Lieutenant Adendorff 1-3 N.N.C.

I undersatnd that Lieutenant Adendorff 1-3 N.N.C. was the only one on the british side to have taken part in both battle's (Isandlwana and Rorke's drift)
However that's seems to be some doubt over that, can anyone cast any light on this matter.

Cheers
Old Historian 2

The case against Adendorff largely rests on a comment by Donald R. Morris in his classic account of the war, The Washing of the Spears. Among the notes on his sources, Morris comments "my suspicion that Adendorff did not stay to aid the defence is based on analysis of all the sources listed for both battles. Space precludes a review of the evidence, which I hope to publish separately." Morris never did publish that evidence, however, and it is probably fair to say that a good deal more evidence has come to life since the publication of his book which suggests just the opposite.
There are two basic charges against Adendorff, which amount to a comprehensive accusation of cowardice. I believe that the evidence supports neither, and that Adendorff is an unfairly maligned man.
The case for the prosecution is as follows. Since Chard was adamant that Adendorff appeared on the Zulu bank of Rorke's Drift while he, Chard, was still at his tent by the ponts, it is argued that Adendorff must have left the camp at Isandlwana rather earlier than he should, because the Zulu right horn, sweeping down the Manzimnyama valley behind Isandlwana, had cut the road to Rorke's Drift long before the majority of the survivors got away. That being the case, those who did manage to escape did so by means of a hair-raising ride across country, crossing the Mzinyathi (Buffalo) several miles downstream from Rorke's Drift, at a rocky crossing known as Sothondose's Drift, and subsequently dubbed Fugitives' Drift. Secondly, it is argued that since there are few references to Adendorff staying at Rorke's Drift, and since all the other fugitives' from Isandlwana fled, Adendorff must have done the same. Quite why Adendorff should be singled out for disapproval in this regard is not explained; no-one suggests that there was anything shameful in the conduct of - say - Captains Gardner and Essex, or Lieutenants Curling, Cochrane and Smith-Dorrien, all of whom thought it wiser to head straight for Helmekaar. This despite the fact that these officers were all professional soldiers, while Adendorff, as a Lieutenant in the Native Contingent, was a volunteer. Indeed, given that the survivors from Isandlwana were all exhausted, shocked - even traumatised - and in some cases almost hysterical, it seems absurd that anyone would have thought badly of them for avoiding another fight (which under the circumstances must have seemed pretty hopeless). Nor did any one; except in the case of Adendorff.
Curiously, given the prevailing opinion against him, there is sufficient evidence to recreate something of Adendorff's movements on 22/23rd January 1879. Firstly, we know that he was with Captain Robert Krohn's No. 6 Company of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, NNC, because the Adjutant of the Battalion, Lieutenant Walter Higginson, left a detailed account of the battle which mentions Adendorff in passing. Moreover, the same account tells us exactly what Krohn's company did during the battle, and provides some clue as to what time Adendorff left the camp.
According to Higginson, Krohn's company was ordered to fall in at about 6 am on the morning of the 22nd, and to march out to the plain in front of the camp where another NNC company (No. 9, 1/3rd NNC, under Captain James Faunce Lonsdale), had been on piquet duty over-night. Krohn's company was to relieve Lonsdale's on piquet duty. However, before Krohn's company could march out, the order was countermanded. Another NNC piquet, this time on the crest of the iNyoni heights to the immediate left of the camp, had reported that Zulus were visible on the heights, and the alarm was sounded. Krohn's men were ordered instead to fall in line in front of their tents, "as the Zulus were reported in sight". As a result, the unfortunate Captain Lonsdale's company remained in front of the camp, and subsequently found themselves incorporated into the front line - but that's another story.
It is at this point that Higginson mentions Adendorff (whose name he spells with one 'f')

“Soon afterwards Lieut. Adendorf of my Company (No. 6) was sent out to the 2nd Batt. outlying piquet [i.e. on the lip of the escarpment] to bring in a report from Captain Barry in charge of the Piquet. He came back very soon and made his report and shortly afterwards I was sent out...”

