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Date	Original Topic
24th May 2001	Pip By Alan Critchley When I visited Rorke's Drift last year, the guide suggested that there was a dog present at the defence. This seams to be confirmed by other accounts related by David Rattray in his tapes, "The Day of the Dead Moon" This dog, Pip, belonged to Lt. Charles d'Aguilar Pope, 2nd Battalion 24th. Regiment. He left the dog in the care of Surgeon Reynolds when he left with the centre column. Pope died at Isandlwana, the reading of accounts suggests a very brave death. Pip played his part in the defence by running up and down the barricades and yelping when the enemy were approaching. The story is that Reynolds adopted this pooch after the defence and eventually took it back with him to England. The story also suggests that he became so attached to the dog that it was buried with him in the RC section of Kensal Green Cemetery in London. Any truth in this? Would this have meant that they died at roughly the same time? If there is no truth in this, does anyone know what became of Pip? Alan Critchley
Date	Replies
24th May 2001	Lee Stevenson Alan I have a copy of an original photo of the Rorke's Drift dog, this came from Reynolds grandson. As a point of interest Reynolds called the dog by another name. According to the family Reynolds brought the dog home with him in October 1879. Not clear what became of it after that. would be interested to know the origins of the story that the dog was buried with Reynolds in 1932......
24th May 2001	Martin Everett Alan Ian Knight has done an article on dogs. I think their is a copy in the museum archives. Sorry i do not have the story at may finger tips - it takes me all time to keep track of the soldiers !!
26th May 2001	John Young Alan, One of my membership also did an article on the "Dogs of War" in 'The Journal of the Anglo-Zulu War Research Society', some years ago. Reynolds's dog, which is the one in Alphonse de Neuville painting of Rorke's Drift, was either called 'Mick' or 'Dick', depending on what text you follow. 'Pip' if that is the animal's name, the one which appears in the B Co. photograph taken at Pinetown, may have been Captain A.G. Godwin-Austen's dog, which appears to have remained with the Company after the Captain was sent home after the 'friendly fire' incident in the 9th Cape Frontier War. 'Pip' appears to be a Welsh Springer Spaniel, which is interesting as there is a Welsh Springer Spaniel called 'Highclere Rorke's Drift' which appears on the U.K. Kennel Club rankings. A number of dogs were as present at the Battle of Isandlwana, one named 'Don' appears to have been renamed 'Lion' and adopted as the Regimental Dog for 1st/24th. See the Keynsham Light Horse, which is linked to this one for its grave. Others had to be shot as they were hunting in packs, a fact recorded by John Maxwell of the N.N.C. John
6th June 2001	Di Renny In reply to John Youngs letter of the 26th May, I am the owner of Highclare Rorke's Drift, he was one of fives puppies in the litter who were all named after battles from the Zulu War, the reason being (1) obviously because of the Welsh connection (2) the red jackets (3) the breeder was in the army (4) and my husband is the treasurer of the Anglo Zulu War Research Society. Drift (his pet name) went on to become a Champion and was the top WSS male in 1998 in this country, he won 7 cc's (challenge Certificates), would have been nice to have won 11! Looking at the photograph that John mentions the dog certainly looks like a Welsh Springer (or starters as they were called then) Di Renny
5th June 2003	Simon Copley Di, what were the others called?
18th June 2003	Di Renny Simon, Thank you for your interest. The others were called Highclare Isandlwana, Kambula (the only bitch in the litter), Ginginlovu and Hlobane (Hope they are all spelt right). There are a few websites where you can see a picture of Drift - one is www.pedigreedogs.co.uk - click on the cyber show results (down the lefthand side) then on Group winners and finally on Gundogs. Di Renny