Latest topics | » Anderson, A. 2622 2-24thYesterday at 10:28 am by Julian Whybra » Did Ntishingwayo really not know Lord C wasn't at home Yesterday at 10:22 am by Julian Whybra » Summerland, B. 1867 Private 1/24thSun Dec 08, 2024 6:11 pm by Dash » Royal Marine Light Infantry, ChathamSat Dec 07, 2024 3:55 pm by Petty Officer Tom » Private James Powell - 24th Regiment Wed Dec 04, 2024 4:00 am by 90th » George Champney Palmes - Medal at auctionTue Dec 03, 2024 5:34 pm by Dash » Samuel PoppleSun Dec 01, 2024 10:14 pm by Dash » 25B/671 Pte. J. Machin 2/24th Regiment, KIA IsandlwanaThu Nov 28, 2024 9:43 pm by Tim Needham » John Samuel Jobbins. Rorkes Drift Defender.Thu Nov 28, 2024 12:36 pm by jgregory » The Passing of Lady Ellen Baker.Sat Nov 23, 2024 11:35 pm by John Young » Dr. A. Ralph BusbySat Nov 23, 2024 9:14 am by Julian Whybra » Lieutenant M.G. Wales, 1st Natal Native ContingentSat Nov 16, 2024 12:32 pm by Matthew Turl » Colonel Edward William Bray, 2nd/4th Regt.Fri Nov 15, 2024 9:55 pm by Julian Whybra » H.M.S. ForesterThu Nov 14, 2024 4:07 pm by johnex » Studies in the Zulu War volume VI now availableSat Nov 09, 2024 6:38 pm by Julian Whybra » Colonel Charles Knight PearsonFri Nov 08, 2024 5:56 pm by LincolnJDH » Grave of Henry SpaldingThu Nov 07, 2024 8:10 pm by 1879graves » John West at KambulaThu Nov 07, 2024 5:25 pm by MKalny15 » Private Frederick Evans 2/24thSun Nov 03, 2024 8:12 pm by Dash » How to find medal entitlement CokerSun Nov 03, 2024 10:51 am by Kev T » Isandlwana Casualty - McCathie/McCarthySat Nov 02, 2024 1:40 pm by Julian Whybra » William Jones CommentFri Nov 01, 2024 6:07 pm by Eddie » Brother of Lt YoungFri Nov 01, 2024 5:13 pm by Eddie » Frederick Marsh - HMS TenedosFri Nov 01, 2024 9:48 am by lydenburg » Mr Spiers KIA iSandlwana ?Fri Nov 01, 2024 7:50 am by Julian Whybra » Isandhlwana unaccounted for casualtiesFri Nov 01, 2024 7:48 am by Julian Whybra » Thrupps report to Surgeon General Wolfies Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:32 pm by Julian Whybra » Absence of Vereker from Snook's BookFri Oct 25, 2024 10:59 pm by Julian Whybra » Another Actor related to the Degacher-Hitchcock familyMon Oct 21, 2024 1:07 pm by Stefaan » No. 799 George Williams and his son-in-law No. 243 Thomas NewmanSat Oct 19, 2024 12:36 pm by Dash » Alphonse de Neuville- Painting the Defence of Rorke's DriftFri Oct 18, 2024 8:34 am by Stefaan » Studies in the Zulu War volumesWed Oct 16, 2024 3:26 pm by Julian Whybra » Martini Henry carbine IC1 markingsMon Oct 14, 2024 10:48 pm by Parkerbloggs » James Conner 1879 claspMon Oct 14, 2024 7:12 pm by Kenny » 80th REG of Foot (Staffords)Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:07 pm by shadeswolf |
December 2024 | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
---|
| | | | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | | | | | | Calendar |
|
Top posting users this month | |
New topics | » Summerland, B. 1867 Private 1/24thSun Dec 08, 2024 6:11 pm by Dash » George Champney Palmes - Medal at auctionTue Dec 03, 2024 5:34 pm by Dash » Anderson, A. 2622 2-24thMon Dec 02, 2024 6:01 pm by Dash » Private James Powell - 24th Regiment Fri Nov 29, 2024 10:03 pm by BritNZCan22 » 25B/671 Pte. J. Machin 2/24th Regiment, KIA IsandlwanaThu Nov 28, 2024 9:43 pm by Tim Needham » The Passing of Lady Ellen Baker.Sat Nov 23, 2024 11:35 pm by John Young » Dr. A. Ralph BusbySat Nov 16, 2024 11:36 am by Julian Whybra » Colonel Edward William Bray, 2nd/4th Regt.Wed Nov 13, 2024 8:49 pm by John Young » Samuel PoppleTue Nov 12, 2024 3:36 pm by STEPHEN JAMES |
Zero tolerance to harassment and bullying. |
Due to recent events on this forum, we have now imposed a zero tolerance to harassment and bullying. All reports will be treated seriously, and will lead to a permanent ban of both membership and IP address.