It is interesting to speculate, incidentally, why it was felt necessary to send Higginson out when Adendorff had only just returned. Perhaps Adendorff's report was incomplete or unsatisfactory; perhaps his report was considered so unlikely that a more experienced officer (Higginson had served in the Dublin City Militia) was needed to verify it.
Anyway, all this occurred early in the morning, for Higginson remained observing the Zulus for about half an hour, then returned to camp, where Col. Durnford had just arrived. Higginson put the time then at about 10 am. Higginson goes on to describe how reports of the Zulu presence on the iNyoni heights prompted Durnford to make the decision to ride out from the camp to investigate. Durnford asked Pulleine if he might borrow Higginson, presumably because Higginson had recently observed the Zulu movements, and as a result Higginson found himself attached to the party commanded by Captain George Shepstone which rode up onto the iNyoni heights via the spur which runs down to the tail of Isandlwana. It was elements of this party, of course, which discovered the main Zulu army; Higginson says he was about 100 yards behind them when they did so. He rode forward, saw their predicament, and then rode back to the camp. As he descended the escarpment he saw the 24th (Captain Mostyn's company, presumably) taking up their positions on the spur. Having made a report to Pulleine, he returned to his company, which was still in position in front of the NNC tents.
Higginson makes no further mention of Adendorff, but it is important to note that at this stage there was no particular sense of alarm in the camp. The Zulu attack was still not visible from the camp; at best, only Mostyn's and Cavaye's companies were engaged, and no-one on the slope below Isandlwana could see what they were firing at. Even if Lieutenant Adendorff was of a particularly nervous disposition, there is no reason to suppose that he was not still with his company, to whom he had returned earlier that morning.
Krohn's company played no great role in the subsequent fight; it was either deliberately held in reserve, or, in the excitement of the moment, it was forgotten about. It remained in front of the tents while the Zulus descended from the escarpment; then, as the British line was outflanked and collapsed, Krohn's company fled before the Zulus could rush in to attack it. It is worth quoting Higginson's account in some detail here, because it gives a firm hint of when those survivors who did get away actually left the camp;

“... the Zulus extended all round the front of the camp, and drove back the few men that opposed them, when my company saw them coming on nothing could stop them, they all jumped up and ran, and though I knocked one man down with my rifle it was no use, I then saw the men of the 2nd Batt. N.N.C. running and looking for the 24th men, I saw that they were retreating also, but very slowly, all the mounted men were riding past as fast as they could, and I then thought it time to go too, so, firing one last shot, I mounted my horse ... and rode off”.

Now this passage is significant in two respects; firstly, because it gives a vivid impression of the suddenness of the British collapse, and secondly because it clearly indicates that most of those who got away - Colonial officers and Natal Volunteers - left while the 24th were still retreating. And so it must have been; this was there only chance, for once the 24th had been driven back onto the nek below Isandlwana, the right horn had rushed up to attack them from the rear, and the avenue of escape was closed. As a digression, the usual assumption is that the regular officers who survived left a few moments after the Colonials. This is consistent in that the regulars would probably have looked to their duty with the infantry until the last moment, and only considered it acceptable to flee once it was clear that the 24th's position was hopeless - a revelation which would, incidentally, have come pretty quickly after the initial collapse. With that in mind, however, it is interesting that Higginson is quite specific that "as we got to the [Mzinyathi] river I met Lieut. Melville [sic] and Coghill ... [and] I overtook them...". Higginson, of course, crossed the river with Melvill and Coghill, and was the last British soldier to see them alive.
If one accepts that Adendorff abandoned the camp when Krohn's company fled - along with all its other white NCOs and officers, presumably - how did he manage to escape, not via Fugitives' Drift, but by Rorke's Drift? Adendorff himself seems to have left no account of his movements, but a fellow NNC officer who survived, Captain Walter Stafford of E Company, 1st/1st NNC, has left us some clues. Stafford was a young man at the time of the battle, and lived to a ripe old age; in later years he was frequently asked to tell the story of the fight at each new anniversary.

Ian Knight review...

sas1

Charles L.Norris-Newman. Who was the first and only officially appointed special correspondent that was in the field with the troops during the early days of tne prepartions and first entry into Zululand. Which ended so disatrously, as we know on the 22nd Jan 1879.

Charles L.Norris-Newman, was with Chelmsford column when they returned to the camp after the battle, Newman spent the night with the rest of the troops sleeping among the dead.
Norris newman makes reference to .Adendoff when he arrived a Rorkes Drift by saying: "the following officers were also present at the post and rendered material aid in the defence:
Dr, Reynolds,1-24th , Lieutenant Adendoff 1-3rd NCC, Messrs. Dunne, Dalton, of the commissariat Department, also the Rev, Mr Smith, Protestant Chaplain to no 3 Column.


