Zulu War Sailor in 1952 (Harry Figg)

I have come across this little article with two names to Zulu War Veterans.
I can find one but not the other? Anyone know who Mr S J Godkin is?
This could be one for Petty Officer Tom?

1879graves,

I could find no record of S J Godkin on the medal roll for any ship entitled to the medal 1877-79 for service in the Zulu War.

I did locate a Samuel Joseph Godkin born 10 April, 1863. He would have been 16 in 1879. He probably held the rank of Boy 1cl. It is possible that he served on some other ship not entitled to the medal such as HMS Jumna, which was carrying the Marine Battalion to South Africa when it was halted at Simon's Bay by General Wolesley as the war was coming to an end.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Petty Officer Tom

Hi Tom

You have been a big help, as I can now rule out Godkin

Many thanks for the info

1879Graves

Harry Figg, of 8 Church Street, Petersham, one of the last survivors of the Ashanti and Coomassie campaigns of 1873-74. He fought also in the Zulu War of 1879, the battles of Majuba Hill and Laing's Nek in 1881, and the Boer War. 1899-1902.

Mr. Figg, Zulu War Veteran, Dies.

Mr. Harry Figg, believed to be the sole survivor of the Zulu war of 1879 living in Australia, died at Mar- rickville District Hospital yesterday morning at the age of 98.
Mr. Figg, a former Royal Navy chief petty officer, had been a leading figure among veterans taking part in Anzac Day and Empire Day ceremonies for half a century.
This year was the first time he had missed the ceremony.Born in Portsmouth, England, he settled in Australia at an early age.For several weeks he had been in hospital. Last Sun- day he returned to his home in Church Street, Petersham, to celebrate his 98th birthday, then went back to hospital.

Graves. this is an artical you posted sometime ago. Harry Figg gets a mention.

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Hi Littlehand

Great find with the info on Figg.


Yes I did post the article some time ago, but I have only just found the photo article of him :lol!:

What we need to find now is his grave

I think that we need now is 90th as he lives in Aus :lol!: I bet he will say it is a big place and would be hard to find :lol!: It does not look that big on the map :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!:

i'm already looking for it.

GOVERNOR MEETS OLDEST WARRIOR.
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The Governor, Lieutenant-General Northcott (right), enjoys reminiscences with Mr. Harry Figg, of Petersham, oldest guest at yesterday's Christmas party in Sydney of the Army and Navy Veterans' Association. Mr. Figg, who is 92, recalled service in the Zulu campaign in South-west Africa in the 'seventies.

He Fought In Five Wars
AN 85-year-old veteran
who has fought in five wars and wears 13 medals with 10 bars, was the most colourful figure at a reunion held by the Battle Veterans of Australia at their club- rooms in Bridge Street yesterday.
Major E. J. Gaskcll-or if you prefer it you can call him Lieutenant - Commander - spent part of his 70-odd years' service in the navy and part la the army. Most of- the time he handled guns of one kind or another.

"It was hard work, but I'd be in it again tomorrow if I were a young man," he declared. "I've been fighting all my life-and I'd like to die fighting."The major even tried to do his bit in World War 11. For a time he was in charge of a landing barge in New Guinea.
"But they sent me back because I was too 'young' ", be said, "and assigned me to shore duty. I didn't care for that so 1 retired."
In one of his wars the major recalled-in South Africa he had come to know Win- ston Churchill. Churchill was a good war correspondent, he declared.
Despite his years, Major Gas kell isn't the oldest member of Battle Veterans Club. The honour belongs to 98-year-old Harry Figg, of Petersham, who fought at Ashanti.
Members of the club marched to the Cenotaph yesterday afternoon to lay a wreath.

Just another bit of information on Harry.

VETERAN BUYS BONDS
Ex-Chief Officer Harry Figg, RN., who served in H.M.S. Encounter in the Ashanti War in 1873 and in H.M.S. Boadicea In the Zulu War in 1879, is shown with the Mayor of Petersham, Alderman J. F. Laxton, and Miss Ruth Hynes examining the five £10 bond which he purchased in the Security Loan yesterday.

hi littlehand .
I wonder who and where is his zulu war medal ?. I suppose it's still in his families possesion , one would like to think so anyway .
cheers 90th.

A really wonderfull topic. Thanks 1879graves and Littlehand. I would love to see old Harry's grave. I would also like to think that his medals were burried with him.

A real statement from a real soldier.

Quote :

"I've been fighting all my life-and I'd like to die fighting."

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Sunday 24 May 1953, page 5

Zulu war 1873

Well he's on the Roll , and entitled to the Medal with Clasp 1879 , which means he was in Zululand .
90th

Quite a lot of the veterans seemed to have ended up down under.

John , I've thought that as well over the years , and that's the one's we know of ! .
90th

Is it possible. These soldiers ended their careers in SA or brought themselves out of the army, and headed for Australia. ?

It certainly appears to be what happened on numerous occasions .
90th

Hi

I recently joined this forum and I'm intrigued to know about Harry Figg.

My surname is Figg - and my son and late grandfather are/were both Harry Figg !

Maybe I should do some research - we could be related....

Hi Yexley1938
Yes you should ! , you never know !
90th

yexley1938,

Welcome to the forum.  If you have access to Ancestry.com you should be able to find some information to Henry "Harry" Figg that might show a link to your family.  It does seem that "Harry" liked to embellish some of his tales in later life.  Here is what I do know about him.

Domestic 3rd Class Henry Figg
15 May 1855 Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire
15 Sep 1873 he was 18 years old when he entered the Royal Navy as a Domestic 3rd Class on HMS Encounter and was issued Official Number 83729; he served during the Ashanti War; entitled to the Ashanti Medal with Coomassie Clasp.
13 Sep 1875 his Ashanti Medal was sent to HMS Encounter
20 Dec 1875 he was advanced to Domestic 2nd Class while aboard “Encounter”
14 Dec 1877 he was discharged from “Encounter” to shore
10 Jul 1878 he joined HMS Boadicea at Portsmouth as a Domestic 3rd Class; served ashore with the Naval Brigade during the Zulu War; entitled to the South Africa Medal with “1879” clasp
23 Nov 1880 he departed “Boadicea” at Simon’s Bay, South Africa
24 Nov 1880 he transferred to HMS Miranda (Steam Sloop, Australia Station) as a Domestic 2nd Class while that ship was at Simon’s Bay on the voyage to Australia
3 Apr 1881 census shows he was a 25 year old single, Ward Room Servant on HMS Miranda; at Sydney on the night of the census
13 Sep 1881 his South Africa Medal was sent to HMS Miranda
6 Dec 1881 he was discharged to shore at his own request
Married Edith Elizabeth Jones and had 2 daughters, Edith May and Florence Patti, plus 1 son, Henry Hubert
23 May 1953 died at age 98 at the Marrickville District Hospital, Sydney, Australia
25 May 1953 Buried at the Church of England Cemetery, Rookwood, NSW, Australia

The two medals mentioned above are the two shown in later photographs of him.

Tom

Thanks Tom.

Hi yexley1938

Welcome to the forum.

A couple of photo's of Harry Figg's grave, courtesy of findagrave.com
(https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138956928/henry-figg)

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Andy