James Porteous, HMS Active

Guest

James Porteous was a 28 year old Petty Officer 1st Class (Captain of the Foretop) on HMS Active during the Zulu War.

He served ashore with the ship's naval brigade during the War with the Gaikas, Galekas and other Kafir tribes, 1877 to 1878, and again during the Zulu War.

On 15 December, '78,while encamped at Fort Pearson, Porteous was preparing a meal for his tent mates when the knife slipped, injuring the joint of one finger. The injury resulted in amputation of the finger on the 21st January, and Porteous was released back to duty.

Two days earlier, at the request of Commander Campbell, Porteous was seconded to the naval brigade of HMS Tenedos. He was then unable to accompany the Active's brigade when it marched out with Colonel Pearson's column. (Porteous was replaced by Tobias Percy, AB.)

When Lord Chelmsford's forces crossed the Tugela to relieve Pearson's forces at Fort Eshowe, Porteous went with them as part of the Tenedos brigade which manned the left rear corner in the laager at Gingindlovu on 2,April, '79. It was during this battle that he suffered a slight gunshot would to the left shoulder.

James Porteous was entitled to the South Africa General Service Medal with clasp 1877-8-9. Confirmed on Medal Roll.

Petty Officer Tom

Subject: Re: James Porteous, HMS Active Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:48 pm

Tom. Could he have been related to Lieutenant Francis Pender PORTEOUS - 1/24th (2nd Warwickshire Regt.) Killed at Isandlwana, 22nd January 1879.
I was thinking maybe brother.

Guest

littlehand,

I doubt if they were brothers. Lt. Porteous was an officer. Do you know where he was born?

Petty Officer Porteous was an enlisted man. I'm pretty sure he was from London.

Petty Officer Tom

Subject: Re: James Porteous, HMS Active Sat Oct 23, 2010 10:26 pm

No afraid i don't know where he was born, but hopefully someone will. i Think was 31 when he died in action.

Subject: Lt Francis Pender Porteous Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:40 am

hi all.
Porteous was born 26 / 3 / 1847 doesnt say where !. He was educated in Cornwall , then Exeter and later Jersey.
From ' The South African Campaign Of 1879 by Mackinnon & Shadbolt .
cheers 90th.

Posts : 3358 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Nice one Tom

I did not know about the amputation of his finger Idea

Guest

1879graves,

I have often wondered why he was left behind with the brigade from Tenedos until I recently found out about the amputation of his finger. He wasn't fit for duty until he had time to heal.

Petty Officer Tom

» Seamen James & Perrins, HMS Active
» D Martin HMS Active drowned crossing Tugela. Richard Perring John James
» Lt. Porteous A Coy 1/24th
» AB Lee HMS Active
» C. H. Cardell, Pte. R.M. H.M.S. Active