Question - Why were some of the 1st 24th in Pondoland during the Zulu War?

Hi All
I have come across letter in a Newspaper from Private 284 William McNulty of the 1st 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment.
The letter is dated 2th February 1879, St John's River, Pondoland.

Why was he there?
What was he doing there?

His service record shows that he stayed in South Africa until Oct 1879 and he had been in South Africa for over 4 years.
He was not awarded the 1879 clasp to his medal.

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As I understand it, B Company of 1/24th was stationed at St John's River Pondoland and took no part in the AZW. Later Britain annexed the port area, mainly I think because the Germans were after it.

Steve

Graves,

There's a well-known photograph of the detached company of the 1st/24th taken at Fort Warwick, Port St. John's, southern Natal.  The company was commanded by Captain Henry Harrisson, his lieutenants were the Hon. Ulick de Rupe Burke Roche and William Edward Day Spring.

In two references - There Will be an Awful Row... and The Noble 24th... - the company's designation is given as 'H' Company, whereas another - Hill of the Sphinx records it as 'B' Company as Steve states above.

John Y.

Graves
According to the regimental history by Atkinson - the presence of a British detachment was calculated to have a quieting effect on the still unsubjugated Pondos. B Company 1/24th left King William's Town on 17 August 1878 and re-joined the battalion at Pinetown on 20 August 1879. When Major Black assumed command of 1/24th on 11 May 1879 - and the draft from England joined at Dundee - B Company was re-designated H Company. The earthwork at St John's River was known as Fort Harrisson after the Company Commander. Members of the company were only entitled to the '1877-78' clasp.

"On 17th August, 1878, Captain Harrison and Lieutenants Spring and Roche, with " B " company 1st battalion 24th, consisting of four sergeants, five corporals, two drummers, and seventy-four privates, marched from King William's Town to the mouth of St. John's, or Unuinvarboo, river, in Pondoland, where a settlement had been purchased from the Pondo chief, N'quaci. The British flag was hoisted there for the first time by Lieutenant-General the Honble. T. A. Thesiger, C.B., on the 24th August, 1878, and an earthwork, to which the name of Fort Harrison was given, was thrown up by the detachment. "B" (since " H ") company remained at St. John's river mouth throughout the period of the subsequent Zulu War."

Source:Full text of "Historical Records of the 24th Regiment, from Its Formation, in 1689"

Hi All

Many thanks too you all for all the information that you have given me.
You learn something new everyday.

I'm fairly certain the Dr Heaton relative that McNulty mentions is Lt Wilfred Heaton , his Diary is published in ' For Queen And Country ' by Rodney Ashwood , a it's an excellent book as well.
90th