David Clarke Slatter

I am trying to ascertain if David Clarke Slatter was with the party that arrived after the slaughter at Isandlwana then went on to RD and took part in the defense. I cannot find his name mentioned in any of the rolls so am skeptical about the story he related to his grandchildren.

Are you saying Slatter was with Chelmsford and returned that evening ? , those troops didn't take part in the RD Defence , the battle started late afternoon , it was well and truly underway when the Column returned to Isandlwana in the late evening .
90th

Goldenstar.

There was a Trooper C. Clarke, serving with Natal Carbineers, he was listed as reporting for duty in November 1878, when the unit mustered in anticipation of the campaign.

As he did not perish or escape from iSandlwana.  Then it is more than likely that he left the camp with those Carbineers under the command of Major John Dartnell, Natal Mounted Police, as part of two-pronged reconnaissance on 21st January 1879.

Having spent the night of 22nd January on the fatal field of iSandlwana, the shattered remnants of No. 3 Column relieved Rorke’s Drift on morning of 23rd January 1879, but did not play an active part in the defence.

It appears that from 1883 until 1884, D. C. Slatter held the position of Quartermaster in the Natal Carbineers, but by 1885 he no longer appears in the commissioned officers of the regiment.

Hopefully that helps in some way?

Regards,

JY

Goldenstar,

Were the family in business with the Vause family? Possibly in the printing or bookbinder business?

A check on the Pietermaritzburg Archives reveals nothing on the military service of David Clarke Slatter. All I could find was the fact he was involved in three bankruptcy cases.

Regards,

JY

Thanks for all of your replies, greatly appreciated. Yes, David Slatter with Richard Wyatt Vause founded Vause, Slatter & Co in Pmb.; were originally confined to stationary, book-selling and printing.

There is possibly some confusion with David Slatter who was born in 1829 with his son, David Clarke Slatter. I find some references to court proceedings in 1873 where David is sued for a share in the 440 carats of diamonds and a single diamond of 149 carats that were mined at Kimberly.

A vague possibility goes through my mind that he recounted the exploits of his wifes' (Mary Wood) father who may have taken part in the war. I think there are 2 soldiers named Wood in the muster rolls.

David Clark's record does appear to be clean except for his claim to have been present at RD and Isandlwana; he claims he arrived after the slaughter. His other claim to have taken part in the Pioneer Column to Rhodesia in 1890 is questionable as the only reference I can find is his emigration to that country in 1930.

Regards
Keith

Keith,

These entries only relate to David Clarke Slatter, here are the references and apologies for capital letters that’s how they copy:

DEPOT     NAB                                                                  
SOURCE    RSC                                                                  
TYPE      LEER                                                                  
VOLUME_NO 1/5/141                                                              
SYSTEM    01                                                                    
REFERENCE 76/1892                                                              
PART      1                                                                    
DESCRIPTION          ILLIQUID CASE. GEORGE ROY VERSUS DAVID CLARKE SLATTER.                
STARTING  18920000                                                              
ENDING    18920000            

DEPOT     NAB                                                                  
SOURCE    RSC                                                                  
TYPE      LEER                                                                  
VOLUME_NO 1/5/168                                                              
SYSTEM    01                                                                    
REFERENCE 4/1901                                                                
PART      1                                                                    
DESCRIPTION          ILLIQUID CASE. ELIZABETH SLATTER, WALTER JOHN SLATTER, DAVID CLARKE  
          SLATTER, IN THEIR CAPACITY AS EXECUTORS TESTAMENTARY OF THE WILL OF  
          THE LATE DAVID SLATTER AND EDMUND MEEK SLATTER VERSUS THE MAYOR AND  
          COUNCILLORS OF THE BOROUGH OF PIETERMARITZBURG.                      
STARTING  19010000                                                              
ENDING    19010000            

DEPOT     NAB                                                                  
SOURCE    RSC                                                                  
TYPE      LEER                                                                  
VOLUME_NO 1/5/237                                                              
SYSTEM    01                                                                    
REFERENCE 21/1907                                                              
PART      1                                                                    
DESCRIPTION          ILLIQUID CASE. THE NATAL BANK LIMITED VERSUS DAVID CLARKE SLATTER.    
STARTING  19070000                                                              
ENDING    19070000            

As to the Pioneer Column, I can check for you with some Rhodesian historian friends of mine, or with the Cecil Rhodes’ Museum which is nearby.

