1879 Zulu War Medal to Stanger Mounted Rifles

Subject: 1879 Zulu War Medal to Stanger Mounted Rifles Wed Mar 06, 2013 11:28 pm

Good to be on board! Have a question: I have a Zulu War Medal Named to Trooper Fayle of the Stanger Mounted Rifles. When checking the medal roll, it mentioned he is "not on the medal roll" but has his name listed in the Stanger Rifles. If there is a medal how can this be? The author mentioned that he was mobilized in Dec 1878. He also mentions that the author may have seen his name on other documents. SO: does anyone have any info on the fellow and should he have a medal?
Best: AGLEE

Guest

AGLEE,

I found a Sergeant Fayle on the medal roll.

Under the heading “Stanger Mounted Rifles” is “List of members who were on active service during the Zulu War.”

Number 20 on the list is Sergeant Faley.

It is simply a list of 58 men by number, rank and last names, without any mention of whether or not they were entitled to any clasp. If I remember correctly the Stanger Mounted Rifles served with Colonel Pearson column, so I would assume that Faley would be entitled to the medal with clasp, unless he was left behind for some reason.

What is engraved on the rim of the medal, and does it have a clasp?

Petty Officer Tom

Thank-you Tom for getting back so quickly to me. On the rim of the medal is: Tr FAYLE STANGER Md RIFLES FAYLE is a little larger print than the rest of the printing. It has a 1879 clasp but no ribbon. I got this medal from a relative in South Africa. He had mentioned that he thought FAYLE had gone home for a while ??? but cannot prove that. What medal roll did you see this on? I found his name on Roy Dutton's book Zulu & Basuto Wars Including Complete Medal Roll. Is this a good source?
Thanks
AG

Guest

AGLEE,

I found the information on a copy of the medal roll called “Zulu War Medal Roll” available from [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] The Stanger Mounted Rifles are under WO100/49. There are two lists of the medals for the SMR. One is one on page 2561, and the other on page 2594. Fayle is No. 20 on both lists. The data is locked and copies cannot be made.

As for Dutton’s book, I have heard nothing but good comments on it. I personally do not have a copy.

Petty Officer Tom

Thank-you Petty Officer Tom. Going to look at the rolls. Will let you know how I make out.
AG

Subject: Sgt Fayle Stanger Mtd Rifles Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:40 am

Hi Aglee.
Welcome aboard and a nice medal to have , your man Sgt Fayle is on the Forsyth Roll and entitled to the 1879 Clasp .
The full name of this book is '' South African War Medal 1877-78-79 ; The Medal Roll '' by D.R.Forsyth .
I've also checked Terry Sole's book '' For God , Queen & Colony '' he's listed as Sgt Thomas Fayle , Farmer from Umhlali.
Petty Officer Tom you are correct , they did serve with Pearson's Column , therefore taking part in the battle of Nyezane which was earlier the same day as Isandlwana & R.D.
Cheers 90th.

I want to thank Petty Officer Tom the 90th for all this information. I have several other Zulu War Medals that I want to look into deeper now. The Dutton book gives names for the medals plus rank and clasp but the info about Sgt fayle being a farmer and his home area is not available. I would like to go deeper and perhaps see what he did after the war and if he even survived.

Thank-you again gentlemen.

Posts : 269 Join date : 2010-12-02 Location : Kloof, KZN

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There are many records of the activities of Thomas Fayle as an employee of the Native Affairs Department of the Colony of Natal in the Pietermaritzburg Repository of the National Archives of South Africa (follow the link above). I did not go beyond 1900 and there may be more after that date.

I doubt that Archives' staff will copy any of the documents for you, so you will need to use the services of a local researcher. The Archives should be able to provide you with a list of researchers.

Regards
Brett

Guest

AGLEE,

I ran across this, and thought there was a good chance this is your man.

