Film Zulu: Colour Sergeant Bourne: It's a miracle. Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle. Colour Sergeant Bourne: And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it.
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Subject: Selling off the deads belongings. Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:02 am
Do other members think it was right to sell of in auction the personal effects of those soldiers killed at Isandlawana. I know they were no good to the owners, But I would of though out of respect for their dead comrades, they would have send them to the families of the dead soldiers.
90th
Posts : 10677 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 66 Location : Melbourne, Australia
Subject: Selling off the dead's belongings Fri Jun 10, 2011 1:33 am
Hi 24th. I'm certain the sale of items , equipment etc of those deceased was a way of raising funds to send back to the families . The families wouldnt have any use for war or campaign items but would certainly need the money to live . cheers 90th.
Frank Allewell
Posts : 8399 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 75 Location : Cape Town South Africa
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:14 am
When I was on active service a dead comrades belongs were examined and any embarrasing items removed. The personal items were sent back to the next of kin and the balance, kit etc were auctioned of and the cash sent to the nok. It was a way really of firstly helping the nok and secondly paying respect to a mate. Most of the items sold were done so at vastly inflated rates, I once paid 20 pounds for an old Playboy mag ( in those days sold for 5 in the NAAFI).
Regards
Dave
Posts : 1604 Join date : 2009-09-21
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:33 am
I expect some would have considered it as a bad omen. carrying dead men's kit.
90th
Posts : 10677 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 66 Location : Melbourne, Australia
Subject: selling of the dead's belongings Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:13 am
Hi All. I seem to remember reading a post on the RDVC Forum where one of the members had a list of the equipment etc that was sold after Isandlwana which belonged to those who had died , this was Gear etc that wasnt taken into zululand. The sale / Auction may have taken place at Helpmekaar but I may be wrong . Happy to be corrected and more happy if someone has the list and would be kind enough to post it and send me a copy ! :lol!: cheers 90th. .
tasker224
Posts : 2101 Join date : 2010-07-30 Age : 56 Location : North London
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:13 am
springbok is exactly right. that is common practice in pretty much every armed service in every nation in my experience. a friend will usually scrutinise all belongings. jewellery, wedding ring, photos, letters, diary and personal effects are sent home. useful kit that comrades could use is distributed at the discretion of the said trusted friend and the balance is auctioned and proceeds inc in a whip round.
if 24th is saying that PERSONAL items were auctioned after isandlwana that would be considered out of order. i can only imagine that this could have happened only if the personal items could not be attributed to their rightful owner.
dave, comrades of a dead serviceman really don't see it that way, particularly in the field where needs are must! (more likely to be inspired actually). if they had a problem, i guess they wouldn't accept any of the kit.
Chard1879
Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Sat Jun 11, 2011 2:41 pm
Is there any reference to the auctioning of those who fell at Isandlwana.
Dave
Posts : 1604 Join date : 2009-09-21
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Sat Jun 11, 2011 3:00 pm
Came across this on the web. Not sure if it's true. Can anyone confirm.
Even Hook, who survived Rorke's Drift, had a price to pay. When he returned to Wales he found that his wife, thinking he was dead, had sold all his belongings and remarried. Private Henry Hook, VC, ended his career as a cloakroom attendant in the British Museum
I know he ended up the British Library.
tasker224
Posts : 2101 Join date : 2010-07-30 Age : 56 Location : North London
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:26 pm
Crikey, fast work by Mrs Hook. Anyone know what became of Mrs Hook's second marriage when Henry returned home? Wouldn't the marriage have been nullified?
tasker224
Posts : 2101 Join date : 2010-07-30 Age : 56 Location : North London
Subject: Mrs Henry Hook, V.C. Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:36 pm
I have searched the internet too and can find no more info on Hook's wife over and above the superficial info above.
Drummer Boy 14
Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 25
Subject: Re: Selling off the deads belongings. Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:57 pm
All of Colonel Durnfords affects where sold off before Nell and her farther could get to them.
Regards DB14
barry
Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay
Subject: Selling off of kit belonging to those KIA, AZW and ABW Fri Nov 04, 2011 2:59 pm
Indeed, this was a common practice. Not sure who received the proceeds though. Tpr Clarke NMP reports in his diary that after having all his persoinal kit destroyed in the Isandlawana camp that he bought auctioned off kit at Rorkes Drift belonging to those KIA, a day or two after the rout.