Film Zulu: Colour Sergeant Bourne: It's a miracle. Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle. Colour Sergeant Bourne: And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it.
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Posts : 2101 Join date : 2010-07-30 Age : 56 Location : North London
Subject: Re: Sergeant-Major Robinson Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:57 pm
The 2nd Connaught Rangers didn't exist in 1877. The regiment started life in Dutch service as the 'Scots Brigade' in 1568. In 1665 the regiment took the 'Oath of Allegiance' to the Dutch states General and declined to return to Scotland. In 1794 the regiment rebelled against taking orders in the Dutch language and were taken onto the English establishment in October of that year, as the 'Scotch Brigade'. It was renumbered as the 94th Regiment of Foot in December 1802. In 1879 the regiment fought in the Zulu War and took part in the First Boer War in 1880. The following year, in 1881, as part of the Childers Reforms the 94th amalgamated with the 88th Regiment of Foot to become the 2nd battalion the Connaught Rangers.
Last edited by tasker224 on Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
John
Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 60 Location : UK
Subject: Re: Sergeant-Major Robinson Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:42 pm
Subject: Re: Sergeant-Major Robinson Tue Jan 01, 2013 3:19 pm
Tasker224 is correct – the Connaught Rangers did not exist until 1881 when the 88th and the 94th became the Connaught Rangers. The 88th were attached to Crealock’s column on the coast, and did not see action at Ulundi. The 94th was at Ulundi.
I checked the medal roll and found 2 Privates James Robinson in the 94th. One later deserted, and his medal returned to Woolwich in 1882. The other was still with the Regiment when the South Africa Medal was issued. This man was #1012 Private James Robinson. I had no luck finding any specific information on this man.
The 94th were part of the reinforcements sent out from England after Isandlwana. Their 28 officers and 897 men departed England on the hired transport “China” on 26 February and arrived in Natal on 2 April, 1879.
2 companies were left at Greytown and the remaining 6 companies continued on to Dundee.
About a month after they had landed the 94th was sent out from Dundee to occupy Conference Hill, about 30 miles to the front. Conference Hill was to be used as a forward camp, and the 94th built a fort there.
On 4 July the 6 companies of the 94th (21 officers and 616 men) were present at Ulundi. 4 companies on the left face near the rear corner, and 2 companies on the rear face. During the battle the 94th suffered 2 killed and 1 officer and 12 men wounded.
Sources: Medal Roll for the South Africa Medal 1877-79 “Narrative of the Field Operations Connected with the Zulu War of 1879”, prepared by the Intelligence Branch of the War Department “Campaigning in South Africa: reminiscences of an officer in 1879”, By William Edward Montague
Petty Officer Tom
littlehand
Posts : 7077 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 54 Location : Down South.
Subject: Re: Sergeant-Major Robinson Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:46 pm