Had the 2nd/24th colours disappeared before the last stands were made

Posts : 1096 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

With reference to the various last stands being made at Isandlwana. Durnford, Pope, Younghusband. Which on of theses units would have been in procession of the 2nd/24th Colours. Or had the colours disappeared before the last stands were made.
And Is there no recorded documentation anywhere that gives a clue as to when and where the colours were last seen?

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 57 Location : UK

Hi Old H.

If we look again at the famous paintingThe Battle of Isandhlwana by Fripp's, which is a is based on G Company Popes command. It shows 2nd/24th's colours with the troops gathering around them.

However I’m not sure if the colours shown in the painting were based on facts obtained by Fripp's as he was in South Africa during the AZW.

Just out of interest the 2nd/24th's colours were lost, but the Crown & Colour-pole was recovered. But I don’t know where they were found. I think in some Zulu Homesteads many months later.

Posts : 2583 Join date : 2009-04-24

The fact is no one knows what happen to the colours. For all we know they might never had been there in the first place. The chances are they were destroyed entirely beyond all recognition during the Battle. Many items belonging to the British were found though out Zululand in homesteads by not the colours. Maybe the 2nd/24th destroyed them, themselves so it wouldn’t fall into enemy hands ?.

Subject: colours. Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:17 am

hi all.
John in regards to fripps painting i think he has used a bit of artistic licence, Pope"s company as i believe was sent from the right flank of the firing line to re-enforce Durnford who was holding the donga , and more than likely they were sent at the double, so therefore i wouldnt think they would have the colours. The crown and colour pole was found by LT CHARLIE HARFORD with CAPT HARBER and LT WAINWRIGHT , under the command of MAJOR BLACK. In the ZULU WAR JOURNAL OF HENRY HARFORD he tells the story of finding the colour pole in the river, i have posted this story on the forum, but cant remember where !. In regard to Pope forgot to add, as he was on the way to help Durnford, COL Durnford decided to withdraw, which basicaly left poor Pope and his men in the open on foot , cut off and it was over very quickly, ran over by the left horn......oldhistorian2....... I would think the colours etc would have been stationed in the headquarters tent or unfurled at the hqtrs tent. I wouldnt think the colours would be taken out to the firing line, as it was a long way from the camp itself.

cheers 90th