Ken Gillings - Fort Napier Cemetery Records/Visitors Book ?

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Ken, I was given a link on the forum of a topic that appears to indicate that you might be able to assist me on the subject of the Fort Napier Cemetery. I'm trying to find out if Lt. Scott N.C. is buried there, but also seeking the possibility of a Visitors' Book from the time of the Zulu War 1879, as well as any records associated with his and Col. Durnford's burials, whether archived as documents, and/or less likely, photos and newspaper articles of the funerals. I very much hope you can help, as I've been keenly watching for mention of such items for years. Thanks in advance.

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

Posted by Peter Quantrill on another forum back in 2005

Quote :: "The funeral was indeed held on Sunday afternoon, 12 October 1879, attended by well over 1,500 military personnel, together with a great number of the PMB civilian population.
In early October 1879, Jabez Molife, (although his signature reflects Mulipe) was sent to the battlefield, possibly by Bishop Colenso, to bring the body of the gallant Colonel back to Pietermaritzburg. This he did by ambulance, arriving in PMB on Thursday 9 Octobert. Lt. Scott's two brothers, on a similar mission at Isandlwana, assisted Jabez in the exhumation of Durnford's body.When the ambulance reached Greytown, Jabez wrote to the Bishop in a letter dated 7 October..An extract ran:
" He [Durnford} said, ' Jabez, if it gets worse here in Natal, so that I die, it will be well that Hlubi's people and the Edendale men should be there when I am buried.' But we were just speaking jestingly, though I remember his words today; for I could see that his heart did not think of Mr as a black man; but that was his way with all natives."
About 60 of the Hlubi and Edendale troop who were with Durnford at Isandlwana were present at the funeral."

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Dave, yes thanks for that. Obviously, I'm not suggesting that Durnford was in the same league as say the Prince Imperial, but as stated above there was quite a turnout for the funeral. As Durnford was well-known, not always for the right reasons, his death and burial would have stirred great interest with the population. That's why I think that it would have been covered by newspapers, including photos and/or drawings of the day. Don't know if it'd be front page news, but an event I imagine that would have reporters and one or two photographers at least.

Quote :: Lt. Scott's two brothers, on a similar mission at Isandlwana, assisted Jabez in the exhumation of Durnford's body

Colin. I think Dave was trying to show that Lt. Scott's two brothers on a similar mission at Isandlwana. to find his body.

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

Appoligies if i didn't make it clear. Yes!!! That what i was trying to do. His bothers were there to remove his body.

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Oops ! Mind me to wear my specs next time, so I can make out the highlighted bits! Sorry Dave.