Any member blatantly corresponding in a deliberate and provoking manner will be removed from the forum as quickly as possible after the event.
If any members are being harassed behind the scenes PM facility by any member/s here at 1879zuluwar.com please do not hesitate to forward the offending text.
We are all here to communicate and enjoy the various discussions and information on the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. Opinions will vary, you will agree and disagree with one another, we will have debates, and so it goes.
There is no excuse for harassment or bullying of anyone by another person on this site.
The above applies to the main frame areas of the forum.
The ring which is the last section on the forum, is available to those members who wish to partake in slagging matches. That section cannot be viewed by guests and only viewed by members that wish to do so. |
Fair Use Notice | Fair use notice.
This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorised by the copyright owner.
We are making such material and images are available in our efforts to advance the understanding of the “Anglo Zulu War of 1879. For educational & recreational purposes.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material, as provided for in UK copyright law. The information is purely for educational and research purposes only. No profit is made from any part of this website.
If you hold the copyright on any material on the site, or material refers to you, and you would like it to be removed, please let us know and we will work with you to reach a resolution. |
|
| SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER | |
| | Author | Message |
---|
John
Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK
| Subject: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Thu Nov 05, 2015 9:06 pm | |
| Is it known, what happen to these two chap's. |
| | | John Young
Posts : 3319 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 68 Location : Слава Україні! Героям слава!
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:25 am | |
| John,
They were ambushed and killed whilst on signalling duties near to the kwaMagwaza Mission Station, on 30th June 1879.
They are buried at the location.
John Y. |
| | | Ray63
Posts : 705 Join date : 2012-05-05
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:05 am | |
| John when you say "signalling duties" did they have the heliograph with them or was it some other device? |
| | | John Young
Posts : 3319 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 68 Location : Слава Україні! Героям слава!
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:18 am | |
| Ray63,
Not that I'm aware of. I have recently been doing some research on the use of the heliograph in the campaign and I can't find any reference. It was foggy at the time of their death so it wouldn't have been a lot of good.
I would suggest they were carrying dispatches, or possibly signal-flags, again little use in a fog.
John Y. |
| | | littlehand
Posts : 7076 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 56 Location : Down South.
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Fri Nov 06, 2015 11:16 pm | |
| "Lieutenant James Henry Scott-Douglas, who was slain at KwaMagwasa, Zululand, on June 30th 1879, was the eldest son of Sir George Henry Scott-Douglas, of Springwood Park, Kelso, Baronet, M.P. for Roxburghshire, and Dona Mariquita Juana Petronila Sanchez De Pina, his wife. He was born at Edinburgh on May 27th 1853, and passed his early years at Springwood Park. He was known as Jaime.
In 1864 he went to school at Blackfriars, under Mr R C Powles, and thence proceeded to St Leonards, where he was prepared by the Rev. J Wright for Winchester. He entered Winchester early in 1869, and whilst there became a member of the school Corps of Rifle Volunteers; thence he proceeded to Llanwenorth, where he was prepared by Rev. G Faithfull for the University. On February 29th 1872, he received from the Duke of Buccleuch a commission as Lieutenant in the Queen's Regiment of Light Infantry Militia, which he joined at Dalkeith for training of that year. In October he began his studies at Trinity College Cambridge, and in the following spring passed his previous examination, thereby qualifying himself for a commission in the army as university candidate; having, however, commenced to read the historical Tripos, and being anxious to more effectually complete his education, he abstained from availing himself of the qualification. About this time he enrolled himself in the university volunteers, and shortly afterwards became a Sergeant of that Corps. At the close of the long vacation of 1875 he had the misfortune to meet with a severs fall from his horse, which brought a concussion of the brain; he was thereby prevented from taking part in the final examination for the Tripos, but the examiners were so convinced, by his previous work, of his attainments, that they conferred on him the B.A. degree with honours.
On April the 1st 1875, he was gazetted to the 19th Regiment, being anxious to serve with a Scotch Corps, he was transferred to the 21st Royal North British Fusiliers, joining that Regiment at Portsmouth in January 1876. Shortly afterwards he passed most creditably through a course of garrison instruction, his commanding officer testifying to the manner in which he excelled in tactics and military law. From the School of Musketry at Hythe he came out with an extra first-class certificate' he also obtained a first-class instructor's certificate at the school of army signalling at Aldershot; and on his return to his regiment, performed the duty of Officer-Instructor to it.
