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Date	Original Topic
13th February 2001	The history of 'Rorke's Drift' - A house in Kent By Stuart Mendez Re my earlier message concerning our property 'Rorke's Drift', (MY FAMILY AND I HAVE LIVED IN A PROPERTY CALLED 'RORKE'S DRIFT' FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW. IT IS IN WEST WICKHAM KENT. HAVING WONDERED SINCE WE FIRST SAW THE HOUSE WHY IT WAS SO NAMED, I HAVE FOUND OUT TODAY THAT IT WAS ONCE INHABITED BY COLOUR SERGEANT FRANK BOURNE WHO FOUGHT AT THE BATTLE OF RORKE'S DRIFT AND WHO SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED THE DCM. ), A William Earnest CHARD, also lived here, from at least 1934 to 1958. We need to find out if Frank Bourne had any connection with this gentleman or was this particular Chard any relation to John Rouse Merriott Chard? Can anybody provide any more info please as to why our property is so called?
Date	Replies
17th February 2001	Lee Stevenson Frank Bourne served as Acting Adjutant at the School of Musketry in Hythe from 1/5/1893 until his retirement on 17/12/1907. His daughter Florence Marion Bourne was born in Hythe on the 7/3/1894. It is not clear when the Bourne family left the Hythe area although Frank Bourne was living at an address in Beckenham from about 1922 until about 1930.
17th February 2001	Peter Critchley Stuart, you were going to get the deeds for your property to see if there was any further information held there... Did anything turn up? Peter
18th February 2001	Alan Critchley Stuart, another avenue to check out. When I visited Beckenham Crematurium and Cemetery to visit Bourne's grave, the man at the reception lodge showed me the entry regarding his burial details. It may give his address or other information. Make sure you have the date of his burial to find it in the book. You may also want to check if they have altered the hand-out sheet on famous people buried there. Bourne was down as a VC, and Rorke's Drift was mis-named. Alan
19th February 2001	Lee Stevenson Bourne's address in 1922 was 16 King's Hall Road, Beckenham, (source: newspaper obituary for his daughter). He was still at this address in 1930, (source: electoral registers; Bromley Central Library). Bourne's wife died in Beckenham on 22nd April 1931. It would appear that he moved to Dorking shortly afterwards. The earliest date I have for him living 68 South St. Dorking "Stoneroof" is 24th August 1932.