| Date | Original Topic |
| 10th June 2005 | Pte Devonport.
By Graham Mason
GENTS ,
Once again i have come across this mans name as a defender at Rorkes drift . I have never seen his name on any roll but this is not the first time i have seen it in connection with wreaths etc concerning this man , can anyone shed some light on this please ? , thank you . |
| Date | Replies |
| 10th June 2005 | Glenn Wade
Hi Graham
Likewise, I have never come across this name aside from the reason that you mention. All I can suggest is that it might be the real name of a lesser known Rorke's Drift defender. Can anyone else shed some light on this? I'm in lazy mode this morning so I don't have The Noble 24th to hand but is there a Devonport in any company of the 24th? First and Second Battalions?
Cheers
Glenn |
| 10th June 2005 | Martin Everett
Graham,
Why are you not able to you some basic research before asking the question. It baffles me - seeing all the information you claim to have on the AZW.
25B/1290 Pte Davenport, William 2/24th died 3/3/1879 Died Lower Tugela. Also wounded Inyanzani 22/1/1879. Surname also shown as Devenport. Interred at Lower Tegala. Served with the mounted infantry
25B/1200 Devenport, Joshua Pte A Company 2/24th - was at Rorke's Drift after 0830 hrs on 23 January 1879. Probably like so many sent a letter home saying 'he was at Rorke's Drift' - which was true, but during the engagement.
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| 10th June 2005 | Graham Mason
Dear Martin ,
I DON`T CLAIM to have vast amount of infirmation on the the AZW at all and am only a novice when it comes to reseach , what i do claim is that in my short time doing research i have uncovered quite a lot of information which has not been followed up or printed incorrectly .
I have but basic resources and little cash hence catch up all the time and have sent quite a bit of information to BRECON . I still have a lot to learn and i thought this forum a medium for the less enlightened such as i to pose questions such as i did , living off a giro rather restricts what i am able to do but i try .
Thank you for the information on DEVENPORT and i will continue to improve my basic techniques in the hope i achieve the skills of those far better at this than seem to be , Graham . |
| 10th June 2005 | Graham Mason
Apologies for the spelling mistakes , i compiled the previous message rather hastily . Perhaps in many years to come i will be able to have the font of knowledge such as Ian Knight , John Young concerning the AZW of 1879 but until then please accept the keeness of an enthusiast trying to learn as he goes along , thank you , Graham . |
| 10th June 2005 | John Young
Dear Martin,
In 'The Noble 24th' Norman Holme, or yourself, has Private 25B/1200 Joshua Devenport serving in the Mounted Infantry.
If Private Devenport was serving in the squadron of Mounted Infantry to which the men of the 2nd/24th were attached; viz. No. 2 Squadron, I’d put him closer to Eshowe than Rorke’s Drift at 08:30hrs on Thursday 23rd January, 1879. Unless you have evidence to the contrary?
Unless his Mounted Infantry service relates to post-4th July, 1879 operations, of course.
John Y.
(Still learning after 40 years interest!) |
| 10th June 2005 | Martin Everett
Jonh,
Well spotted! But perhaps we have come a long way since Norman Holme - perhaps we remember was not too well again - probably confused both Devenports (or Davenports). The expert on the Mounted Infantry is John Whybra - perhaps he can confirm.
However, I have 25B/1200 in the original 2/24th Order Book as A Company 2/24th at Rorke's Drift on 16/2/1879 when he was awarded extra Good Conduct Pay.
I suppose it was the phase 'GENTS' which is often used by many army instructors. Its a pet hate of mine - always sound a bit lavatorial and demeaning to any eager student.
Returning to the question Graham raised. For me not a day goes by that visitor says he had realtive was at Rorke's Drift - which was the case the whole of 2/24th after the action. But they are not Rorke's Drift defenders. I would think from the amount of time and effort put in by many researchers over the years, we have reached fairly definitive roll of RD defenders. The chances of unearthing a new candidate is very remote. We do know where 25B/1200 and 25B/1290 where at the time. I sometimes wish someone would do the research and tell me who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 with 2/24th (or 2/SWB). |
| 12th June 2005 | John Young
Dear Martin,
Thanks for that I'll put a note on 'The Noble 24th' to that effect.
John Y. |
| 22nd June 2005 | Julian Whybra
William Devonport 2/24th served in the 2nd squadron IMI (see forthcoming article ).
Joshua Devenport was in the 2nd/24th aCoy as Martin states above. |
| 22nd June 2005 | Julian Whybra
PS Norman Holme made a simple error. Joshua was never in any IMI squadron. |
