1733 Private H. Greenwood, 2/24th Foot.

Greenwood's Medal was for sale at Dixon's Medals UK for 950 Pds , it was listed 27 th May this year and was still available
3rd Aug . The condition is described as EF ( Extra Fine ) .
cheers 90th.

Hi Littlehand and 90th
This forum subject is bit old but I've just come across it in doing Family History research.
Henry Greenwood was my GreatGrandFather, so I'd be interested to know how the forum subject came about.
For instance, are either of you descendants by any chance?
Keen to find out anything you might know about Henry as no record documents have passed down the generations, so detail is scarce.
Many thanks

Tony

Hi Tony
It is an old post , neither Littlehand or myself are related to Henry , Henry Greenwood , being a member of the 2/ 24th which took part in the Anglo Zulu War is on here for that very reason , this being the 1879 Zulu War Forum , some extra detail on Littlehand's post , according to Norman Holme's ' The Noble 24th ' Henry was also entitled to the India General Service Medal 1854 with Clasp ' Burma 1887- 9 ' . As I said earlier , it was still available from Dixon's Medals on the 3rd Aug 2011 , it was sold before the 23/ 11 / 11 . Sorry I have no more information , others on here may be able to access his Attestation Papers etc etc .
Cheers 90th

Thanks for the quick reply 90th.
I did hope that maybe there was a descendant involved in the post who might shed some light on Henry's life after he returned to the UK.
I have some info from Henry's attestation papers that I've accessed via Ancestry, and there's some information in there that helped.
I will keep plodding on and hope more info comes to light.
Thanks again.

No worries Tony and Good Luck , if you find anything , and you'd like to post it on here , feel free to do so.
90th

Thanks 90th.
What I can add is that I contacted Dixon's Medals and have just had a reply.
It seems they believe the person who bought Henry's medals has since died, but I'm interested in Henry more than the medal so I've reiterated my query about the vendor, hoping they might have acquired the medals from a possible connection to Henry.
Who knows, there might be a lead there.

Good Luck to you Tony , you just never know
90th

Just had another reply from Dixon's.
Seems the vendor was just a collector, so no family connection there.
So the medal will just continue to make it's way through History.
Ah well!

Tony unfortunately it's a sign of the times , or has been so for a long time , that families have often parted with Medals that were owned by their forbears , due to circumstance etc , many families never had a choice going back years ago , no job , no money , they had to do what was necessary to survive , it's quite sad , especially for those who are in the position to be able to re acquire them , but have no idea where they have ended up . Keep us posted if anything comes to light .
90th

25B/1733 Pte Henry Greenwood came out to South Africa with a draft which left UK 20 June 1879. I imagine that he enlisted early in 1879. He was not involved in any of the major actions of the AZW. So most likely he went with 2/24th to Gibraltar then to Secunderabad in September 1880.

Hi Kenny
Thanks for that.
It is in line with what I have learned from his attestation papers and pension record..
Noting your location, may I ask whether you have a connection to the SWB HQ?
I'm keen to know more about the journey from UK to Cape Town and as you say, thence to Gibraltar and Secunderabad, and ultimately back to the UK.
Henry married in 1885 in Madras, and several children were born in India/Burma before the Regt. returned to the UK, so presumable his family travelled with him? Do you have any information about that?

In those days, the ship transports were given the pre-amble 'HMS' and had Royal Navy officers commanding them, but they were basically civilian ships. The main draft after the disaster at Isandlwana came out on HMS Clyde which left Woolwich on 1 March 1879 (with about 500 men). A second draft left Portsmouth aboard HMS Euphrates on 30 May 1879 - 2 sergeants and 206 men. On the way the ship called in at Queenstown (now Cobh), Cork 2 June 1879 and picked up another 72 men for 24th Foot. I believe Henry Greenwood was a member of the Euphrates draft. The ship would have briefly stopped at the Cape before making its way to Port Natal (Durban). On embarking they would have taken the train to the railhead at Botha's Hill - some 8 miles short of PMB. They then marched on foot to Zululand - through PMB, Greytown and Tugela Ferry.

More about the ship - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Euphrates_(1866)

You will probably find that Henry's wife had a regimental connection - either widow of a soldier or daughter of a serving member of the 24th Foot. You can probably find details of the childrens' birth in the Chaplain's returns in the National Archives at Kew or the India Office records held at the British Library near St Pancras. The family would have been co-located with the battalion.

Thanks Kenny - you are very well-informed.
Henry's wife was indeed a daughter of another soldier in the 24th, as shown on their marriage certificate.
I'll have a look for the Chaplains Returns on Ancestry.
I am extremely grateful for the info you've provided, especially the route and method of travel.
I only knew my Paternal Great-Grandmother briefly as she died when I was just 5 years old, but it is clear she would have had some tales to tell, had anyone been interested in them at the time.

I'm not home but the Journey from the UK to Capetown was 23 days , if I remember I'll add the other times when I get home soon .
90th

Hi ausbryant.
The following information is for passage by sea to Sth Africa ; From the Uk to Cape Town 23 days , from Simon's Bay ( near Cape Town ) to Port Natal ( Durban ) 6 days , from Port Natal ( Durban ) to Delagoa Bay 2 days . Hope this of some use .
90th

Thanks 90th - it all helps
I've learned so much from this forum over the past few days.

Good to see
90th