repairing of the recovered colours

Posts : 3 Join date : 2011-12-10

Hi,

Doing some research within the family many years ago it came to light that there was a story that my maternal grandmother and her mother repaired the colours that were recovered after the battle of Isandlwana. Her maiden name was Field.

As a result of her efforts - she was 6 or 7 at the time - the regiment had a collection and gave her an emerald brooch in the shape of a welsh dragon. It was also reported in the press at the time and I saw a cutting that described the event.

However, over the course of many years and the passing away of my grandmother I cannot confirm the above and I do not know the whereabouts of the brooch. Her father was related I think to Lt Col Paulline but this is where it gets hazy.

Could anyone help flesh this out with any information, or add to/correct etc.

Regards

Matthew

Subject: Re: repairing of the recovered colours Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:34 pm

Hi Matt
and welcome to the forum. a lovely story about your ancestor. i am not sure if any memebers wil be able to find the brooch for you but you will find out a lot by reading around the conflict.
a few points to start with.
the Queen's colours, not the regimental colours were subsequently recovered from the Mzinyathi river, weeks if not months after iSandlwana. (the regimental colours were left back at Helpmekaar).
can you tell us a bit more detail about the story of your ancestor? do you have the script from the story in the press, or are you able to post up the cutting?
Cheers
Tasker

Posts : 3 Join date : 2011-12-10

Tasker224

Thanks for the reply, and for the information about which of the colours were recovered. As you rightly say I have a lot of reading to do around the subject and I am sure this site will really help.

I will report back if I find any more information out, my sister is also on the case so between everyone, more might come to light.

Regards

Matthew

Posts : 3392 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi All

The following comes from The Graphic (London, England), Saturday, August 28, 1880; Issue 561.

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Subject: Re: repairing of the recovered colours Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:20 pm

Extract from Colonel Richard Thomas Glyn. By Brian Best

After several delays, the Second Invasion got underway on 31st May when Glyn led his brigade across the border. Within a day, Chelmsford was further devastated by the news that Louis Napoleon, the Prince Imperial, had been killed while on a patrol led by Capt. J.B. Carey. A Field Court Martial was convened and Colonel Glyn was appointed President. The court listened to the evidence regarding the culpability of Carey and found him guilty but did not publish its’ findings, preferring to refer the matter to Horse Guards. Carey was sent home to face the music.
The advance into Zululand towards the capital of Ulundi continued at a snail’s pace. Chelmsford, ever mindful of Isandlwana, had fortified supply depots built along the route. He also was careful to laager and entrench his camp each night. Eventually, they were within sight of Ulundi. Much to the disappointment of the 1st 24th, they were ordered to remain guarding the camp by the White Umfolozi River, while the rest of the brigade advanced on Ulundi. Glyn did take with him eight officers of the old 1st 24th and they were with him in the huge square upon which Cetshwayo’s army was finally destroyed.
For the 24th, the war was over and they began the long march back to Pietermaritzburg, where the Glyns were reunited. Then they travelled to the encampment at Pinetown, where Colonel Glyn had the pleasant duty of presenting the Victoria Cross to Surgeon-Major James Reynolds (Rorke’s Drift) and Lieutenant Edward Browne 1st 24th (Hlobane & Kambula).
Finally, the 24th embarked on the troopship “Egypt” and set sail for England on the 27th August. Because of mechanical problems, the journey took four weeks to complete. During that time the redoubtable Anne Glyn used her needlework skills to repair the tattered Queen’s Colour. On their arrival at Gosport, the Duke of Cambridge, who expressed his sorrow that so few of the old soldiers of the 24th had returned home, greeted them. In May 1880, Glyn relinquished his command of the 1st 24th and took charge of the Brigade Depot at Brecon. The following year, the regiment was given the new title of 'The South Wales Borderers'.
In 1882 Richard Glyn was promoted to Major General and appointed a KCB. He eventually retired as a Lieutenant General and lived at Mortimer in Berkshire. A sad and stooped little man, Glyn's remaining years were overshadowed by the memory of his lost family on the rocky slopes of Isandlwana. In 1898 he was honoured with the title of Colonel of the South Wales Borders. It was in this capacity that he saw off his old regiment as they went off to South Africa again, this time to fight the Boers. Within a few months of their departure, he died on 22nd November 1900 and was buried in the family grave at Ewell, Surrey.

Subject: Repairing the Recovered Colours Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:15 am

Hi all .
I think poor Glyn died early as a result of the carnage at Isandlwana , I doubt very much if he ever got over it . Suspect

cheers 90th. :

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

I guess he felt helpless under the circumstances. Most of those officers were friends of his.

Posts : 3 Join date : 2011-12-10

The plot thickens, I have just got off the phone with an elderly uncle exchanging christmas greetings. I mentioned what I was trying to find out and he said that he has a tiny fragment of the repaired colours. The tiny peice of red cloth was given to my grandmother after the repairs.

I am still trying to find out where the brooch and newspaper cutting is and I will report back any more information that I find out.

Regards

Matthew

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

Please do. A photo of the fragment would be a bonus. Idea

Posts : 65 Join date : 2011-12-15

1st bn colours,

The colours in question as they are today, if you haven't seen them.

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Cheers

Matt

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