A Maine Tar

Any truth to this man's story. I was not aware that the British Army recruited foreign sailors to fight in the Zulu War. Would these men be eligible for the 1879 Medal?

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9D03E0D71E38E033A25756C1A9649D94669FD7CF


Petty Officer Tom

Tom

I have always wondered about this report, because the party was made up by the following:

"In addition to Louis and Carey, the patrol consisted of six of Bettington's troopers. They were Corporal Grubb, a Natal farmer and a veteran of 16 years in the RA; Le Tocq, a French-speaking Channel Islander; and Troopers Abel, Rogers, Cochrane and Willis. There was also a Zulu guide mounted on Louis' horse Fate while Louis himself was on Percy. Also with them was Louis' little fox terrier"

We know who Grubb & Le Tocq were, Troopers Abel & Rogers were killed, that just leaves Cochrane and Willis

Now Cochrane and Willis would have been part of (Bettington's troopers) or better known as the Natal Horse which would have been known as Irregulars, so that adds up.

I need to do more research into who were Cochrane & Willis, but if they were the two in the report, then they would have been entitled to the Medal as part of the Natal Horse.

Now read what Cochrane & Willis said in court, this is not what was in the newspaper report:

Trooper Cochrane was called and said: The Prince was not in the saddle at the time of mounting. He saw about fifty yards off the Prince running down the donga with fourteen Zulus in close pursuit. Nothing was done to help him. He heard no orders given, and did not tell Carey what he had seen until some time after. He was an old soldier. He did not think any rally could have been made.

Sergeant Willis, who stated that he had seen Trooper Rogers lying on the ground by the side of his horse, close to the kraal, as he left the spot. He thought he saw the Prince wounded at the same time that Trooper Abel threw up his arms. He thought the Prince might have been dragged to the place where he was found after death, and that a rally might have been made twenty yards beyond the donga.

This sounds interesting. But I’m unable to open link. Any other way in to the link.

S.D

Best I can do S.D

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1879Graves.

Quote :

Le Tocq, a French-speaking Channel Islander;

Grubb, was the only member of the party who could speak his language, It was he who reported that the guide told him he had seen a Zulu across the river when he returned the horses from watering.

And Cochrane was presumed the last perosn to see the Prince.

E.H

Hi Elizabeth
I have to say, where did you get the info on Grubb was the only one to speak French?

Hi Again Elizabeth

Found the newpaper report I was looking for. It states that Grubb knew the Zulu language and reported what the Zulu guide was trying to tell the Prince.