Mules for South Africa

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British Army in South Africa decides to replace oxen with mules as draught animals.

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Petty Officer Tom

Posts : 3337 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Petty Officer Tom

Veterinary Surgeon 1st Class, Walter Burt, Army Veterinary Corps.

Date of Birth - 4th November 1838
Veterinary Surgeon - 11th September 1860
Veterinary Surgeon 1st Class Ranking with Major - 4th October 1873
Zulu Campaign - 1879 - Mentioned in Despatches. Medal with Clasp.

He qualified MRCVS (London) in 1860 and from 1879 to 1880 saw service with his regiment in Natal in the Zulu War of 1879. He also served in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882.

Proceed in March, 1879, to New York, for the purpose of purchasing mules for shipment to Natal. He arrived in Durban, Natal on 21st April, aboard the "Ontario" with 420 mules transported from New York. It is to his credit that only 11 of them died on the voyage from America, and proceeded thence to the Lower Tugela to take charge of the horse depot, where quite a few of the horses were sick. Transferred depot, subsequently, to Nonote, and from thence to Durban. Afterwards served on the line of communications between the Lower Tugela and St Pauls. At the end of November he took over the duties of the Principal Veterinary Surgeon, and continued there until his departure from Natal.

Walter Burt died at Eastbourne on 22 September 1905 and is buried at Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England.

Subject: Re: Mules for South Africa Mon Oct 18, 2010 9:26 pm

I wonder if he's in an unmarked grave. Can't finf him on the list.

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Posts : 3337 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Littlehand

Walter does have a marked grave, I will post his grave later today.

Posts : 3337 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Please see Pictorial catalogue of AZW Graves & Memorials for his grave details

» South Africa, with 1879 bar, to 1864 Pte F Smith, 1/24th foot (1st Battalion South Wales Borderers)
» South and East Africa
» The Anglo-Zulu War 1879. Archives of South Africa.
» Union of South Africa
» South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1