Chard apparently was quite sick.

I was having a quick look around the wed. It appears Chard was quite sick at one point. Anyone have any details about his sickness. And was this the cause of him returning to England. I know the big C took him. But that was a few years later.

sas1 with reference to his illness, Captain Jones had this to say.

In a letter home from Helpmakaar, on l6th.March,1879,Captain Jones wrote:

"Owing to the deaths at lsandhlwana, Bromhead, the second in-command at Rorke's Drift got his Company by promotion and he gets a brevet. This makes my Chard, who was in command, quite sure of a brevet, when he gets his Company, a year hence. Chard is in great luck, he left us at Durban, came up here quickly and comfortably, without all the bother of men sick, wagons sticking, etc. He leaves Isandhlwana camp an hour before the disaster, being ordered to look after the ponts over the Tugela, at Rorke's Drift. (writer's comment: an error; for Tugela, read Buffalo. It is also incorrect to say that, Lieutenant Chard was 'ordered to return to the ponbs". He actually returned on his own accord, after watching developments at Isandhlwana, which he read as possibly endangering his responsibilities at Rorke's Drift and returned there, to carry out the command duties that he had been given by Major Henry Spalding that very morning, before he , Major Spalding, set off for Helpmakaar, to bring up reinforcements for Rorke's Drift. "He there becomes a hero, gets fever and goes away on sick leave to a comfortable and hospitable house near Ladysmith, 60 miles off and vegetates there ever since. Not one iota of the work or drudgery does he get"..

G

sas1. Came across this.

Major Chard was struck down with enteric fever and was sent to Ladysmith, by ambulance, on I7th.Feb-ruary,1879,where he was nursed back to good health by a Dr. and Nrs.Hyde, who, incidently came from Aller Park in Somerset. It is notable this illness was reported in the local newspaper, "Natal Colonist",as causing his death in May,1879 and, the rumour gained wide credence at first. However, Major Chard made a good recovery and on 27th.April,1879,he left Ladysmith to rejoin No.5 Field Company,at Landman's Drift, on the River Buffalo, near Dundee, on 29th.April,1879.

Dave.

Quote :

local newspaper, "Natal Colonist"

i wouldn't mind seeing that artical. Anyone got a copy..

hi
just out of interest, was LT john chard actually wounded by the zulus as in the film 'zulu' or was it just to make it all more dramatic
can anyone clear this up
thanks joe

hi joe.
Fairly certain Chard wasnt wounded at R.D.
cheers 90th.

just as i thought-couldnt find anything that says he was
thanks joe