Selling off the deads belongings.

Posts : 1851 Join date : 2009-03-25

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.

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.

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

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

I expect some would have considered it as a bad omen. carrying dead men's kit.

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. Idea

.

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.

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

Is there any reference to the auctioning of those who fell at Isandlwana.

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

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.

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?

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.

Posts : 1998 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 23

All of Colonel Durnfords affects where sold off before Nell and her farther could get to them.

Regards DB14

Posts : 922 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

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.