Regards

Pete

hi
i found this story on the internet, it doesnt go into too much detail

this is what is says...

'Lieutenant Adendorff was added to Chard’s roll of those present at Rorke’s Drift, mainly because he said he would stay, but there is overwhelming evidence he rode off soon after his arrival. He was later arrested at Pietermaritzburg on the charge of desertion in the face of the enemy. There was also a strong suggestion that he had left Isandhlwana earlier than was necessary because he was the only one to escape via the track which was cut early on by the Zulus. There is no evidence that a trial ever took place, possibly because Chard’s report said he had warned the garrison at the drift.'

'Of all the latter only Adendorff was incorrectly credited with remaining to assist in the defence and was thus the only man said to have fought at both the Isandhlwana and Rorke’s Drift actions.'

anyone else know of this or have somemore info on it

thanks joe

Hi Joe. Here's some more infoe:

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Quite interesting.

hi joe.
From Which site exactly did you find your piece on Adendorff ?. I believe he certainly stayed . If its good enough for
Chard to have listed him as being present on the roll , how can anyone beg to differ !. Chard must have seen him
during the defence , or he would have said so if he wasnt there.
When talking of Adendorff being arrested also bear in mind so were the other 2 officers of the 3rd NNC , Lt's Vane and
Higginson according to John Maxwell in Reminiscences of the zulu war, they were ordered back to R.Drift.

Extract from the recollections of the battle of Isandlwana, by Walter Stafford late Capt of the NNC , c 1939.
' Reverting to R.D , a friend of mine , Lt. Adendorff and another man , as both could not swim , hugged the bed
of the river up to the punt and were ferried across the river . It was them who gave the alarm to R.D . Lt Adendorff
escaped again but I think his friend was amongst the 18 that were killed , I met Adendorff in 1883 and he told me
that R.D was saved through two Godsends . The first was that the zulu retired in the middle of the night , apparantly
to hold a consultation and that gave the garrison time to strengthen the weak parts of the little fort , and the M.H carbines
to cool off . The other was the zulus setting fire to the thatch building which gave a bright light round the little fort and when the
zulus came volley after volley was poured into them. He also told me Rev.W.Smith was a great help . You will always find that in
a tight corner there is a hard case and there was one at R.D. This man was cussing all the time , Rev Smith went to him and said
" please my good man , stop that cussing . We may shortly have to answer for our sins . The reply he got was " All right mister,
you do the praying and I will send the black B"s to hell as fast as I can".Adendorff told me there were 460 zulus killed at R.D. Although it was a case of do or die it was one of the most noble and glorious defences put up by 114 men against 2000. I often
wondered why there was no R.D. Day !.
Were Stafford says " escaped " I dont think he means Literally , but , figuratively" . As in wasnt killed , escaped death again .
Also his story has detail , if he wasnt there he wouldnt have known these things . Information wasnt readily passed around
in those days .
Chard's report says ' As far as I KNOW, but one of the fugitives remained with us, Lt. Adendorff , whom I have before mentioned.
He remained to assist in the defence , and from a loophole in the STORE BUILDING , flanking the wall and hospital, his rifle
did good service . So thats good eough for me ! . These passages from " Rorke"s Drift by those who were there " by Jones and
Stevenson .
cheers 90th.

hi 90th,
it was just on the bottom of one of the rolls for rorkes drift, anyway heres the site it was from,
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thanks joe

hi joe.
I think you will find that site has it wrong , the colonial officer who left R.D was Stevenson , and one of his NCO's was
killed ( cpl Anderson )when fleeing .
cheers 90th .
This is documented elsewhere on the forum if I remember rightly. .

hi there,
i think your right 90th.

the topic has been posted on the fourm before, its the link that 24th posted nearer the top of the page

thanks joe

I had a long conversation one evening with David Rattray about this. He maintained that there were two roll calls, the first being incorrect as men were outside the barriers clearing up. That one listed Addendorf. The second one was more formal and didnt include Addendorf.
As the saying goes, "pay your money and take your choice".
I dont recall any other mention by anyone who wrote of the battle mentioning Addendorf. As his presence was open to dispute from early on would it not be logical to think that someone with an over all view point, ie: CS Bourne, would have mentioned his presence?

90th you have probably the largest collection of books, can you find any reference, apart from Stafford that is.? I cant. And lets remember Stafford was quoting Addendorf so its all heresay. Addendorf would be the last to admit to cowardice surely.