“An Inspector of Native Locations (Thomas Fayle) was, about this time, killed at his house, some three miles from Henley, probably by lightning. The death was regarded by some as a murder, connected in some way with the outbreak, seeing it occurred but a few days after the attack on the police, and only a short distance from Trewirgie.” (Source: A History of the Zulu Rebellion of 1906, by James Stuart)

If you go to the following link, you will find the above quote on page 139 (about ¾ of the way down.)

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Here is a link to Inspector Thomas Fayle’s grave site:

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Petty Officer Tom

Some infoe on this unit.

"Captain William R Cowley** took command of the Corps in 1886, followed by Captain Harry Sparks until 1887 when the Stanger Mounted Rifles were amalgamated with the Victoria Mounted Rifles and Captain Friend Addison, previously OC Stanger Mounted Rifles, took over command of the enlarged unit. When all the coastal units of Natal amalgamated in 1888 as the Natal Mounted Rifles, the VMR ceased to exist as a separate Corps.

* Charles Taylor Saner, born 1850 in Yorkshire, emigrated to Natal in the early 1870s and farmed at Verulam. He married Mary Blaine, daughter of Dr Blaine, magistrate of Verulam. After the Anglo-Zulu War, Saner joined a gold-mining company in the Transvaal and became manager of Van Rhyn Estates. His four sons served in the Anglo-Boer War.

** William Cowley, born 1852 in Fairford England, came to Natal in 1859, and farmed in the Little Umhlanga Valley. He was one of the VMR's best shottists. (The unit produced numerous brilliant marksmen.)

Uniform: Blue cloth, scarlet facings; black cloth helmet with white plume for officers, black plume for other ranks. Buttons and helmet badges were embossed with monogram V.M.R. surmounted with a crown, silver for officers and white metal for other ranks. The kepi replaced the helmet in undress order. No shoulder straps were worn and the Corps did not adopt a collar badge.

Members provided their own horses, uniforms, saddlery and other equipment. Arms, ammunition and field equipment were supplied by the Government. At first armed with the Terry and Snider carbine, this was replaced in 1875 by the Swinburn-Henry carbine firing a .450 lead bullet. Officers carried swords and revolvers. Ammunition was carried in a pouch slung to a cross-belt, white leather with black pouch for full dress, and brown leather belt for service order. Colonial pattern saddlery was used.

The Stanger Mounted Rifles were inaugurated in November 1875, with:

Joel Lean Captain
H Warren 1st Lieutenant
F Addison 2nd Lieutenant

On 1 December 1878 the Corps was mobilized; the 36 members were:

Captain Friend Addison OC *
Lieutenant Warren
Lieutenant Shuter
Quarter-Master Knox
Sergeant-Major Moore
Sergeant Fayle
Corporal Bumner
Corporal Davidson
Corporal Boyce
Trumpeter J W Colenbrander **
Troopers:
Addison
Bond
Brown
Boyce
Bannink
Burne
Fayle
Jacobs
J Louw
C Gielink
Green
A B Gielink
Johan Gielink
J W Gielink
C Hoogvorst
Howard
Jackson
Jas. Robbins
Rogers
Jacob Louw
McClintock
W C Robbins
Toohey
W Warren
C Warren

Further men joined subsequently, bringing the total to 43 members.

Anglo-Zulu War 1879:
The Stanger Mounted Rifles marched to Thring's Post where they were met by the Victoria Mounted Rifles and the Buffs; they proceeded to the Lower Drift and were joined by the Alexandra Mounted Rifles, Durban Mounted Rifles and the Natal Hussars, collectively named the Natal Volunteer Force. They formed the southern flank under Captain P H S Barrow, 19th Hussars, of Colonel Pearson's 3rd Buffs (3rd Regiment of Foot).

The battle of Inyezane and the relief of Eshowe followed.

* Friend Addison born 1848 in Kent, came to Natal on the Lalla Rookh in 1849.

