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Lord Chelmsford Said .Buller is ‘one of the finest soldiers of the century’, so modest and reticent –that it was difficult to say for what individual deed he had got the Victoria Cross as he had been doing acts worthy of it all along the line
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Subject: Burying the dead at Isandlwana Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:06 pm
Probably the final chapter in this dreadful affair took place in February 1883 almost four years after the massacre. Mr Boast a civilian contractor was given the task of the burial of their remains.
The Hon Colonial Secretary Sir, I have the honour to report that I reached here on Saturday evening with the party. I have inspected the neighbourhood of Isandhlwana and hope to have all the bones buried in three weeks from this date. I have the honour to be, Sir Your obedient Servant Alf Boast (Isandhlwana February 12th 1883) From the Colonial Secretary 25th February 1883 Dear Mr Boast, I write you a line privately to impress upon you the importance of you being able eventually to report that the burials at Isandhlwana have been thoroughly effected and that there has been nothing of a perfunctory nature in the discharge of the duties entrusted to your party. His Excellency is anxious that the thing should be very thoroughly well done and I think it as well to let you know this as I have been a little surprised at your stating that you expect to have it completed in as short a time as three weeks. No part of the neighbourhood must be left unexplored, and each grave must be made as nearly as possible in accordance with your instructions. Remember that there will be nothing satisfactory in completing the work within a short time, if it is afterwards found to have been inefficiently done, and that there is no occasion for hurry. I shall be glad to receive for his Excellency’s information a short ad interim report saying what progress has been made to date, and you have been able in every case to adhere strictly to your instructions. Signed Haden Isandhlwana 28th February 1883
Ref: Forgotten Heroes Zulu & Basuto Wars. Pages 409, 410 and 411 Also a Map of the location of the graves.
SRB1965
Posts : 806 Join date : 2017-05-13 Age : 55 Location : Uttoxeter - the last place God made and he couldn't be bothered to finish it.....
Subject: Re: Burying the dead at Isandlwana Sun Jun 03, 2018 12:48 pm
Hi Rob,
Welcome to the forum.
have you got any further info on the work of Mr Boast? Such as the number of bodies he found, after the previous burials in 1879?
Ta
Sime
90th
Posts : 10089 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 64 Location : Melbourne, Australia
Subject: Burying the dead at Isandlwana Sun Jun 03, 2018 1:05 pm
Hi Sime If you type in Boast in the search box some of the older posts should appear , seem to remember his reports were on here . 90th
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