Popes Diary, the man who found it.

Posts : 2001 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 24

Found this on the net Idea

From "Selected Writings of the Late William Moorsom Laurence" ibid.

"...I found rather an interesting relic in the shape of a diary kept by Lieut. Pope, who was in command of the company of the 2-24th that was destroyed. The following entry which I extract was evidently written very shortly before the final attack of the Zulus, and throws some valuable light on the proceedings of the day ; it is copied verbatim, but I have inserted in square brackets two or three words in explanation :--

Cheers
DB14

Subject: Re: Popes Diary, the man who found it. Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:12 pm

Isandlana [sic], 22, Wednesday

"Relieved [from picket duty] 4.0 a.m. by [I Company] I-24th. A. C. D. E. F. H. [Companies 2-24th] l-3, [Ist Battalion, 3rd Regiment] N.N.C., [Natal Native Contingent], Mounted troops and 4 guns off--Heavy firing.

Alarm.--Three Columns Zulus and mounted men over hill E.-- Turn out--7,000 (!) more E.N.E., 4,000 of whom went round Lion's Kop--Durnford's Basutos arrive and pursue-- Rocket Battery [accompanies them]--Zulus retire every-
where--Men fall out for dinner." Relieved [from picket duty] 4.0 a.m. by
[I Company] I-24th. A. C. D. E. F. H. [Companies 2-24th] l-3, [Ist Battalion,
3rd Regiment] N.N.C., [Natal Native Contingent], Mounted troops and 4 guns off--Heavy firing."