** Johan Wilhelm Colenbrander born 1856, Pinetown Natal, of Dutch parents who emigrated from Java to Natal in 1854. Their indigo venture failed and the family founded the settlement of New Guelderland near Stanger. Johan married Mollie Mullins in 1883, and after her death, Yvonne Nunn in 1902. His third wife was Catherine Gloster. He founded Kitchener's Fighting Scouts during the Anglo-Boer War.

Note four members of the Gielink family: the Gielinks were among the New Guelderland settlers.

Uniform: Navy blue cloth, yellow facings and helmet. Badge was monogram S.M.R. surmounted by a crown, all in white metal, worn on the front of the helmet and on the ammunition pouch. The buttons also carried the monogram and crown. The kepi was worn in undress order. The Corps did not adopt a collar badge and had no motto. Officers carried swords and revolvers.

In the early stages members carried the Terry and Snider carbine, and later the Swinburn-Henry carbine.

In 1887 the Corps was absorbed into the Victoria Mounted Rifles with Captain Friend Addison as commanding officer."

Guest

Looking at the list that ‘littlehand’ posted, I see there are two (2) Fayles – one is a Sergeant and one is a Trooper. Neither of these men has his first name, or initial, listed.

----------

90th,
Does Forsyth or Cole have a second “Fayle?” If so, does it give his first name?

Petty Officer Tom

Last edited by littlehand on Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

"Also contributing in large measure was a predisposition on the part of many whites who worked closely with Africans to protect ‘their’ charges. On his patrols, the Inanda Location Supervisor, Thomas Fayle, frequently admonished Africans over their crop planting
methods, telling them that ‘the Government did not see why they should be beaten by the Coolies’. He persuaded them to plant their own tobacco, ‘and thereby save What they pay to Coolies’; he urged the women to earn more for their fowls by taking them to Durban themselves, rather than selling to Indians who came around. He encouraged all and sundry by telling them ‘that good Natives were employed in preference to Coolies in many places’ These were common themes in his conversations with people as he passed from garden to garden. In addition, the original purpose for Indian workers’ entry into Natal left its residue of prejudice: ‘to Africans and whites alike, the term “labourer” became synonymous with “coolie”, and stood for a condition to be avoided’.

Extracts from Fayle’s diary for 11 January 1890, SNA 1/1/122 (45/1890); 10 August 1890, SNA 1/
1/130 (968/1890); 26 September 1891, SNA 1/1/147 (118/1891); and 26 September 1892, SNA 1/1/

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Hello Brett - Petty Officer Tom - Littlehand - 90th: thankyou for all the information. The medal in my possetion is to a Trooper Fayle. no initial. Is it possible that he may really have been the sgt but the medal is listed to Trooper. Now my relative in South Africa (whom I got the medal from) thought that there were 2 brothers (fayle) in the SMR. He also thought that one left the unit to return home for a while to farm??? now where this info came from I do not know. Perhaps this is why Trooper Fayle is listed as "not on the medal roll. This medal to Trooper Fayle does have the 1879 clasp but no ribbon. I find this inquiry really interesting and I have learned so much from all of you

Best
AG

Gentlemen: would anyone know if there are regular Stanger Rifle Archieves somewhere that could have enlistment data on the men they recruited. In this case, the 2 Fayle men that are listed. Sgt Thomas Fayle and Trooper Fayle. Where I could find out Trooper Fayle's first name? If he was a brother to Thomas Fayle? Best
AG

Guest

AGLEE,

From Mole’s Genealogy Blog:

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THOMAS FAYLE

To the blog reader searching for information on Thomas Fayle, there were two people of that name in Natal - a father and son. Thomas Fayle (1821-1897) with his wife Sarah arrived on the ship John Line. 27 references emerge on NAAIRS, most of them concerning Thomas Fayle junior (1847-1906) and his occupation as Superintendant of Zwartkop Location. Deceased estate files for both men are held at Pietermaritzburg Archives Repository.

