771 Sergt. E. Selfe, 99th Foot

Subject: 771 Sergt. E. Selfe, 99th Foot Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:13 pm

"Edward Selfe was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where he enlisted in the 99th Foot direct from the Royal Wiltshire Militia in January 1877, aged 20 years. Having then gained rapid advancement to Sergeant by December of the following year, he served in South Africa from the latter month until December 1879, and again in the period March 1881 to April 1882, following a period of garrison duty in Bermuda. Selfe subsequently joined the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, was reduced to Corporal for drunkenness in August 1882, and was finally discharged at Devizes in January 1889."

Subject: Sgt .E. Selfe 771 , 99th Regt Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:31 am

I thought the name was familier , here is his medal . Scroll down to the 14th medal .

http://www.historikorders.com/zulu.html

cheers 90th. Salute

Posts : 15 Join date : 2015-01-07

Did he see much action?

Subject: 771 Sgt. E. Selfe 99th Ft Thu Nov 26, 2015 4:12 am

Not sure to be honest , you'd probably need to access his Military Records , even then they may not say .
90th

Posts : 600 Join date : 2013-09-18 Location : West Country

Forces War records also give an E Selfe service number 1707, Awarded the South Africa Medal (1877-1879) 3rd Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion.

Or E Selfe Service Number 771 99th Foot, Lanarkshire Regt.•99th Regiment of Foot•99th (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot

Posts : 15 Join date : 2015-01-07

This would be the 771 E. Selfe in discussion. What is the organization for the 99th? I gather, two Battalions, but how many companies a piece? I see in history that there are instances when 5 companies were detached for this exercise, and others for another. Wish they would state from which Bn. I don't know to which this person (771) was assigned.

waterloo50 wrote:: Forces War records also give an E Selfe service number 1707, Awarded the South Africa Medal (1877-1879) 3rd Regiment of Foot 2nd Battalion.

Or E Selfe Service Number 771 99th Foot, Lanarkshire Regt.•99th Regiment of Foot•99th (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot

Posts : 600 Join date : 2013-09-18 Location : West Country

I will take another look at the Forces War records for you to see if I can find anything else. I am a member of a few research sites and I'm fairly certain that I have seen his name on some documents regarding the militia.

Posts : 600 Join date : 2013-09-18 Location : West Country

HvH909
You may find this link helpful:The Wardrobe Home of the Infantry Regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire.

http://www.thewardrobe.org.uk/home

1 E Selfe 1707 Private 1879 3rd Regiment Of Foot
2 E Selfe 1707 Private 1879 3rd Foot
3 E Selfe 771 Sergeant 1879 99th Foot

Posts : 600 Join date : 2013-09-18 Location : West Country

After serving in Ireland the 99th returned to South Africa in 1879 to take part in the Zulu war. The Battalion landed at Durban in January, 900 strong. Leaving two companies to garrison Durban and Stanger, the Regiment concentrated with the 1st Division on the Lower Tugela River at the Southern end of Zululand.

Colonel Pearson on the right advanced with his column on Ekowe, a mission station about thirty-five miles North of the Lower Tugela. With him were Lieutenant Colonel Welman and two companies of the 99th, who acted as Advanced Guard as they crossed the Inyoni River on 19 January. Three days later the Buffs heavily defeated a Zulu force on the Inyezane River, the 99th Detachment protecting the transport, and the column reached Ekowe after beating off an early morning attack, and started building a fort and other defences. Colonel Pearson sent some of his force to Natal on the threat of Zulu invasion and his remaining 1,300 men now invested in Ekowe by a Zulu Army, who made no direct assault but prevented any access to the Garrison. The 99th’s Detachment were 400 strong and engaged in outpost duty, raids on Zulu Kraals for food, and skirmishes.

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