Letters of Major-General FitzRoy Hart-Synnot

http://www.archive.org/stream/lettersofmajorge00hartuoft#page/n7/mode/2up

I think is odd that he does not mention Rorkes Drift !!!!


Zulu War From page 99 to 175

hi pete ,
Thanks for the link, i have been looking for a copy of this for a long time , you cant buy it anywhere.
cheers 90th.

I've been reading this book for months ! , and have come across some interesting titbits which I'll share in the next day or so ,
Fitzroy - Hart was also involved in the Ashanti war and was at the Battle of Nyezane and spent a little time at Eshowe before being ordered back to Ft Pearson by Pearson .
Cheers 90th   

I seem to recall someone posing the question a long time ago of how were the messages delivered during the Zulu War ,
here is Fitzroy- Hart's version of such from Eshowe . If anyone has his re-print book ( Sorry Springy ) it's on page 144 .
For those who dont ............. '' At first , Colonel Pearson used to send his letters rolled up in the inside of a reed , but later , they were more securely hidden , thus ; the iron plate was unscrewed off the foot of the messenger's rifle , then a hole was bored into the butt , at the part that was covered with the metal plate , the letter was put in the hole and the plate screwed on again . When two messengers went together , each had a copy of the letter thus hidden in the butt of his rifle ''.
Cheers 90th

This has probably been covered but here Fitzroy Hart - Synnot describes the rounds carried by each individual .
This was stated by F.H.Synnot page 158 . Letter is dated 13th August 1879 so it's after the battle of Ulundi .
'' We take 200 rounds of Ammunition for each soldier ; he carries seventy himself ; two mules follow every company with thirty rounds more for him , and the carts following with the baggage carry the remaining hundred ''.
cheers 90th

Here is F.H-Synotts take on the capture of Ceteswayo , F.H-Synnot states there that there was no way of knowing how long the pursuit of Ceteswayo may have gone on but for his whereabouts being disclosed to the British by his own people .
'' He was taken on the 28th instant by Major Marter ( Kings Dragoon Guards ) . I believe it is decided that the credit of the capture is due to Lord Gifford . Gifford , who was the most pertinacious of all the pursuers , having several times nearly caught the King , at last marked him down at a certain Kraal . He decided to wait till dark to approach , lest the king , whose look-outs would discover him , should get the alarm in time to escape into the wood . But Gifford sent the information of where the king was to another party . This information , it appears , fell into the hands of Major Marter , who with his party was on the wooded side , not knowing in the least where the king was . He at once closed on the kraal and made the capture . With Major Marter , was my interpreter , Mr Oftebro , who knew the king well personally . Ceteswayo's first expression was surprise at his being caught at that side . He did not think horses could pass on those hills . Then he requested that he might be shot at once.
Later on he became in very good spirits , Mr Oftebro tells me , and made jokes at Mater's expense . For instance , alluding to the strong guard Marter kept upon him , he said to Mr Oftebro ;- '' I am just going out of the hut for a minute , but before I go out , tell your master to put a ' company' ( using the english word ) here , and a 'company' there , and a 'company' there '' ( pointing with his finger all around ). And then he laughed at the precautions he thus burlesqued . Another time , he told Mr Oftebro that when the cavalry were very inconveniently close in pursuit of him , he happened to have eight horses , so he gave some of these to some boys , and told them to ride away across the open to a certain bush and there dismount and escape . This they did . The ruse worked splendidly , and away went Major Barrow and his horseman as hard as they could go , while the king moved leisurely to another kraal in the opposite direction . Ceteswayo laughed a good deal as he told the story '' .
cheers 90th

A Zulu with a sense of humour!

On page 169 he describes his uniform in a letter dated ; 31st Aug , Ulundi .
'' The state of my clothing has long called loudly for peace . I will not say much about it , because I know this gives rise to laughter , whereas it is more properly a subject for tears . Every device that engineering can suggest has been applied inside my garments to keep them together , but they are in that state in which engineers pronounce a bridge or house unsafe . They may fall into ruin at any moment by any sudden and injudicious movement on my part , such as a gesticulation of joy at the prospect of returning home . I had to dine with with Wolseley with one knee out in the open air ! . A new knee had been put in , but it had been taken from that which remained , and the rent was made worse . Well it was that he said to me , '' come as you are. ''
I could push my finger through my flannel shirt , but I dont . It is immaterial whether I put my socks on through the toe or through the ankle , they are equally open both ways . My Staff Patrol Jacket had loops of braid , which have now come in useful to tie it together - the hooks and eyes being no more .
Cheers 90th

Another interesting observation from Arthur Fitzroy Hart - Synnot , the 19th Century thinking certainly has changed , but the results haven't !. .  For those who have the Re-print it's on page 203 .
'' You have no conception what running is until you have seen a Zulu or Kaffir do it . There was a notion that natives could only beat white men on foot at very long distances . This idea was blown into rags by an experiment - I think it was during the Zulu War - When at certain Athletic sports some of the best races were thrown open to the Natives , and the result was that short race or long race , the natives simply ran clear away from the white men , leaving them nowhere ''.
Cheers 90th   

Cheer's 90th, i loved every minute of that! its as
i always say.. 'nothing is really new', get through
the flowery language of the time and his word's
have that common touch that we all recognize!
i have a few officer biography's but this sounds
out of the ordinary, exquisite detail's..yes the
king aside from his understandable melancholia
could produce flashes of his obvious sense of
humour.. i have been after a copy of this for a
long time and there is one to hand but i will wait
and no doubt in time i will ( if favoured ) secure
a copy..as you know i'm jealous in the extreme
and curse you, but with a smile..well done mate
its where it belongs.. xhosa

Anymore 90th   

Hi CTSG
No , there are other bits and pieces but the book starts with his Birth in 1844 ( no , he didnt write about it !   ) and finishes according to the index in 1910 , covers his time in the Ashanti War , AZW , Egypt , Boer War , it's well worth a read , I've had a quick look and you can get it for about 10 - 12 quid .
90th   

Hi CTSG
Here is a part from near the end of the book , rather sad really , thought you may appreciate it ctsg .
In 1910 , though apparently in his usual health and spirits , a slight accident made it neccessary for him to consult his
physicians , who advised a small operation . This was done successfully on the 25th April , and for some days all went well
; but on the 28th unforeseen complications of an alarming nature arose , and on the evening of the 29th he died from the effects of the operation , in the presence of his younger son and elder daughter . On his return from the South African war his tenants met him joyfully and drew the carriage home . Eight years later they came again en masse to meet him - this time to pay their last respects by following the gun carriage which , escorted by deputations from the regiments which had formed the '' Irish Brigade '' in the South African war , bore his remains to their last resting place . Thus , on the 4th May 1910 , in a grave lined with Primroses , which the school children had picked , he was laid to rest at Ballymoyer on his 66th Birthday .

There wouldnt be to many famous people who'd pass away on their Birthday   
Cheers 90th

OBITUARY.
Hawera & Normanby Star, 4th May 1910.
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For those who like to read books , this is worth reading .
90th