What's going on here. Any ideas. Just a photo.

Littlehand,

Nothing whatsoever to do with the Anglo-Zulu War, it is David Livingstone's coffin attended by his servant Jacob Wainwright photographed in 1874.

Livingstone's body was interred in Westminster Abbey, but his heart remained in Africa.

John Y.

John thanks your a diamond. When you say his heart remained in Africa, do you mean literally?

Littlehand,

I did indeed, David Livingstone died on 1 May 1873 in Chief Chitambo's village at Ilala near the edge of the Bangweulu Swamps in what is now Zambia. His heart was buried there under a mpundu - or mvula - tree by his loyal attendants Chuma, Suza Mniasere and Vchopere, before they departed for the coast carrying his body. In their party was a European-educated African named Jacob Wainwright, who had entered Livingstone's employ in 1872, who carved the inscription LIVINGSTONE MAY 4 1873 and the names of the attendants on the tree.

The tree subsequently decayed but the inscription was removed and sent to the Royal Geographic Society in Kensington.  A memorial was raised on the site in the late 19th/early 20th century.

Something that I learnt back in 1972, whilst a volunteer tour guide at Westminster Abbey.

John Y.

Thanks John.

JY wrote:

Something that I learnt back in 1972, whilst a volunteer tour guide at Westminster Abbey.

How long did you do that for John. Must have been an interesting job.

Littlehand,

For about three months on Tuesday evenings, whilst I was at college. I used to specialise in African & military tombs/cenotaphs. James Wolfe's memorial was a personal favourite as the entire story of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham appears on a side panel like a diorama.

I bored Mrs. Young with the same old story when I took her there...

John Y.

James Wolfe. You maybe able to answer this question.

In the film Zulu Bromhead say's to Chard " His Grandfather was the Jonny who knelt at Wolfe's side when he was dying. Is there any truth in that.

Littlehand,

Nearly right but they missed a generation in that film!  Ensign Boardman Bromhead, Gonville's Great-Grandfather did indeed serve under James Wolfe.

At some stage he served in 58th Foot, who wore black facings in memory of Wolfe.

John Y.

I have always thought about that. . I thought there was some truth in it, as it was quite a line in the film. Thanks LH & JY

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"One interesting headstone I came across in the churchyard at Thurlby recently was that of a member of a the Bromhead family, who at one time resided at Thurlby Hall - the headstone was that of Lieutenant-General Sir Gonville Bromhead (1758-1822), who was created the 1st Baronet Bromhead of Thurlby Hall on 19 February 1806. The name Bromhead however will perhaps be better know to most people through the youngest child, Gonville Bromhead, born to Major Sir Edmund de Gonville Bromhead, the 3rd Baronet and his wife Judith. The young Gonville Bromhead came from a notable military family (his great-grandfather, Boardman Bromhead, fought under Major General James Wolfe at Quebec; his grandfather, Sir Gonville Bromhead, was a lieutenant general who fought in the American Revolutionary War & his father was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo whilst and his three older brothers were officers in the British Army). At the age of 22 he entered the 24th Regiment of Foot as an ensign and was promoted to lieutenant 4 years later. In 1878 Bromhead's battalion was deployed to southern Africa and it was there that he distinguished himself and received a Victoria Cross for his actions during the the Battle of Rorke's Drift in the Anglo-Zulu War where 150 British soldiers, many of whom were sick and wounded as patients in a field hospital, successfully held off a force of 4,000 Zulu warriors. The action was immortalised in the 1964 film "Zulu" with The part of Lieutenant Bromhead was played by Michael Caine in his first major role."
Source Flickerart.