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In Studies in the Zulu War vol I (2012) I wrote an essay 'The Brave Fugitive' (pp. 52-75) which corrected a misattribution by some writers of an anonymous account to Adendorff. In the process I not only established beyond doubt Adendorff's presence at but, using primary sources, traced his movements at Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift. None of what I wrote has been challenged, negated or disproved by any professional historian. There is no doubt whatsoever that Adendorff was at both battles and had nothing to hide. Anyone who still thinks the opposite has simply not read enough.
ymob
Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France
Regarding the Ninth Frontier War; I've confirmed that Adendorff served as a Corporal in the Diamond Fields Horse but didn't return to Kimberley with them as he joined the Jansenville Yeomanry as a Sergeant in May, 1878 where many of his kinsman were serving.
In 'The Diamond News' of 17.4.79 published this very interesting article:
‘The Diamond News’ (17.4.79): LOOKERS ON ‘It is professional jealously, or what makes military men ignore so persistently the claims of volunteer? The names of Chard and Bromhead are in everyone’s mouth, but what of the old Diamond Field Horseman – Liutenant Adendorff – whose bravery Lieut Chard in his dispatch acknowledged. Lieuts Chard and Bromhead are now decorated with “the prize more than all to an Englishmen dear” – the Victoria Cross. Adendorff is still undecorated. Again, almost a stigma is cast upon the Volunteers, who gave up their lives on the Zhlobane mountains, but it is clear to the meanest comprehension that their lives were fortified because some military genius had blundered. They were sent almost unsupported up a difficult mountain – their retreat was cut off, and their work supports consisting of Mounted Infantry were the first to become panic stricken, and bolt. Piet Uys, Colonel Weatherley, and seventy more were forfeited that day, and on the following day when the Zulu were repulsed on their grand attack on Col Wood’s column, the military have all the kudos in the despatches, hardly a word is said about the Mounted Volunteers, whi did the greater part of the most dangerous work – drawing the advancing Zulus on in the first place, and rendering the rout complete by pursuing them at last'.
‘Besided Adendorff another old member of the Diamond Field Horse is down in Zululand – Capt Hulley. He was in the party that recovered the bodies of Coghill and Melville with the colours of the 1-24th, and a letter of his to some of his Queenstown Friends (in which he says the Tugela beats the Kabousie all to pieces) has been published in one of the Queens Town Papers'.
Cam Well done! I was not aware of this report - those Diamond News editions are not in the BL. It's yet another neat piece of supporting evidence. Well done again! Julian Whybra
waterloo50
Posts : 600 Join date : 2013-09-18 Location : West Country
Lieutenant Adendorff is a new name to me, I am interested in finding out more about this gentleman and the action at Zhlobane Mountain, I am going to have a read of 'The Brave Fugitive', are there any other resources available that you could suggest.
Hi Waterloo, whilst the above article makes reference to Hlobane, Adendorff was present at Isandhlwana and Rorke's drift. Most books on Rorke's Drift mention Adendorff.
I've come very late to this thread and a fascinating read it has been. There seem to have been doubts that the writer could have observed all of the action described in the letter. Have the contents of the letter been authenticated, particularly the bit suggesting that the firing line collapsing before the retreat from the donga?
littlehand
Posts : 7077 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 53 Location : Down South.
The only valid authentication must come from the other survivors. Julian Whybra mentions in the thread his essay on the anonymous author (A Brave Fugitive, Studies in the Zulu War 1879:1). In setting out why it cannot have been Adendorf it compares the text to other survivors accounts. That is by far the best source for any authentication of the anonymous letter. Otherwise you must work through the accounts of all the other survivors - something that Julian has done for you.
I don't have access to the essay in question so have not been able to read it. My interest is not who the writer was, rather whether the information contained in the letter is considered reliable.
Eaton 'A Brave Fugitive' appears in Studies in the Zulu War 1879: Vol I pp. 54-75 available from the regimental museum. It is fully annotated with all primary sources clearly given. There are no 'loose ends'.
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