Coghill's Horse.

It was mentioned in the "Calverley" Discussion. Which got me thinking.

It doe's appear that Coghill was quite anxious to depart from Isandlwana, If he didn’t have his horse, then he must have taken someone else’s horse.

Which would have meant Coghill took the original owners chances of survival away. Where would Coghill horse have been for him not to be able to get to it?

We could even say that Coghill could have left early. If his horse were seen at Isandlwana, then they would have thought Coghill was there. Was it now Wood’s who sent Mossop back to get his horse? After he abandoned it.

It also appears that the only witness’s who saw Coghill was on the fugitives trail no one saw him leave Isandlwana (Could be wrong) and those that did report seeing him were always behind him.

Curling asked if they could not gather some men and make a stand Coghill quickly refuted this and hurry along his away.

His odds of survival had he stayed at Isandlwana would have been greatly reduced due to his knee injury. However he was an officer so he would have been expected to stay. And if it was true and he was on his way to warn those at Rorkes Drift, Would he have stayed or carried on the Helpmakaar.

hi Chard 1879.
You will find it was Buller who sent back Mossop to get his horse after he had negotiated the ' Devil's Pass '
Coghill wasnt a line officer at Isandlwana and therefore he didnt have to stay as the others did . I think the
horse thing is problematic as not sure how many of the survivors actually fled on their own horse , it certainly
would have been like the old saying , Catch as Catch can , please dont ask the origin of the saying as I have
no idea :lol!:
cheers 90th. :)

Quote :

Catch as Catch can , please dont ask the origin of the saying as I have no idea.

"The Lancashire phrase "catch as catch can" is generally understood to translate to "catch (a hold) anywhere you can". As this implies, the rules of catch wrestling were more open than its Greco-Roman counterpart which did not allow holds below the waist. Catch wrestlers can win a match by either submission or pin, and most matches are contested as the best two of three falls. Often, but not always, the chokehold was barred. Just as today "tapping out" signifies a concession, back in the heyday of catch wrestling rolling to one's back could also signify defeat. Frank Gotch won many matches by forcing his opponent to roll over onto their back with the threat of his toe-hold."
:lol!:

Most of the officer's had Horses. And Most of the officers got away.

S.D.

:lol!: :lol!: :lol!: . Thank you for your very informative reply . :)
cheers 90th.

Quote :

"catch (a hold) anywhere you can".

Even if it means stealing another mans horse to ecsape.

Here is the link to the thread with more details about Calverley and Coghill's horse
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This shows horses being stolen from the camp before the 22nd January and is interesting in showing how the NMP branded their horses.
Natal Witness 25th March 1879
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