Shelagh Spencer's British Settlers in Natal Vol 6 offers a comprehensive section on Fayle senior, including his children’s names and details.

A Sergeant Fayle and a Trooper Fayle are mentioned in the roll of the Stanger Mounted Rifles.

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It looks like the medal that you have belongs to the son – Trooper Thomas Fayle (1847 – 1906), This is the same man who was killed when struck by lightning in 1906, who’s grave site I sent earlier.

Petty Officer Tom

]
Petty Officer Tom. You have really helped identify this fellow. Want to sincerely thank you.
AG

Subject: 1879 Medal to Stanger Mtd Rifles Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:51 am

Hi POT .
Only one Fayle in Forsyth and that is the Sgt no initial , God Queen & Colony also only lists the Sgt , Thomas Fayle .
Well done Tom to you and the others in finding all the info for AGLEE , i'm certain he's quite happy with the outcome
although it seems it may raise more questions than answers which is always the way when dealing with relatives from the past .
Very Happy

Cheers 90th. Salute

Thank-you 90th. Yep, I guess the more info you get raises more and more questions. I really wish the Zulu War Period had a little better record keeping but that is base on todays questions.

I looked at a couple other Zulu War medals I have. I have one to Private A.D.Rogers of the C. M. Rifles with a 1877-8-9 bar ( I believe this is the Cape Mounted Rifles), one to 1186 Private J. Hawkett - 99th Foot with a 1879 bar, and a Long Service and Good Conduct medal to 172 Serj T.G.Marlow 2nd Bn 24th Reg. This is where I will be spending my time establishing their history.
If you guys ever see any info on the guys, I would appeciate it. I did see Rogers and Hawkett on the medal rolls but you guys have whay more info than I do. What do you think about the T.G.Marlow Long Term Service medal.

Very Best
AG

Subject: 1879 zulu war medal to Stanger Mtd Rifles Sat Mar 09, 2013 7:52 am

Hi Aglee .
Thanks for your post on your medals , much appreciated . I dont have a '' Long Service Good Conduct Medal '' . Would like to stumble across one in a pair with the zulu war medal , have seen at least one recently but not from one of the Regt's I'm looking for .
I do have a couple of Medals to the Cape Mtd Yeomanry 1879 Clasp . Rogers and Hawkett are on their Rolls but I couldnt find a Sgt Marlow in the Rolls of either the 1 or 2 nd 24th Regt . You need to study mo

.
Cheers 90th. Salute

Thank-you 90th. I did email the SWB barracks in Breccon, Wales to see if they had any info on Sgt Marlow. Will let you know what they say. I do not know how scarce a long term/ good conduct medal from the 24th is. Never saw any others around but would be great to know some history on the fellow. Heck, he may have been out of the army before the Zulu War. I thought and not sure, the 24th changed to the SWB in the early 1880s . Do you agree?
See Ya
AG

Subject: Thomas Fayle Stanger Mtd Rifles Sun Mar 10, 2013 7:39 am

Hi AGLEEJNR.
Agree will certainly be interesting to see what may come about , one of our Forum Members Bill Cainan is the curator at Brecon .
The SWB came into being in 1881 after the Cardwell reforms if I'm not mistaken .
Cheers 90th. Salute

Hi 90th. Well I hope maybe Bill will see the posts and perhaps he can offer some advice on how to get a little info on the 24th fellow. I also did not see his name on the rolls but as we originally thought, he may have been out by time the Zulu War started. Thank-you for your help and info.
Best AG

AGLEEJR,
Might be worth sucscribing to this:

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Hello tasker 224. Thank-you . I clicked on the link but it would not open. Error message said something missing or changed.
Thanks
AG

Tasker 224. Apologize. Went in another way and found it. Thank-you for the lead.
Best
AG

Good luck with that - it is well worth trying a month's subscription - see what you think. Salute

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