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Date	Original Topic
2nd December 2002	Pte Waters Rorkes Drift Action By Clive Dickens Does anyone know if Pte Waters 24ft was charged for his conduct in the Rorkes Drift Action, he was said to have escaped the Hospital about the same time as Pte Harry Hook VC but hid in a cupboard and when he finally ventured out he did so in a Black coat and hid under that untill the fighting had virtually finished,I would have thought it would be a charge of cowardice in the face of the enemy at least ,I would imagine the other survivors would have been very hostile towards him he certainly would have not been flavour of the month anyway. Clive
Date	Replies
3rd December 2002	Martin Everett Dear Clive, I will have a look in the 2nd Battalion Order Book to see whether it mentions anything.
3rd December 2002	James Garland Clive, I doubt very much if the other defenders would have considered Waters a coward. The fighting in the hospital was so desperate and confused each man must have done what he thought best. In fact others also fled the hospital into the bush one of whom hid next to a dead horse until it was safe to go in. My experience of soldiers is that those at the front are far more forgiving than support troops or civilians ( or in fact anyone who hasn't been through the same experience). You only have to read accounts left by front line WW1 soldiers to see the sympathy they had for soldiers who broke. James
3rd December 2002	PETER HARMAN Clive Private waters did take refuge in a cupboard.He took with him a private Beckett who was an Invalid soon after the zulus fired the hospital roof Private Waters killed many zulus before having to leave due to the place becoming suffocating.Before leaving he put on a black coat which might have belonged to Mr Witt. Lieutenant Chard interviewed Waters after the battle and was able to complete the story.Chard states" Waters made his way to the cook- house where he found 'the zulus were occupying this and firing at us from the wall nearest us'. It was' too late to retreat',so waters 'crept softly to the fire place and standing in the chimmy,blackened his hands and face with soot.He remained there until the zulus left. Clive I think under the circumstances waters certainly would not have be charge with cowardice.After all CHARD was more than satisfied with his behaviour. What would you have done in waters position.
4th December 2002	Clive Dickens Fair comment evryone. but on a lighter side I visited Rorkes Drift a few weeks ago and also in March of this year and poor Pte Waters is still in that cupboard in the museum, is it not about time someone told him he can come out now the war has been over a long time Clive