Regards

There is a reference by Chard, quoted by Ian Knight in " Zulu", of Lt Adendorf along with Cpl Attwood of the Army Service Corp keeping the Zulus from setting the storeroom on fire with accurate shooting. Attwood was awarded a Distiguished Service Medal, If he was allongside Adendorff then why didnt they both get medals?
Conundrum time.

There are witness accounts that say he was there. But i have seen none to say he wasn't. But if there is any wouldn't mind seeing it.

hi sprinbok9.
In regard to Chard's report in ZULU - The battle of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift , which I am currently reading
and a good book it is !. Attwood recieved the DCM and more than likely deserved it , but Adendorff being a colonial
was overlooked , more to the fact that so many Imperial troops were mentioned in regards to awards there was no room
for a Colonial to be cited for an award . Now in regard to Adendorff , We know he was serving with Capt. Robert Krohn's number
6 Co 1 / 3rd NNC. Higginson left a detailed account of Isand where he mentions Adendorff in passing " Soon afterwards Lt. Adendorff of my company was sent out to the 2nd Batt outlying piquet ( ie - on the lip of the escarpment ) to bring in a report
from Capt Barry in charge of the piquet . He came back very soon and made his report and shortly afterwards I was sent out "
This occured in the morning and Higginson doesnt mention Adendorff again. ( war office report , wo 32 / 7726 Public Records Office )
Now another thing we must remember , it was Adendorff and a Carbineer who gave Chard the news of the camp"s demise .
" Chard begins by being sceptical of Adendorff"s movements , but was clearly fully convinced by his explanations , this is only
likely to have been the case if Adendorff was able to supply sufficient details of the fighting at Isandlwana to make his story creditable, Chard fixed his time of arrival at the drift at 3.15 , which is consistent with leaving Isand between 1- 1.30 when the
line collapses. Given the extent to which Chard went out of his way to mention Adendorff"s support during the battle , it seems odd
that his participation is still in doubt . ( refer my 1st post ). The previous statements are from " The journal of the Anglo zulu war Historical society " by I. Knight . As Chard said it was 3.15 when Adendorff arrives it is only 50 - 60 min before the drift is under attack.
Also the reason why Adendorff isnt mentioned in other reports is from Ian Knight , " For one thing he was unknown to them , he had arrived at the last minute , during a time of great confusion , and being stationed in the storehouse , he would have gone largely
un- noticed by the men outside the buidings during the battle. Now , Stafford and Adendorff were friends, if Stafford thought
Adendorff had fled R.D he wouldnt have mentioned meeting up with Adendorff in 1883 , as what Adendorff described to Stafford
in referance to RD was confirmed by one or more of the defenders he simply couldnt have made it up , he had to have been there .
I know D. Rattray was and still is a leading light on Isand and RD but I think he got this one wrong . I am certainly in the Knight camp
which places Adendorff at both battles and behaved with honour at both.
cheers 90th.

90th
I did say it was a long discusion with David. Mainly because of the divergent view points. I have always been neutral on Adendorf. Your arguments are persuasive and would lead me to go along with you. The major concern I have is that Adendorf arrived at RD from the Drift as did Henderson etc. That means they either left very early, to avoid the right horn, or road over the fugitives trail and then followed the river to the Drift.
So yes I would be happy to accept your arguement that he was at RD, but remain unconvinced about his departure from Isandlawana.

Regards

hi springbok9.
Glad I have managed to swing you around somewhat , I think if Chard fixes his arrival at R.D at 3.15 and he is
the first to tell them of the camp's demise , I cant see how he left any earlier than anyone else who managed to get
through , Henderson etc etc. The drift was under attack at approx 4.20 pm. As Knight says his arrival time at the Drift
is consistent with leaving Isandlwana between 1- 1.30 pm. Our best guess as the time the line collapsed .
cheers 90th.

90th
Comes back to my ongoing obsesion with time lines.
We do know that when the line collapsed the right horn was in the tent area. The gap left was behind the Koppie, that forced the fugitives along the flank of the koppie untill the ravine. We also know that the line of advance of the right horn was along the stream bed then uphill to the saddle. That cut the road to RD totally. That advance of the right horn had to have been underway for some considerable time. Ive walked the route, its a fair distance down from the ridge. So with the line collapsing 1 to 1;30, the road would have been blocked from at least 12.30 to 1. Thats a hell of a fine time line to get through.
For Adendorf and for that matter Henderson to get through they would have either fought a magnificent cavalry charge through the right horn or went around them down to the Mzinyathi and then along the river to RD. Thats a hell of a ride, Stafford says that Adendorf told him they did indeed go cross country. Thats not a ride that can be done in 1.45 to 2 hours. And yet he arrived before Evans and Whelan who had followed the fugitives route, crossed at Sothondos and been sent by Gardiner. The easier route.
The point I am trying to get to is that he Adendorf would have had to have left a considerable time before Gardiner.
Again its my time line frustrations coming out.

