Pte: Kent. 99th Regiment.

Hi I’m new to the forum. I’m looking for information on Henry ?? Kent who was in the 99th Regiment. He was killed or died in the Zulu War. During the Siege of Eshowe. This is all we know, so would be grateful of any help. I don’t know anything about the Zulu War, so doubt if I will contribute much, but I will look in now and then, as this is an excellent wealth of information.

James Goodman.

Hi James

Welcome to the forum.

I have checked the Medal Roll and only found two Kent's listed for the 99th Regiment. They have the first names of James and William.

William was killed on the 16th/17th March 1879 when on sentry duty/outpost, when he was pounced upon and stabbed eighteen times before his colleagues could drive the Zulus off.

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Could William be your man?

Thanks very much for the quick reply.

Were they both at stationed at Eshowe.

We could be wrong regarding his first name. Are there any further details regarding his death.

Did they both died ? The man we are seeking information on, did died in the Zulu War.

Once again thanks for you help.

Hi JG. Welcome to the forum. Any contribution helps.


On Monday 17th

March at about 8:00am, Private Kent of the 99th took up his position at the post.
As he settled into his position, five Zulus suddenly sprung up without any warning, and fired a volley at him. His horse was hit, reared up, threw off its rider, and galloped away towards the fort, streaming blood. Kent hardly had time to gather his wits about him before the Zulus were on him.
There was a brief struggle, and he fell, mortally wounded, with seventeen or eighteen stab wounds. The Zulus took his gun and amunition.

Source: FearfullTimes.

Pte William Kent is one of the Names of those whose graves cannot be identified.

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Hi James

I do have alot of information on James, but very little on William as he was killed in action in Zululand.

Quote :

Were they both at stationed at Eshowe.

All my records do not state were they were during the War.

Quote :

Did they both died ? The man we are seeking information on, did died in the Zulu War.

No only William was killed in Zululand, James went on to fight in India.

1879Graves / Littlehand. Thanks very much.

For accommodating new members, this forum as to be at the top.

Littlehand. You have just save us a lot of time. Our next task would have been to track down Pte Kent's grave.

1879Graves. Thanks for helping us to establish his name. ( William )

J.G

J.G Not a problem glad we could help.

Hi James

You are more than welcome

Can you add any further information on William Kent?
Are you related to him?

Hi JG.
A little more info on the Demise of Pte. Kent . The following is from ' Fearful Hard Times ' The Siege and Relief of Eshowe by
Ian Castle & Ian Knight . Which I think is a damn good book on that lesser known theatre of the war .
'' The Following Morning , Monday 17th March , the ever present dangers of vedette duty were brought home to the Garrison
once again . The notorious no 4 vedette post was the scene of another ambush . At about 8am Pte Kent took up his position at the post , with a colleague on each flank some distance off . One was a trooper Niekirk of the Natal Hussars , the other , Like Kent was
attached to the Mtd Inft . As Kent settled into his position 5 zulu's suddenly sprung up without any warning , and fired a volley at him.
Kent's horse was hit , reared up , threw of it rider , and galloped away towards the fort , streaming blood , the rest littlehand
has posted , but it goes on to say . The other 2 vedettes saw the attack - which must have been over in seconds - and turned
their horses , riding away to raise the alarm . A group of ' Uhlans ' were immediately dispatched to the scene , supported by a Co
of the 99th , and Kent's body was recovered . A charge of cowardice was later brought against the 2 vedettes on the grounds that
they failed to go to Kent's assistance , and a court of inquiry was convened . Trpr Niekirk , who was generally held to be a brave man
, argued in his defence that the Mtd Infantryman had retreated first , and that he saw no point in staying alone : It was unfortunate for
him that he had overtaken his comrade and reached the fort first . The result of the inquiry is unknown - although rumour suggested
that the Mtd Infantryman was liable to a 5 yr sentence - but it was decided that in future a body of infantry should sweep the outlying
area each morning before Vedettes were posted . It is interesting to note that this decision was only taken 10 days after the unsuccessful attack on Carson . Pvt Kent was laid to rest alongside a fellow member of the 99th , Pvt Venn , who dies of Enteric Fever
that same day '' .
Cheers 90th.

Hi 1879Graves. No he's no relation. In a nut shell we are a small group of people who over the last six years, have undertaken research into certain individuals. What we do. Each member selects a person for another member to research. Each member is give four months to gather as must information on that person as possible. Pte Kent is the first person to have been selected from the Anglo Zulu War. We mainly research those from the WW1. 

90th Thanks for the information.

I intend to select another name from the Anglo Zulu War for another member to research. Any suggestions of whom I should select ? someone with a good story behind him.

James
Try the Regimental Museum Website at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and there in THE COLLECTION under research place the numbers 28549 and 16864 into KEYWORD SEARCH and you will find images of the graveyeard. It will not give you any more info than you already have but I'm sure you will find it of interset. If you go in ADVANCED SEARCH and put in the name CARSON (mentioned above) you will find an image of him later in life (with missing fingers).
Hope that hepls and good hunting.

Cheers
MAC

Hi JG.
I think there are a couple of photos of the Eshowe Graveyard somewhere on the forum ????.
cheers 90th.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
99th Regiment - A sepia photograph of Sergeant Carson, pictured here later in life while working as a hotel porter in Belfast. After being attacked by the Zulus whilst on Veddette duties at the Mission Station at Eshowe, Natal in South Africa, he was immediately promoted to L/Corporal, eventually retiring as a Sergeant. The Regimental magazine, The Nines, later told his story. 'One of the Vedettes, Pte Carson attached to the Mounted Infantry, went out to patrol. Some eleven Zulus sprang out of the long grass and seized the horse by the mane; he at once stuck his spurs in and got clear of them. They then fired at him, one bullet taking off two fingers of one of his hands, a second struck him on the left thigh, passed through it, then through the pommel of the saddle and into the other leg, a third went through his right arm, a fourth struck his rifle which was slung over his back. His horse was also assegaied on the flank'.
He accounted for the Zulus' bad shooting by them holding out their rifles at full arms length. The injuries received by Private Carson are clear to see in this photograph which shows the hand with the missing fingers.[quote]Source Click
Here