Howard English.

Hi Littlehand

There are only five people listed on the Medal Roll with the surname English.  I am unable to find a Howard listed.

On checking his name, I came across this article which claims he was at Rorke's Drift as a Defender  

He could have enlisted under an alias?

Kris Wheatley might be able to help out here  

hi Graves .
I went through Kris Wheatley's books and no mention of an 'English ' . I also went through Julian Whybra's ' Englands Sons '
also drew a blank on English . .
cheers 90th.

Hi Pete
I wonder if JW has actually found any evidence recently of English taking part in the defence of RD .
90th

He certainly looks like the chap in the painting. Who knows?

Hi, I saw this topic on your forum a few years ago.  I have always been fascinated by it and the obituary article that claims Howard English was at Rorke's Drift and that he is featured in the painting.  Howard English is my great great uncle.  I only know a little about him from family stories.  There was never any mention of Rorke's Drift but I had been told that he was in the South African Mounted Police before he travelled to Australia to look for my great grandfather (his younger brother) who had run away from home in England.  They did some cattle ranching together in the early years.  Howard was born in December 1858 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England - he is registered at birth as Robert Howard Hewitt.  His father (Thomas Robert Mairis English) only became married to his mother, Ellen Hewitt, in 1870, after which the family moved from Birmingham to Clapton-in-Gordano in Somerset.   I always hope to find out some more about Howard English and the "story" of his being at Rorke's Drift ....

http://thelondondead.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-batman-of-rorkes-drift-and.html