Regards

PS Stormers for the Super 14?

hi springbok9.
With referance to the timelines , Adendorff told Stafford when they met in 1883 , that he and his companion avoided
Sothondose's Drift because he couldnt swim , and worked their way upstream to R.D. I having not been there arent sure
how long this would take , Chard fixes his arrival at 3.15 pm , Bromhead and Dunne were about to ride down to the drift
to investigate these two mysterious horseman , when two mounted infantrymen ( Evans , Whelan ) rode up with a pencil
note from Capt. Allan Gardner mentioning the demise off the camp. So it seems they arrived at about the same time .
Would it have been feasable to avoid the right horn by hugging the river bank back to R.D ?. If so , What is the time span
required for this manouvre ?.
cheers 90th.

Hi 90th
Nice to be back in Cape Town after a glorious weekend on the battlefields.

WHile there we explored the possible routes for Adendorf to have got to RD. I was limited because of the recent surgery but the locals, and a fantstic guide, assured me that he could have got to the river north of FD and followed it along to the drift. However, and this is the biggy, he would have had a hell of a job avoiding the inDlo yengwe and later the Undi corps. Unless he left before they started the encircling movement. Henderson et al went over at FD and from there its an easier ride to the back of RD.
Still cant figure how Adendorf could do it.

Ive taken a lot more photos and will post as soon as I can get to it.
A big thanks to Pete for posting the others sent from Isandlwana

Regards

hi springbok9.
Glad to see you enjoyed yourself after a relaxing weekend touring the Battlefields , the weather looked good as well .
Looking forward to your photos , find any souvenirs ? , I know its illegal to pick them up , but I dont think I could help
myself . . Promise we wont tell :lol!: .
cheers 90th.

90th
Actually did find a souvenir, I was sold the genuine rock that Mellvill stumbled over while mounting his horse. Authenticated by the young gentleman that sold it to me at a give away price. Thinking of putting it on e bay, opening bid GBP 100. :lol!:

90th
I will ask Pete to post the shots of the rear of the mountain and the view of the area covered by the right horn.

Regards

Springbok - check the rock carefully before you sell it - if you find that Melville stopped to autograph it then it will be worth more .

1) Is the saddle shot from Younghusbands last stand.

2) Attaches (1) to that and shows the start of the Fugitives trail and some of the Cairns leading to the chasm.

3) Attaches to (1) & (2) that and shows the area occupied by the right horn. Way over in the distance there is a faint road leading over the hill into a valley, that’s the valley where the Fugitives Drift is. Shows how far the trail extends.

4) Is a view from the left centre of the Zulu body showing what would have been the firing line, approximately where the village is on the left of the shot?

5, 6 & 7 are progressive shots of the back of Isandlwana showing the path of the right horn.

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Photo's and Text supplied by Springbok.

hi pete and springbok9.
Thanks for listing the photos pete , and thanks to springbok for taking them and sending them on.
Out of curiosity can you see shepstone's grave on the western side of Isandlwana or is it covered
over with vegetation etc etc ?.
cheers 90th.

Very nice photo's indeed I've joined photo's 1,2 & 3 together for a better look

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hi sirDCC.
Well done ,
cheers 90th.

Hi Sir DCC

I have the whole battle field starting from Nyoni ridge to the three joined together, if Pete will post them you could possibly join those on.
Well done by the way.

Regards

Np mate , happy to

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Photo's supplied by Springbok.

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Well. That certainly gives a good view of the Battlefield.

hi all .
Great work by all involved , springbok do you have the same sort of photos from the western side ?, the site of Shepstones
last stand ?.
cheers 90th.

Sir DCC
Well done that certainly gives an overview of the battlefield.
Just to orientate, to the right of the dominant bush was the command tent of Pulleine. The rocky slope is typical of the whole slope and although you cant see it stretches right down onto the plain covered with around a foot or so of topsoil. That probably indicates better than anything why Chelmsford didnt dig any form of barrier.
90th
I will dig around and see if I can put a series together.


