Robert Muddle. 17th Lancers

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Robert was 35 years old and had served in the 16th Lancers for 14 years when on 14 February 1879 he volunteered to join the 17th Lancers, which he did the following day. This change of regiment was presumably because the authorities were looking for suitable volunteers to bring the 17th Lancers up to full strength as they were about to be sent to fight in the Zulu Wars.
The 17th Lancers sailed for South Africa on 25 February 1879. Robert had been Private 2204 for his first 10 days in the 17th Lancers, but the day after they sailed he was again appointed as a Shoe Smith. The regiment arrived in Natal on 6 April 1879 and moved on into Zululand. The final battle of the Zulu War was at Ulundi on 4 July 1879 when about 20,000 Zulus surrounded the British infantry, which formed a square with the 17th Lancers at its centre. Then when the Zulu attack faltered the 17th Lancers and other cavalry were ordered to charge and decimated the fleeing Zulu warriors, pursuing them until not a single live Zulu was left on the Mahlabatini plain. Robert was awarded the South Africa 1877-1879 medal with 1879 clasp for his service in the Zulu War during 1879

http://www.muddlefamilies.info/ardingly/13cs.htm

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Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 17 May 1910

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This long article is a really interesting account of Ulundi and the finding of the Prince Imperial's body.
Note the Cochrane reference John

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Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper - Sunday 13 October 1912

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Western Daily Press - Friday 10 January 1913

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Hi All,
Robert Muddle was born between 1843 and 1848 various census give various dates the exact date is probably 1844, born in Ditchling Sussex. He attested 3 Nov 1864 age 21 to 16th Lancers. 1871 he is in Bangalore India. He volunteered for the 17th Lcrs on 14 Feb 1879 and reverted to the rank of Private from shoeing Smith. Served S Africa from 25 Feb 1879 to India 29 Oct 1879, he arrived in Natal on the 6 April 1879. in the 1891 census he is in Shorncliffe Camp Kent married to Betsy [nee waller]. He was discharged 17 March 1893 after 28 yrs. On the 1911 census he is a Army Pensioner living in Ditchling where he dies in 1913.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

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