Unidentified Hlobane Casualty?

Another possible unidentified Zulu War casualty I'm afraid which I'm hoping may be confirmed one way or the other....

There is a headstone in Key Hill Cemetery, Birmingham with the following inscription:

Sacred to the memory of Rebecca the beloved wife of Samuel Roberts who died in Birmingham February 12th 1873.....Also in memory of Samuel Roberts, son of the above fell in South Africa March 28th 1879

Although there is nothing to prove it, the date seems to point to the possibility of this death occurring at Hlobane (the wording 'fell in South Africa' certainly seems to indicate a death in action), but once again I'm unable to find this individual's name in either the casualty roll or Terry Sole's For God, Queen & Colony; as ever, if anybody has any ideas I'd be interested to hear.

Regards,

Tim

Tim
Any future in my looking at these?
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Document 9 of 24
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CO
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 4217
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE R74
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MEMORIAL. SAMUEL ROBERTS FOR FRED ROBERTS. REQUESTING A CIVIL
SERVICE APPOINTMENT.
STARTING 18810000
ENDING 18810000



Document 13 of 24
DEPOT TAB
SOURCE SAC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 196
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE B1949
PART 1
DESCRIPTION RECORD OF CONDUCT AND SERVICE OF SAMUEL ROBERTS.
STARTING 19010522
ENDING 19030205

Courtesy of Cam Simpson
Hi Frank had a look and could not find anything. I looked under Robertson as well. He may have served under an alias or killed at Moorosi Mountain ‎. I'm more inclined to think under an alias myself.

Cam.

Tim,

This doesn’t answer your question, but it might give you some leads.

11 Mar 1846 Marriage of Rebecca Robson to Samuel Roberts at Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland

21 Mar 1847 Samuel Douglas Roberts was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.  His parents were Samuel Roberts and Rebecca Robson.

1851 census has 4 year old Douglas Roberts, his mother, Rebecca Roberts, and his brother, Edwin Roberts, residing as a visitor with his grandfather, Shadrach Robson

1861census has 14 year old Douglas S. Roberts residing with his uncle, George Roberts

1871 census has 24 year old Douglas Roberts was residing with his mother, Rebecca Roberts, and his sisters Isabella and Beatrice.  His occupation is listed as Merchant Tailor

1st Quarter 1873 Rebecca Roberts died in Birmingham, Warwickshire.

I could find no further trace of Samuel Douglas Roberts after 1871.

Tom

Thanks Frank & Tom (& Cam),

The rest of the inscription reads 'Also Joshua Roberts, son of Rebecca and Samuel Roberts who died in California December 16th 1903 aged 42 years' - any mention of a Joshua in the census returns?

Although the possibility of Samuel Roberts junior using an alias seems the most plausible, does anybody know whether there were any other engagements/skirmishes elsewhere in S Africa that day?

Regards,

Tim

Tim,

The 1871 census shows Rebecca had a 9 year old son named Joshua.

Tom

Thanks Tom - it seems pretty certain that it's the right family then.

Regards,

Tim

Here is a tree for the family, note the photo of his sister.

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Steve

The inscription to Samuel Douglas Roberts,a possible unidentified Hlobane casualty.
Photo by Tim Needham.

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