Regards

SirDCC.
Would it be possible to place red dots to show where the British lines would have been? And Black for the attacking Zulus.

Dave we had ago at this some time ago. Well our versions on where we would have positioned the men.

But i'm sure Sir DCC could make a much better job than we did.

Heres the link. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Scroll to bottom of page 1.

What happened to Ardendorff after RD . Did he go on to fight in any other actions or does he disappear ?

Indeed what was his military record before Ishandlwana and RD ?

hi gary.
Without delving through a mountain of books , I am not sure of his military record before the zulu war , but after the war
he did just basically fade out of the military service . Happy to be corrected .
cheers 90th.

"The sun Turned Black"by Ian Knight.

"Aadendorff was a Lieutenant in Capt Krohn's No.6 Company 1/3rd NNC (Natal Native Contingent, they were native blacks tribes, who fled the zulu's, that were used to help fight.) (they usually used local white South Africans e.g. colonials as senior officers with the NNC's as they understood the language, fighting methods, culture and terrain better than the Britts did. )

It is said that Aadendorf had attracted a certain amount of unnecessary mystery. and it was suggested that he left Isandlwana early - before the Zulu right horn cut off the road. - and he was later court marshaled for desertion. There is no evidence to support this though. Higginson remembered seeing him at the Battle of Isandlwana. Years later Stafford also recalled the Aadendorff had told him that he and his companion had avoided the Sothendose's drift as he could not swim,and instead went further up stream to Rorke's drift.

Lt Chard also went out of his way to to document that Lt Aadendorff was the only one of the fugitives that stayed to help in the defense at Rorke's Drift, and by rights, therefore, deserves the distinction of being remembered as the only man to have fought at both Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

At the Battle of Isandwana the Zulu right horn 'parked' themselves in the wagon road, (between Rorke's drift and Isandwlana, runs in a N-westerly direction ) thus blocking the escape route. (The Fugitives trail the Brittish used ran in a S-westerly Direction) Very few fugutives who fled from Isandlwana on foot survived. only those on
horse back made it, and Aadendorff was one of the men on Horseback who did survive. (the terrain is TERRIBLY rocky and difficult to cross)

hi Gary.
Found this I think from " Englands Sons " by Julian Whybra .
" Lt. Higginson of the NNC states Adendorff had recently transferred to the NNC from the Kaffrarian Rifles , after R.Drift he
travelled back to P ' maritzburg ".
cheers 90th.

So he slipped out of sight really . He didnt try to take advantage of his heroics as being the only man at both battles . Either very modest or he had something to hide .

Another one of those we will never know. But I saw Chard would have remember he if had left.

hi
chard might have just been so busy organising the battle he didnt see him leave, he wouldnt really notice if 1 man was missing.

just a thought, would Ardendorff have actually been able to escape once the battle had begun, would he have been able to have make it through the zulus surrounding the drift?

thanks joe

In an article published in German in the"Illustrierter Süd Afrikanischer Volks-Kalender 1913" Lt C.I.M. Müller writes on his personal memoirs of Capt Schermbrucker and the Caffrarian Vanguard. He describes the recruitment of soldiers in Caffraria and mentions Lt Pogge and Lt Adendorff as his two Coy Commanders. Having arrived in Durban towards the end of November 1878, they then marched towards Utrecht. On page 267 of the Calender he writes and I translate:"We reached Lüneburg on the 23rd December and prepared ourselves for the coming Christmas days. I took charge of the small Fort with a section of my troop, while Lt Pogge, with the rest of the troop camped near the Church Lager. Capt Schermbrucker also had his tent near the Church Lager. Lt Adendorff left us on route to join a native contingent under Commandant Lonsdale. He took part in the defense of Rorke's Drift on the 22-23 January 1879 and excelled himself."

No mentioned of Isandlwana.

No he does not mention anything about Isandlwana. But no doubt that he was present at both battles. Maybe he should still get a medal !!!!!

Maybe he should still get a medal!?!?!?

hi all.
I never realised that Lt. Adendorff isnt mentioned on the Medal Roll ! . If he is I couldnt find his name .
cheers 90th.

I have a photocopy of the roll of officers and men present at the defence of Rorkes Drift prepared and signed by Chard.

Adendorff is clearly listed under the Natal Native Contingent as defender number 133.

JohnB

Adendorff is clearly on here as well.

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