Seeking information - C. Longthorne, Zulu War medal recipient

Posts : 8 Join date : 2013-01-31

Hello. I am new to the forum.

I have a Zulu War medal presented to C. Longthorne 1st 13th Ft. It does not have the original clasp, but I believe he was entitled to the 1879 clasp.

I believe this man to have been a great, great uncle of mine, though the family history I have of this is very thin. Can anyone provide me with any information on C. Longthorne? I an trying to estabish/clarify the family link.

I would appreciate any help members can give me with this search. I live in Canada, so researching this sort of information is very difficult.

My thanks.

Guest

Bill,

Welcome to the forum.

I checked the medal roll for the 13th, and found Private C Longthorne, #1190 listed. He served against the Zulu, and in December – November, 1879 against Sekukuni. He is entitled to the clasp “1879” on his South Africa Medal.

Petty Officer Tom

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 43

Hi Bill. Do you know what his first name.

Posts : 8 Join date : 2013-01-31

Thanks for the quick replies.

Unfortunately I do not know what his first name is. That is my problem - I have so little information about him. Besides learning more about this campaign and his service in it, I am hoping some of the information that may turn up related to his service might lead me to his place of birth, date of birth, etc. - anything really.

Yes, his roll number is #1190. I should have included that perhaps. It is inscribed, along with his name and regiment on the rim of the medal.

Bill

Guest

Bill,

A little more searching turned up a Charles Longthorne on the 1881 census. He is listed as 33 years old; date of birth estimated to be 1848; unmarried; place of birth: Sheffield, Yorkshire; occupation: Private; address: “The Raglan Barracks”, St. Aubyn, Devonport.
Raglan Barracks is where the 13th Regiment went when they returned from the Zulu War.

I suspect that this is your man.

If you are interested in what the 13th did, and where they were, during the Zulu War, may I suggest you read “A Brief History of the 13th Regiment (P.A.L.I.) in South Africa during the Transvaal and Zulu difficulties, 1877-8-9-“ by Edward D. McToy.

Here is a link to the book online:

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Did a quick search of the book, but did not find his name.

I sent you a PM

Petty Officer Tom

"1881 Military strays.---Born Yks, found in Devonport.
Mount Wise Military Hospital, Devonport.

HILL James m 22 Sheffield Gunner Royal Artillery
SMITH Charles u 22 Hull Gunner Royal Artillery
LONG Martha m 28 Sheffielf Wife of Serg in Royal Engineers
BRIGHT Ellen m 25 Bradford Wife of soldier 1/13th Regiment
WILLIAMS Catherine m 31 Bradford Wife of soldier 1/13th Regiment

"The RAGLAN BARRACKS ", St. Aubyn, Devonport
LOVETT Herbert R. ? 23 York Lieut 7/13 Lt Infantry
VEVERS James m 40 York Bandmaster
BEARDSELL John N. u 18 Huddersfield Private
BILBROUGH Joseph m 32 Tadcaster Corporal
DARLING Samuel u 33 Wakefield Private
HALL Frederick u 35 Buckland Private
HALL John u 38 York Private
HARRIS Thomas u 22 York Private
JONES John u 34 York Private
KITRIDGE Charles u 24 Suffield Private
LONGTHORNE Charles u 33 Sheffield Private
MULLAN James u 34 Huddersfielf Corporal
WALKER Charles u 35 Rotherham Private
WORTH Henry u 21 York Private
MORELAND William u 39 Lybury Private
MUNROE George u 33 Selby Labourer"[i]

Posts : 8 Join date : 2013-01-31

Hi littlehand:

Thanks for the information. Petty Officer Tom corroborates your information. I was trying to make my way through the British Archives earlier (not very successfully, I might add), looking for any record of Longthorne. I doubt I would ever have found him. A good start to a larger mystery. Thanks again.

Posts : 1068 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi All
Some more info,
From findmypast military papers,
Charles Longthorne b.1846 St Michael Bulpy Yorkshire, attested 3 june 1864, age 18 Labourer Regi No-1190,
9 Mths in Yorks Artillery Militia previously, 5ft 6ins, C of E, Enlisted 31 may 1864, to 1/13 Somerset Light Infantry,
Discharged Age 39, 9 june 1885 at Enniskillen Ireland, Intended place of residence 2 Grape Rd York.
Confined twice in 1876 for breaking out of barracks, confined 1877 3 mths AWOL, deserted 10 march 1878 rejoined 23 may 1878 confined june/oct 1878.
Service - Home 2 june 1864 to 14 june 1867 - Med 15 june 1867 to 2 Dec 1874 - South Africa 3 Dec 1874 to 18 Sept 1879 - Home including Ireland 19 Sept 1879 to 9 june 1885.
South Africa Medal with clasp 1878-79.
1881 census with regiment devonport b.1848 sheffield
1891 census single living Masons Buildings Coppergate All Saints Pavement York, b.1846 Leeds, Gen Labourer,
1901 census married, Kings Arms Yard York, b.1848 Leeds, Druggists Labourer, married [1893 at york] Elizabeth Hunter, on census as Ellen b.1871 Wigginton, her brother Charles Hunter b.1881 wigginton was also living with them.
Charles probably died in 1905 in York aged 58.
rai
Keynshamlighthorse

Posts : 8 Join date : 2013-01-31

Hi rai:

My thanks. You turned up some truly amazing information. It paints a very colourful (and occasionally dodgy - breaking out of barraks, AWOL, deserted - though he did rejoin and stayed in for quite a stretch) picture of this man. This information should be very helpful in making the connection to my family.

I had looked at the site findmyfamily.uk but didn't have any luck finding Longthorne. I will try again. Were there pdf. of any documents, or just website entries?

Thanks again. Very interesting stuff.

Posts : 1068 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi Bill,
The site most of this info came from is - findmypast - it is a subscriber site.
There are 8 pages of his Army papers all copies of the orginals,
Rai
keynshamlighthorse

Bill
Find and download all of Longthorn's records from here in pdf format. Just £8.95 for a months subscription.

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Posts : 8 Join date : 2013-01-31

Hi Guys:

Thanks for pointing me to these sources for the information/documents.

New question - are there any known photographs of Longthorne's regiment?

Bill

Posts : 1604 Join date : 2009-09-21

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Last edited by 90th on Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:50 pm; edited 1 time in total

Hi Bill.
If you contact D.P & G Publishing they may send you a list of Photos available ( Copies from the original Negatives ) of their Zulu war
time period , I just checked their catalogue and they have 34 Photos of the 13th Regt at the time of the zulu war , I think they charge
2 quid per photo . All up they have 154 Photos covering a few of the regiments , I've purchased probably a 100 of them and never had a problem . Here is the link .

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Cheers 90th. You need to study mo

Bill I forgot to add only the officers are identified .
Cheers 90th.

Posts : 8 Join date : 2013-01-31

Hi Dave and 90th:

Thanks for pointing me towards these photographic sources.

Bill

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