Which Muster Rolls are you referring to?  As there is no-one with the surname of Wood in the Natal Carbineers in 1879.  There were two other Slatters serving in 1879, however, both were in D’Urban-based units.

Regards,

JY

Hello John

Thank you for your reply and the interesting information you shared. My information was obviously not complete, it appears there are some holes to be filled in David Clark Slatter's history. I have been investigating this because his Great Grandson mentioned his connection to RD and Isandlwana in his recently published book. As a child we were frequent visitors to the home of Harry Lugg the son of Henry Lugg who was present at RD, I remember being scared stiff by the tales he related of his father's exploits. I am related to the Slatter family through my Grandmother.

1883.11.00 With father witnessed the will of FW Moor in Pmb. (MSC 9/1884)
1883 end Of Pietermaritz St Pmb. (DNA 1884)
1885 end Of Pietermaritz St Pmb. (DNA 1886)
1891.01.00 Vause, Slatter & Co taken over by WJ Slatter and David Sanders. (SAWW 1915 p. 330)
1896.07.30 Farmer of Ostrich View, Greytown, married Mary Wood, 20, of Greytown, younger dau. of JF Wood of Great Stonehaven, Scotland. (R. St J. G.)
1899.01.17 Farmer of Greytown, borrowed £250 from William Stonier Leigh with a bond on his portion of the estate of his father David Slatter. (RSC IV/20/7 no. 197)
1903 Alotted 66 acres in the Weenen Agricultural Project. (Morrell p.255 & p. 286)
1904.10.27 Mother-in-law Margaret Wood died in Greytown aged 65 years 11 months. She was born in Strachan, Aberdeenshire, the dau. of Isabella Burnett and widow of James Forgan Wood, who died 06.05.1890. Margaret and James were married in Blackfriars, London on 31.03.1862. (MSCE 21/417)
1907 Living in Weenen. Wife still alive. (MSCE 30/186)
1917 Warned he must make better use of the land allotted to him in the Weenen Agricultural Project. Asked his brother for help. (Morrell)
1918 Granted the Weenen plot freehold. (Morrell)
1930c Emigrated to Rhodesia. (Morrell)
1950 Died aged 99 [sic]. (Mrs J Slatter)

I searched the muster roll published in rorksdriftvc.com, I find one Wood mentioned - Wood, Caleb. Private. 25B/1316, B Company. I doubt if I can trace any possible relationship to Mary Slatter.

Regards
Keith

Keith,

Could please tell me the title of the recently published book? Sounds intriguing.

Caleb Wood’s Great-granddaughter is a member of the forum, if she picks up on your comment, I feel certain she can advise you.

Regards,

JY

The name of the book is "Pilot, Prisoner, Patriot" by Hugh Slatter. I found the book very interesting, being a retired airline pilot, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea. Hugh briefly goes into his family background in the first pages of his book. http://exmontibusmedia.co.za/EMM/2017/07/31/pilot-prisoner-patriot/

I hope Caleb Wood’s Great-granddaughter picks up on this post, it will be very interesting to know if she is related to Mary Slatter.

Regards
Keith

I don't know if it is of any interest, but my Great-Grandfather was supposedly contracted to land troops and military equipment for the Imperial forces at Fort Durnford through his company Chiazzari & Co. I believe this to be true but have not found any documentary evidence.

Keith,

I imagine it was Port Durnford rather than Fort Durnford, the former is on the Zululand coast and the latter is just outside of the town of Escourt.

On matters maritime I defer to forum member Petty Officer Tom.

Regards,

John

Sorry my mistake, it was Port Durnford.