Rocket Battery, NNC

Posts : 90 Join date : 2014-10-10

In February 1888, a Mr Aubyn Francis Margary, late Captain, 3/1NNC when applying for a civil service position cited his Zulu War service as follows:

‘1879 Capt Commanding rocket battery N.N.C’.

Did the NNC have a Rocket Battery?

Cam.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Bonjour,
It seems to me that there was no officer of this name in the ranks of the 3 Regiment NNC at Isandhlwana the 20-22 january 1879 and there was no rocket battery attached to the NNC in Chelmsford's column.
There was the 22 January at Isandhlwana a rocket battery attached to Durnford's column, commanded by an officer of the R.A., Russell.
I don't know the composition of troops attached to Major Bengough...

Cheers

Frédéric

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Listed on medal roll as Captain FAM Police and NNC. Father was a Major General RE. Don't know whether NNC had a Rocket Battery though.

Steve

Posts : 90 Join date : 2014-10-10

Cheers guys, Indeed its very strange and I'm stumped by the comment. All his other service he cites is bang-on and if anything he undersells himself in his application. He was still knocking around in the Bambatha Rebellion in 1906 and he was 30 in 1879.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

He visited the UK in 1929 when he was 80! Returned the following year I think.

Steve

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Bengough was in command of the 2/1 NNC which formed part of Durnford's column.
No RB (NNC) attached to his command.
In the thesis of Keith Smith ("the commandants: the leadership of the NNC in the AZW"), there is nothing on this subject (RB /NNC).
Cheers

Subject: Re: Rocket Battery, NNC Mon Sep 28, 2015 5:06 pm

Cam,

Aubyn Margary appears as a Captain in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment, N.N.C. He served under Captain Cherry of the 32nd Light Infantry who was the commandant of the unit. I suggest the unit would have been at Kranzkop on 22nd January 1879 at the position which became Fort Cherry.

John Y.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

I cannot imagine that a Rocket Battery could have anyone but an RA officer in command. Could it be that he was Captain of an NNC company charged with supporting a Rocket Battery in one of the other columns?

Steve

Posts : 90 Join date : 2014-10-10

Steve, more than likely, the Rocket Battery escort makes sense.

Cam.

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