| Date | Original Topic |
| 25th February 2001 | Later Careers Question
By Richard Howes
Did any Rorkes Drift defenders go on to serve during the 1914- 18 war?
I say this because assuming somebody who was 20 in 1879, that would make them 55 in 1914- I've just finished Frank Richards 'Old Privates...', and Graves 'Goodbye...'. Both mention old soldiers aged 50 plus serving during the first six months of the war, in the trenches with the RWF, so I guess its not in the realms of fantasy that there may have been Rorkes Drift survivors somewhere in the army during this period? |
| Date | Replies |
| 26th February 2001 | Peter Critchley
I know of Frank Bourne's work in the Great War - he rejoined and became Adjutant of the School of Musketry in Dublin.
At the end of the war, he was given the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed OBE.
Peter
|
| 26th February 2001 | Alan Critchley
Apparantly, there were several of the defenders who served during the Great War, presumably non-combatant roles. One of these was Private Evan Jones of 'B' Company.
He was a lance-sergeant in 1918, and died in 1931 aged 72.
Alan |
| 26th February 2001 | Richard Howes
Thanks for that! I was vaguely aware of Private Evan Jones, now, come to think of it- his photo is in the back of one of Ian Knights R. Drift books- I can't remember which- Are there any others though? |
| 26th February 2001 | John Young
Private John Williams(Fielding) V.C. rejoined the Army in August 1914, and was not demobilised until 20th May, 1920, serving at the Depot at Brecon.
|
| 26th February 2001 | Lee Stevenson
1184 Private Thomas Buckley, B Coy. 2/24th served with the Imperial Light Horse during the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902 and with the R.F.C/R.A.F. during the Great War.
There were a number of others. I'll come back to those later !! |
| 26th February 2001 | Lee Stevenson
JH Reynolds VC volunteered for military service in 1914 but was refused, as was Pte Caleb Wood. Driver Charles Robson RE found employment packing cordite in the powder room at the Woolwich Arsenal. Cpl John Lyons served as a recruiting officer, Pte Dunbar claimed to have served in German South West Africa. Sgt. FA Millne 2/3rd Foot served with the Lancashire Fusiliers & Devonshire Regt. Evan Jones actually made it to France and Belgium with the army of occupation, he was discharged in Feb. 1920. but still managed a few more years with the band of the 7th Btn RWF.
|
| 27th February 2001 | Martin Everett
One survivor of Isandhlwana and 2 defenders of Rorke's Drift were in uniform in WW1. 7 other soldiers of 24th who served in South Africa in 1879, served in WW1. The survivor of Isandhlwana is Gen Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. The 2 RD defenders are CSgt Frank Bourne and 1428 Private Evan Jones. |
| 27th February 2001 | Martin Everett
Sorry, in haste I forgot 25B Pte John Williams VC (John Fielding) who was in uniform at the Depot South Wales Borderers Brecon from 4/12/1914 until 23/5/1920. So there were 3 (not 2) RD defenders from the 24th serving in WW1 |
| 2nd March 2001 | Richard Howes
Thanks for all that- very much appreciated! |
| 20th March 2001 | Richard Howes
Further to my own question- and for anybody else whos interested- just found out the following re. Zulu War veterans in World War 1.
Lt WL Davidson, of the RHA served in the Zulu War, and Mentioned in Dispatches; Afgham War 1880; Boer War, 1899, Mentioned in Dispatches again, and died on active service in France in 1915, aged 65.
Lt later Brig General W Scott- Montcrieff, 57th Reg Zulu War 1879, and later 1/7 Scottish Rifles died 28th June 1915, Cape Helles, Gallipoli.
Lt, later Lt Gen S H Lomax, 90th Regt 1879, later Cameronians, died of wounds 10th April 1915.
|
| 21st March 2001 | Peter Critchley
Thanks Richard, your efforts are appreciated.
Peter |
| 28th March 2001 | Ian Woodason
Graves/memorials of WL Davidson (Commonwealth War Grave Headstone in Rouen), SH Lomax and Scott Moncrieff can be found on the Keynsham Light Horse website - check out the links page of this site. |
| 25th February 2004 | Paul Summers
Admiral Archibald Berkeley Milne fought during WW1 also. He was a staff officer with Lord Chelmsford during the AZW. The following links give further details http://www.manorhouse.clara.net/book1/essay.htm and http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/milne_berkeley.htm |
| 25th February 2004 | David Alan Gardner
Richard,
Just a little point-the Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) were one and the same |
| 1st January 2005 | Alan McNeill
My Grandfather William Williams 1st 24th who was a defender at RD served in both the Boer War and WW1. He served under an alias and we are still trying to identify him.
He settled in the Eastern Cape but I'm not sure which unit he served with in the Boer War.
He served with Jan Smuts in WW1 and was with the force that invaded and annexed South West Africa. He was mustered as a mule skinner at the age of 57 and was accompanied by his16 year old son, my uncle Sonny Williams.
Alan |
| 1st January 2005 | Alan McNeill
My Grandfather William Williams 1st 24th who was a defender at RD served in both the Boer War and WW1. He served under an alias and we are still trying to identify him.
He settled in the Eastern Cape but I'm not sure which unit he served with in the Boer War.
He served with Jan Smuts in WW1 and was with the force that invaded and annexed South West Africa. He was mustered as a mule skinner at the age of 57 and was accompanied by his16 year old son, my uncle Sonny Williams.
Alan |
| 1st January 2005 | Peter Ewart
Although doubtful if any Rorke's Drift survivors on the Zulu side served in the Great War, there were certainly a number of Zulu who volunteerd with the Pondo, Swazi and others of the SANLC and served on the Allied side on the Western Front.
Occupied mostly on work at the channel ports of France, around 1000 or more lost their lives in the Allied cause, including the unfortunate 600-plus in the infamous Mendi disaster. I suppose, given that a large proportion of the attacking force at Rorke's Drift were already middle-aged or elderly, and only a minority of SANLC in 1914-18 were Zulu, it is too much to assume that one of the younger warriors of 1879 might have volunteered in his 50s and subsequently served in France?
Peter |
