Banging me head against a wall.

I cannot think of the chaps name, but he was tortured to death, near or at Ulundi. Rubens or something like that.

What do we know about him apart from being tortured.
What regiment did he belong to. Did he hold any rank, and just how was he captured. Was he taken during an encounter with the Zulu's or was he just taken, without anyone's knowledge. There must be some other information but I can't find anything apart from the torture connected to this man. Any information on this chap prior to his death would be most welcome. I have spent hours looking, so I'm hoping you guys can help.

hi olh2.
The man you are looking for is TROOPER RAUBENHEIM. Not sure if he was tortured to death, but I do believe
some of his body parts were missing the next day when they came across his body. He was in a colonial unit.
I think it was the Frontier Light Horse. The following from " NARRATIVE OF FIELD OPERATIONS CONNECTED
WITH THE ZULU WAR OF 1879. " 3RD JULY, 1879. A reconnaisance in force was under-taken by Buller
at 1pm with the mounted men of the flying column , sending a portion of his force by the ford at the wagon track,
Buller , with the main body crossed at another ford lower down. They moved against the southern end of the hill
overlooking the river between these two fords, this hill , which had been occupied by enemy skirmishers was promptly
evacuated, and when Buller"s party emerged from the bush bordering the left bank of the river , a number of zulus
were seen hastening over the open area in front . These were pursued to a distance of 3 miles from the Umvolosi
when Buller"s party suddenly came under a heavy fire from a force of about 5,000 zulus who were concealed in the
valley of the Mbilane stream. Numbers of the enemy also appeared on both flanks of the party , pushing boldly forward
with the object of encircling them and cutting off their retreat. In this attempt they were unsuccessful , and Buller
withdrew his party having lost 3 men killed and 4 wounded .
This is the action in which Raubenheim , Pearce and Peacock were killed , R" HEIM was a LCE-CORP.
Some accounts state that R 'HEIM was captured alive and tortued to death , whereas a close reading of
the evidence suggests he was killed immediately , and his body later mutilated , perhaps for the purpose
of obtaining body parts for " muti ".
cheers 90th.

90th Thanks for your informative reply. Its makes more sense to know how he come to be in the hands of the Zulu’s.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Trooper Raubenheims pityfull cries could be heard throughout the night, and that it was Zulu women who carried out the removing of body parts. But the pityifull cries points to the fact he was alive at the time.
.

hi littlehand.
I to have read that story , dont know where , it may be true , but I think it is a story that was passed down
to create intrigue and mystery . In my mind if it clearly happened there would be many a documented case
of people leaving the story in diaries or memiors .
cheers 90th.

Not sure if this helps.

CECIL D’ARCY

(Captain)

Frontier Light Horse



On July 3rd 1879, during the reconnaissance before Ulundi by the Mounted Corps, Trooper Raubenheim, of the Frontier Light Horse, fell from the saddle as the rest were retiring. Notwithstanding the proximity of the Zulus, who were rushing towards them, Captain D’Arcy waited until his companion had mounted behind him and then proceeded to ride away, but the horse kicked both men off. Raubenheim was stunned, so D’Arcy tried to lift the man into the saddle again, heroically making several attempts, though the Zulus were getting nearer and nearer; but at last finding he was powerless to do so, he was obliged to leave him. It was a miraculous escape for Captain D’Arcy as, when he started to save himself, the Zulus had actually close upon him.

Dave

Captain D'Arcy went to the rescue of Trooper Raubenheim, do we know if D’Arcy had witnessed what the Zulu’s had done to the man he tried to save.

Maybe this is why D’Arcy faked his own death for many years, maybe he just could not live with the fact he won the VC but failed to save Raubenheim. (Theory)

hi littlehand / oh2.
I have been assured by a learned collegue that Donald Morris came up with the torture theory
concerning Raubenheim , seems a case of 2 plus 2 equals 5 !!!!!. 1879 graves may post some
files concerning evidence on this case .
cheers 90th.

90th Thanks for your reply.

Hi all

As requested by 90th :)

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1879Graves.You have my complete gratitude, thanks for spending the time researching this. It really was a bugbear and becoming annoying that I could not find anything on RAUBENHEIM

As it says in the text you posted

“Thus it is possible to absolve the Zulus from any charges of torture.”

And my appreciation to all who replied. Especially 90th

No problem Old.H.

But the hard work was done by 1879Graves and 90th.

Dave.

Good work Graves & 90th. (That's been laid to rest)