Lieutenant Scott-Douglas, accompanying his Regiment, left Queenstown for Zululand in February 1879, and arriving at Durban on March the 29th. Proceeding to the front, he was appointed chief of the signalling staff of the 2nd Division of the Field Force, and, applying himself ardently to his difficult and important duties, he succeeded in a short time in establishing a line of communication. By means of flags and the heliograph, from the most advanced post to the rearmost. On the morning of June 30th, he was employed with his signalling party at Entonganeni; before noon a mist came on which obscured the sun and prevented the working of the heliograph, and shortly afterwards an important message arrived which Lord Chelmsford was desirous to have forwarded to Sir Garnet Wolseley. Lieutenant Scott-Douglas, with his signalling party and an escort, immediately set out to carry it to Fort Evelyn, twenty Miles distant; but finding the condition of the horses to be so bad as to preclude the possibility of escape in the event of the enemy being met with in force. He decided not to risk the safety of so large a party, and rode on with only his orderly, Corporal Cotter of the 17th Lancers. Upon his arrival at the fort the officer who commanded it, observing the fatigued condition of the horses and the unsettled appearance of the weather, urged him to pass the night there; but knowing, by the nature of the messages he had forwarded, that the army was to march for Ulundi at daybreak on the following morning, he preferred to return. The start for Entonganeni was made at 3 p.m., and about an hour afterwards a dense fog came on and shrouded the surrounding country. The track, at all times difficult to follow, branches off towards the deserted mission-station of KwaMagwasa; in the obscurity the two horsemen accidentally took the wrong path, and it was not until after they arrived at the mission-station that they discovered their mistake. Hard by this spot, where they dismounted to refresh their horses, they were observed and surprised by a body of some five hundred Zulus, who were marching to join Cetshwayo at Ulundi. Lieutenant Scott-Douglas was able to discharge five chambers of his revolver, and then fell pierced to the heart by an assegai. His body was found some days afterwards by Brigadier-General Wood, lying near to that of Corporal Cotter, who had also stood his ground most gallantly: the two were buried, with military honours, side by side, in marked graves by crosses and sheltered by a luxuriant growth of the wild cactus.
'Of the soldierlike, manly bearing and social virtues of Lieutenant Scott-Douglas,' wrote Colonel Collingwood, 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers, 'I, his commanding officer, cannot speak too highly. He was the ideal type of an officer and a gentleman in the highest sense in which that term can be applied.'" |
| | | John Young
Posts : 3319 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 68 Location : Слава Україні! Героям слава!
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Sat Nov 07, 2015 8:21 am | |
| LH,
I knew I should have checked Mac & Shad...
If I have time and if the RHF Museum is open I'll try and photograph the Scott-Douglas display in Glasgow today.
John Y. |
| | | Frank Allewell
Posts : 8572 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 77 Location : Cape Town South Africa
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Sat Nov 07, 2015 12:12 pm | |
| Even checked through 'They fell like stones' couldnt find a mention. Or did I miss it John? |
| | | John Young
Posts : 3319 Join date : 2013-09-08 Age : 68 Location : Слава Україні! Героям слава!
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Sat Nov 07, 2015 3:19 pm | |
| Frank,
You did indeed go towards the back of the book and you will find the reference.
Regards,
John Y. |
| | | Ken Gillings
Posts : 205 Join date : 2009-10-20 Age : 77 Location : Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Sat Nov 07, 2015 3:49 pm | |
| Lt Henry Scott Douglas and Cpl Cotter had ridden to Fort Evelyn to have Lord Chelmsford's response to Sir Garnet Wolseley's order request for a 'sitrep' and his instruction that he needed prior notification of any major manoeuvre involvng an advance on Ondini transmitted to Wolseley. They were actually returning from Fort Evelyn to the British encampment at Mthonjaneni because Scott Douglas was anxious not to miss what was considered likely to be the final battle of the War (which it was, of course - it was Ulundi). Despite suggestions that they wait until morning, Scott Douglas and Cotter commenced their return journey and became lost in the thick mist near kwaMagwaza mission station, running into some Zulus who were en route to Ondini. They put up as spirited fight but were overwhelmed and killed. Their bodies were only discovered on the 11th July 1879. The Zulus apparently removed Scott Douglas's sword but it reappeared in 1972 when an advert appeared in the Houston Post in Texas. It had been discovered in a Zulu umuzi (homestead) but it is a mystery as to how it ended up in Texas. When I met Donald Morris in Durban during his final visit to South Africa, he told me that the sword was on display at the Gallerie d'Afrique in Houston. I'd be interested to know if it is still there. I'll try to post a photo of their graves if I can find out how to. Regards, Ken |
| | | Ken Gillings
Posts : 205 Join date : 2009-10-20 Age : 77 Location : Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Sat Nov 07, 2015 3:51 pm | |
| Oops - my apologies; I didn't see Littlehand's post! Still trying to find out how to post the photo. |
| | | gardner1879
Posts : 3463 Join date : 2021-01-04
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Fri Jan 20, 2023 12:08 pm | |
| Natal Witness 19th June 1880 John Dunn has secured the pistol, sword and gold watch belonging to the late Lieutenant Scott Douglas killed at Kwamagwaza. Sir George Douglas is now in Zululand |
| | | gardner1879
Posts : 3463 Join date : 2021-01-04
| Subject: Re: SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER Mon Apr 24, 2023 7:59 am | |
| |
| | | | SCOTT DOUGLAS AND CORPORAL COTTER | |
|
Similar topics | |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |