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Date	Original Topic
18th November 2002	Another VC after Isandlwana By David Simon I'm sure I read somewhere about a mounted soldier fleeing from the Zulus after the battle of Isandlwana but risked his life to save another drowning soldie. I beliieve he received the VC. Does anyone know who he was and what happened to him after the battle? Thanks in anticipation!
Date	Replies
18th November 2002	Martin Everett Dear David It was Private Samuel Wassall of the 80th Foot who was serving with the Mounted Infantry. Samuel Wassall received his Victoria Cross from General Sir Garnet Wolseley before the 80th Regiment at Utrecht on 11 September 1879. Private Wassall was the youngest recipient serving in the army at the time. He took part in the later battles of the 1879 campaign; Hlobane (28 March), Khambula (29 March) and Ulundi (4 July). After leaving the army in the summer of 1880, Wassall settled in Barrow-in-Furnace, living first with his brother and working at Barrow Shipyard in the electrical department. He met King George V and Queen Mary when they visited Barrow in May 1917 and was one of 324 VC holders who were guests of the royal couple at a garden party in June 1920. On……he attended the unveiling of the local cenotaph in Barrow Public Park by Field Marshal Sir William Robertson. On this and subsequent Armistice Days until his death, Wassall was given the honour of placing the ex-servicemen’s wreath on the memorial. He died at the North Lonsdale Hospital, Barrow, in 1927 and was buried with full military honours provided by The Kings Own Regiment from Lancaster. He was then aged 70. He had been living at 32 Lyon Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.
18th November 2002	Ian Woodason David, Photographs of his grave and headstone are on the Keynsham Light Horse site - links left. His burial place is incorectly given in many publications - we have actually been to it. Ian Woodason Keynsham Light Horse - over 1 000 memorials online to those involved in the Anglo Zulu War of 1879 (and some who weren't!)
18th November 2002	John Young For the attention of Martin Everett, Dear Martin, Did Private Samuel Wassall receive his Victoria Cross, before or after Private Robert Jones, of the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment? I believe both men were decorated at the same ceremony by Garnet Wolseley, on 11th September, 1879. If Samuel Wassall received his first, then he was not the youngest recipient for very long at all. Samuel Wassall was born in 1856. Robert Jones was in 1857. Perhaps you should not believe everything that some people write after all. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society
18th November 2002	John Young Sorry, the above should read: Robert Jones was born in 1857. JY
18th November 2002	Martin Everett Dear John, It just shows you how poor the data is on the holders. There is still some doubt as to where and when Samuel Wassall was born. The VC/GC reserach project has not solved it. Nor has Robert Hope who has written about the 80th in AZW. Even so someone has put the rumour about that SW was the youngest holder at the time and this fact has been reproduced in many books. We will have straighten the record out and give the credit to Robert Jones.
18th November 2002	John S Radburn Martin Not only is there doubt as to where and when Samuel Wassall was born but to whom. About three to four years ago I contacted the two authors in question and they both gave me the same answer. We obtained our information from the descendents. On even gave me a photocopy of his birth certificate, but doesn't necessarly prove that it was our Samuel Wassall. Regards John R
19th November 2002	John Young Dear Martin, Obviously Robert Hope & James Bancroft vary on their findings in their respective works. This was apparently caused by the birth of two Samuel Wassalls in 1856; one in Aston and one in Kingswinford. If as it would appear from John's reply, the two authors now concur, perhaps someone can enlighten us as to which one is correct? I am aware James Bancroft has mentioned his findings in the V.M.S. journal 'Soldiers of the Queen' in the past.
19th November 2002	Martin Everett Dear John, I was waiting for Robert Hope to come back having looked at the records in the Staffordshires' Museum on this one. A considerable amount of research on Wassall's NOK and DOB has been done by the VC/GC Project Team in Horse Guards without coming up with a definitive answer. Much of the published information regarding AZW VCs seems to include rehash earlier errors. For instance the reference to Bromhead's uniform in Magnus CofE School - the uniform is clearly that of Col Charles Bromhead from ther rank and medal ribbons not that of Goville VC. Also there is no reference to Bromhead on the Colour pike of the Queen's Colour 1/24th - I had the AZW Colours down this year and the silver plate only mentions Melvill abd Coghill. So you will have to wait for the VC/GC Research Project to publish their findings in 2003 to get closer to the truth - hopefully.