper, No. 9 Troop, Cape Mounted Rifles
Lieutenant, Bakers Horse
Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent – Anglo-Zulu War
Private, Alexandria Town Guard, Anglo Boer War

I have even attempted to piece together his service [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] but, despite scouring the pages of P.S. Thompson's excellent "The Natal Native Contingent in the Anglo-Zulu War", I am still uncertain as to which, if any, of the actions/skirmishes/battles Ducat participated in. As a result I would be grateful if someone knowledgeable on here could provide me with a synopsis of his service once in South Africa.

Here's what I know - he was commissioned on 21 February 1879 as a Captain in Baker's Horse and despatched to Natal. He then transferred regiments accepting a commission as a Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent on 17 June 1879.

Thank you in advance.

Regards

Rory

Posts : 307 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Hello Rory,

I've had a look at Terry Sole's For God, Queen and Colony and although he's listed under 2nd Battalion 1st Regt NNC there is no further information on him I'm afraid.

Sorry not to have been of any help.

Regards,

Tim

Thanks Tim. I thought I'd ask the collective wisdom on this forum.

Regards

Rory

From Hart’s Annual Army List, 1870. Listed under Captains.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

JY

Thank you John - what I am really after is his AZW service. I found Thompson's book to be confusing. I know that he was commissioned into the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent on 12 June 1879 - does this mean that he saw action at Ulundi/Gingindlovu? Was his regiment there?

He also had earlier service with Baker's Horse from 21 February 1879 - were Baker's Horse at Hlobane and Kambula? It's very difficult to know where to place him.

Regards

Rory

Rory,

Baker’s Horse at Hlobane were part of Buller’s Eastern Party, they numbered seventy-nine all ranks and were commanded by Lieutenant W. D. Wilson.

At Khambula the unit numbered ninety all ranks under Commandant F. J. Baker.

Just to clarify was he commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, N.N.C., as Tim has it? Rather than your “1st Regiment of the 2nd Battalion”? If so then that was Bengough’s Battalion which served at Ulundi.

JY

Hi John

See below - definitely 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment.[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Rory,

When the N.N.C. were redesignated after iSandlwana the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment N.N.C. became 1st Battalion, N.N.C. under Commandant Montgomery and the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment N.N.C. became the 2nd Battalion, N.N.C. under Major Bengough.

So do you see the point I am trying to assist you with? The designation you have is at the least back to front, but that unit ceased to exist after the reformation of the Natal Native Contingent.

What you have doesn’t quite fit.

JY

Hi John and thank you for your patience. I think my addled brain is getting there. Pages 280 and 281 of Terry Sole's For God, Queen and Colony have Ducat as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment under Major Bengough. I have attached the two pages as well as two shots of the one medal rim which shows that Ducat served with the 2nd Bn. Natal Native Contingent.

Does that fit or am I still reaching?

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Rory

Rory,

I think Terry has confused things there. Ducat could not have served in 2nd/1st N.N.C. as it had been disbanded after iSandlwana.

If you look towards the end of The Narrative of Field Operations… under the N.N.C. section, you will find the redesignated titles of the N.N.C. Ducat leaves Baker’s Horse and is commissioned a Lieutenant in Bengough’s 2nd Battalion, N.N.C. What is on your medal is correct. As I previously mentioned Bengough’s 2nd Battalion, N.N.C. were present at Ulundi.

Looking at the references in the Cape Archives, Ducat might have been somewhat “difficult” in his latter police service.

JY

Ah thanks John. I have been basing his service (or my interpretation thereof) on Terry's work. That settles it - he was 2nd Battalion, NNV "over and out."

Regards

Rory

» Lt Melville's Kids. Same career?
» Mr W.C. Burns A 'Unique' career
» Alfred Saxty