CAPTAIN PAUL BENNETT CONNOLLY R. E. SURGEON

Can anyone confirm he did take part in the Zulu War

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East Side
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF PAUL BENNETT CONNOLLY YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE CAPTAIN CONNOLLY R. E. SURGEON LIGHT DIVISION OF THE CAMEL CORPS WHO PERISHED OF FEVER AT SHALADOOD, NILE THE 18th APRIL 1885 IN HIS 31st  YEAR
ON THE RETURN OF THE UNSUCCESSFUL RELIEF EXPEDITION TO KHARTOUM HE WAS MASTER OF THEGOLD CROSS OF RUMANIA FOR SERVICES UNDER THESOCIETY OF BUCHEREST HE ALSO SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE ZULU WAR 1879 AS A VOLUNTEER SURGEON TO THE FRONTIER LIGHT HORSE IN THE ENGAGEMENTS AT HLOBANE, KAMBULA  AND IN THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN AS SURGEON TO THE STRETCHER?BEARER COMPANY AT THE BATTLES OF KASSASSIN AND TEL EL KEBIR.

"Surviving Monuments in Grange Road Cemetery
The  churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene was due to close on the 1st January 1859; this was extended to 1st April 1859. The new Grange Road Cemetery, two acres of Layfield, was consecrated on 25th June 1859. It began to fill up rapidly and the remaining nearly seven acres of Layfield were purchased and the new section was consecrated on 23rd November 1867.
At the turn of the 19th – 20th century the cemetery was almost full and a new cemetery was needed, the new cemetery was established at Woodlands Road. Grange Road Cemetery was not closed until 1971.
In 1973 Gillingham Council once again indulged in another bout of municipal vandalism and removed the majority of the monuments to the nearby tip. No proper record was made, consequently, much unique information was lost."

Source: KENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Hi Littlehand
From Lee Stevenson's excellent publication ' The Rorke's Drift Doctor '
''Served during operations against the Zulu 1879 & in Transvaal against the Boers 1880-81 ; Joined AMD 31/7 /80 ; Died 18/4/85 , Handak , Sudan ; SA 1878-79 , EGY , Tek , K.Star .
90th

His obituary states he was the Surgeon to the Frontier Light Horse and was at Hlobane, Kambula and Ulundi.

Cam.

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Surgeon P. B. Connolly.

Engraving originally published in The Graphic at the time of his death, subsequently used on page 193 of They Fell Like Stones.

John Y.

Connolly gets a mention in Wood's own book ' From Midshipman To Field Marshall ' .
Evelyn Wood was having trouble with a fingernail whilst on Bivouac , after three days he had seen the Doctor at the Station Hospital , after it was dressed and I quote from Wood .... '' When he had dressed the finger I went back to my tree and sent for Doctor Connolly , a friend , and telling him what had passed , asked ; '' Please advise me , will this nail ever reunite ? '' ..'' No , it never can, as it is crushed down to the root .'' .. '' How do you pull it out ? '' ... '' Slit the nail down the centre , and then take hold of one half with a pair of Forceps, and pull .'' ...This I did , but when the first half came out I asked for some stimulant , and then I said ; '' Now please , I will look away while you take out the other half .'' ( 2 )

Footnote ( 2 ) I was advised by one of the first surgeons in London , whom I consulted on my return , that I should never get another nail , but Mr Bader , the Oculist , who was a warm personal friend of mine , discredited this opinion , and said if I kept the finger plastered up long enough a new nail would grow , and he was right .
90th

Good one JY .
90th

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Surgeon Paul Bennett Conolly, served with the Frontier Light Horse - memorial plaque in Keogh Barracks museum, Ash Vale.

Photo by Tim Needham