Dr. A. Ralph Busby

Subject: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sat Nov 16, 2024 11:36 am

There was a letter from this man who was a civil surgeon (I believe with Column No. 3) published in the Birmingham Daily Gazette 2nd April 1879.
Does anyone happen to have a copy of it at all?

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Hi Julian,

I have not seen the letter you reference, however, he had a series of letters/extracts published in the Leamington Spa Courier.

The ones I have noted are as follows:

01-03-1879 - letter dated 02-01-1879 Helpmakaar
08-03-1879 - extract dated 24-01-1879 Rorke's Drift
29-03-1879 - letter dated 04-02-1879 Rorke's Drift
19-07-1879 - letter dated 06-06-1879 Camp Nonchoimi ?
13-09-1879 - letter dated 16-07-1879 no location

I am thinking you would want the one from 29-03-1879, I have it typed out but could probably find the original newspaper clip.

Regards
Dash

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sat Nov 16, 2024 3:16 pm

Dash
Thank you. There are quotations from his letters in two on-line essays but neither comes from the one (two?) I'm looking for. I'd like to see the one that describes his return to the Isandhlwana battlefield (presumably with Chelmsford's column). I'd also like to find out which unit he was attached to - probably either the 2/3rd NNC or the IMI. I'm thinking there might be a clue in one of the earlier letters.
You might still have my e-mail address. If not, I'll send it to you so you can scan it and send rather than type it all out.

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Julian,

I have had a quick look and I downloaded the original newspaper articles, just need to find the right external drive to drag them back onto the laptop.

The article published on 01-03-1879 appears to have him attached to the 2/24th (from a word document copy), but your clinical eye may spot an error in my reading of the article.

I will look to get it done tonight, latest tomorrow as I am away in London all next week.

Regards
Dash

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Julian,

I can confirm that the letter published in Leamington Spa Courier 29/03/1879 is the same one as published in the Birmingham Daily Gazette a few days later.

If you prefer I have broken down the letters into manageable chunks and could post them here rather than clogging up your email box.

Let me know your thinking

Regards
Dash

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sat Nov 16, 2024 4:50 pm

Julian I send you the page regarding the Birmingham Gazette on your email.
Perhaps you all ready have it.

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Julian,

Here are the things from the Leamington Spa Courier.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
01/03/1879

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
08/03/1879

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
29/03/1879

If you need/want the later letters just let me know, hope these are of use to you. Sorry about the format could not find another way to crop the images as the editor had spread them over two columns.

Regards
Dash

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Found this drawing/representation of Dr Alexander Ralph Busby from The Graphic 09/03/1878 when he was serving with the Red Crescent.

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

It appears that both Dr Busby and his father (another Dr) both died in 1886.

Regards
Dash

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sat Nov 16, 2024 11:21 pm

Excellent. Thank you both very much. I'm very grateful.
Julian

Posts : 3388 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Leamington Spa Courier 31 July 1886

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
St Mary's Churchyard, Bathwick, Bath

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sun Nov 17, 2024 6:40 pm

Graves
Fascinating, thank you. It seems that we are replicating the same research. I have learnt so much about the Red Crescent!
Julian

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sun Nov 17, 2024 6:48 pm

Graves
Is the inscription still legible?
Julian

Posts : 3388 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Julian Whybra wrote:: Graves
Is the inscription still legible?
Julian

Hi Julian

The inscription is not legible.

Andy

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Hi Julian, Andy

Did a bit of digging with regards the grave, I am sure you already know this but others may find it interesting.

The grave contains both Alexander and his father Ralph Augustus Busby (1811-1886), the cross shown in the picture has broken off and the headstone (they may mean the cross) is lying flat and face down.

Regards
Dash

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sun Nov 17, 2024 10:49 pm

That's the first time I had read that the Zulu were still firing on Rorkes Drift on the 24th January.

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sun Nov 17, 2024 11:25 pm

Me too. There's plenty of eye-opening remarks in the account.

Posts : 65 Join date : 2024-02-15 Location : Somerset

Evening everybody,

Although maybe not as interesting as the earlier letters, I thought I would post the last two so people can have a read if they have not seen them.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
19/07/1879

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
13/09/1879

Regards
Dash

Subject: Re: Dr. A. Ralph Busby Sat Nov 23, 2024 9:14 am

Dash
Thank you for posting. I have just e-mailed you asking you to do so!
Julian

» Lieutenant Ralph Arthur Penrhyn Clements
» Lieutenant Ralph / Richard Lloyd Payne 1/13th Regiment