Bombardier Wheeler John Cantwell

Subject: Bombardier Wheeler John Cantwell Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:25 pm

Bombardier Wheeler John Cantwell

John Cantwell was born in the Parish of St James’s, Dublin, and enlisted into the 9th Regiment on 6 November 1868, aged 23 years 6 months. He transferred to the Royal Artillery on 1 April 1872 and joined “N” Battery on 1 July 1877. After service at St Helena, he arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 9 January 1878, and subsequently took part in the advance into Zululand. He was promoted to Bombardier Wheeler on 29 July 1878, but reverted to Gunner on 21 January 1879, in which rank he was present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his part in the defence of the Hospital, and is noted on the so called ‘Chard’ roll as having been wounded. However, there is no evidence to support this latter statement. Cantwell returned to England on 31 March 1879, and his D.C.M., one of only five awards for Rorke’s Drift, was presented to him by the Queen at Windsor Castle on 8 March 1880. He was discharged at Woolwich on 19 July 1887 as medically unfit for further service and went to live with his wife and daughter at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Subject: Wheeler , 2076 , John Cantwell. Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:04 am

Had a look in Julian Whybra's excellent work on the Personnel at Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift , as littlehand has said
no mention of him being wounded at R.D.
cheers 90th.

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