Private Robert Alexander Smyth

Posts : 30 Join date : 2009-09-29

Does anybody have a photograph of this particular private's grave. I believe it's in Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, and it would be very interesting to have a look at - i'm led to believe it lists him as a Rorke's Drift defender!

Subject: Re: Private Robert Alexander Smyth Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:26 pm

prm502 as requested.

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But as we know. He did not take part in the Battle of Rorkes Drift.

Posts : 30 Join date : 2009-09-29

Many thanks admin for that confirmation. I'm currently writing a section in my dissertation about soldiers who, caught up with the fervour caused by the war, later claimed to have taken part at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift - Private Richard Hankinson of the 80th for instance claimed to have been one of twelve survivors of Isandlwana, but was stationed with Wood's column for the entire duration of the war! Would you mind if I include this image in my appendix? (copyright will be acknowledged/paid for of course) :)

Posts : 3326 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

1195 Private R A Smyth
Grave, Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool, England
His grave records him as 'Rorke's Drift Hero'. He was not present during the Battle Of Rorke's Drift but served there before and after as a member of C Company 2/24th which had spent the day and night of the 22nd January with Chelmsford's column
.
Served in ‘C’ Company. Granted Good Conduct Pay at 1 penny per diem 13th February 1879. Served in South Africa. Service continued in South Wales Borderers 1st July 1881. South Africa Medal with Clasp 1877-8-9; India General Service Medal 1854 with Clasps Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-9. (Regimental Property). His regimental service number was 1195.

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

Stirring stuff. Shame he wasn't present during the battle. Bet his brother felt a bit of a clot when he learnt it wasn't written in the blood of a dead Zulu.

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Liverpool Echo - Saturday 22 January 1927
1877-78-79 clasp

Subject: Re: Private Robert Alexander Smyth Wed Jul 20, 2022 4:04 pm

prm502
To be precise, for the purposes of your thesis, his regimental number was 25B/1195.

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

He seems pretty convinced he was there.

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Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 22 January 1929

Subject: Re: Private Robert Alexander Smyth Fri Jul 22, 2022 4:10 pm

To echo a lady from a famous court case, "Well, he would do, wouldn't he?"
Have a look at his account in your first post on this thread - his remarks about WHEN he was sent out and WHAT he knew before the attack are very suspicious. The bulk of the info and the details could have been gleaned from The Strand Magazine easily enough or the ILN or Graphic.
2nd/24th Foot muster rolls give him as in South Africa in C Company c. August/September 1879 with rifle No.180.

Posts : 3090 Join date : 2021-01-04

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Liverpool Echo - Friday 01 March 1929

» Lieut-Col Alexander Robert Chermside.
» Maj. Robert Alexander Ogilby of Pellipar, Londonderry 1882
» Alexander Sinclair a private in the 17th Lancers
» Private 35/405 Alexander MacDougal 1/13th Regiment
» Private 1592 James Alexander Allen 90th Regiment