Rorke's Drift Diary - Captain William Penn Symons

Has anyone yet bought this book? It's the copy of the typed out version bought by the Ashworth Barracks Museum in Doncaster a year or so ago. Just wondering if anyone has read it and their thoughts. Should receive mine in a few days. Cheap enough at about £10-12

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Hi Bill
There are at least four editions of the PS account, its not a diary and its not an official account, I'm not 100% sure on what this version is based. I know that it has been bought by a couple of forum members and look forward to seeing their comments to see if its been 'sanitised'.

I have got to say I thought it was an odd choice as a title.

I picked a copy up the other day, but I haven’t a chance to read it as yet.

JY

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

I am fully expecting that Julian Whybra's imminent publication of Vol 5 of AZW Studies will contain the definitive account based on the Brecon original. It will then be possible to do a comparison with the VC Trust version. As it stands, I cannot identify a provenance for the VC Trust version alone, although it is clearly an early document that appears to be more or less contemporary with the original (or soon after). Frank says there were at least 4 editions, which I assume includes the "modern" sanitised typed version produced from the original by Brecon. So far as I know, the report was not published at the time and so the rather nicely bound VC Trust version must have been specially produced for someone - possibly Penn Symons mother? Whatever the provenance, the VC Trust is to be congratulated on making the document widely available.

Steve Reinstadtler

Hi Steve
I'm not to sure that Vol5 will contain the PS report. I think that's scheduled for later in the year. Julian will obviously let us know as and when.

The Symons Report will be in volume V - current expected publication date is May.
With a commentary the Report is too long to place in one volume. So, volume V will contain the first half (LC's Reconnaissance and Rorke's Drift) and volume VI will contain the second half (Isandhlwana) to be published around September.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Excellent.

Steve

Perhaps the museum just didn't have a Zulu war enthusiast hence the odd title? I know from previous threads that Frank is fortunate enough to have photos of the original annotated journal pages, I would have no idea what was watered down in any other copy. Mine should arrive tomorrow so I'll see it at the weekend and look forward to Julian's two volume analysis later in the year.
Since we're on about publications, any plans for an updated England's Sons? :)

Posts : 1184 Join date : 2015-11-24

Hmmm, sh-tty paperback..

Les,

You missed the magic word - little...

JY

Bill8183
England's sons 8th ed. is on sale. 9th ed. is being worked on.

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Having now read about half of the VC Trust copy I do have one question. Who is Penn Symons writing this for? It does not state anywhere that he has been commissioned to compile a report and yet he writes as though this is some kind of official account. My feeling is that it is not at Chelmsford's behest and I would rather put my money on Glyn being the instigator - but I don't know. If this forms part of Julian's commentary then I will of course wait.

Steve Reinstadtler

Posts : 1184 Join date : 2015-11-24

Lol.. yes JY spot on. same old lazy cover and as you pointed out
well wierd title. i'm in no rush, i will get it as and when.

Julian Ive tried unsuccessfully to get a copy of the 8th edition. Any suggestions?

» Narrative of Field Operations Connected with the Zulu War
» Men of the 24th Regiment of Foot - Secunderabad, India 1873
» Rare Publication
» GENERAL PENN SYMONS AND STAFF PHOTO ZULU WAR VETERAN
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