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Date	Original Topic
28th January 2003	Adendorff arrested in Pietermaritzburg By Lee Stevenson Has anyone come across any evidence to confirm that Lt. Adendorff was actually arrested in Pietermaritzburg in the weeks after RD, as has been suggested?
Date	Replies
28th January 2003	John Young Lee, The only place I found anything contemporary on his arrest was in 'Reminiscences of the Zulu War' by John Maxwell, edited by Leonie Twentyman Jone, published in 1979. Page 10-11 states: '...Lieutenant Higginson by this time thought he had sufficiently rested considering the numerous splashes about in the water caused from the fire of the Zulus on the bank, and handing the Colour to Melville made for Helpmaaker and on to Pietermaritzburg. On his arrival in Maritzburg, he and the only two others of the 3rd N.N.C. who got out of the fight, Lieutenants Vane and Adendorff were placed under arrest and ordered back to Rorke's Drift. ...' (Original spellings retained.) It was on the evidence of the 'J.M' documents at the Killie Campbell Archive, that I believe Donald Morris mentioned the arrest. John
29th January 2003	Melvin Hunt Does this confirm that Adendorff didn't stay to fight at Rorkes Drift? Although he is mentioned by Chard during the fight, is there anything written to confirm his activities immediately after the fight and upto the time of his arrest? Why would he have stayed for the RD battle knowing what happened at Isandlwana, fought the Zulu and THEN deserted?
29th January 2003	John Young Melvin, No, it does not, as far as I'm concerned. Maxwell's is the only version I've discovered to mention anything to do with any arrests. Harford in his almanac, housed at the Local History Museum, Durban, states that Adendorff was present at the defence of Rorke's Drift. Can Maxwell by relied upon as a witness? Bearing in mind he is only quoting hearsay on other things. Look at the above - '...handing the Colour to Melville...' What's this shades of 'Zulu Dawn'? - The Colour crossing the river after all, rather than being lost in the torrent! So can we actually rely on anything he wrote? Maxwell is also the source for Adendorff leaving '...the field rather early.' Leonie Twentyman Jones does actually give an exact date for Maxwell's handwritten text, but it could have been anytime between 1879 and 1884, judging by her conclusions. There are others who put Adendorff at Rorke's Drift. A fact that some modern writers seem unconvinced by, yet fail, in my opinion, to prove their case that he didn't take part in the defence of Rorke's Drift. JY, R.Z.W.S.
30th January 2003	Peter Quantrill John, Maxwell's Preface to LTJ's publication begins"This story was written in 1875,when all events of which it tells were fresh in my mind." An obvious mistake. Should it be 1885 or more likely,1879, as the author indicates,"while events were fresh."The Christmas numberof the Natal Witness was published in 1884,and the text varies from LTJ's. Maxwell's Reminiscences take licence in recording hearsay events,and accordingly suspect. If,as he states,"Lieuts. Vane and Adendorff,who escaped,were placed under arrest and ordered back to Rorke's Drift" what happened on their arrival there.? If the officers were "placed under arrest" it follows that they would have been subject to a disciplinary hearing.Nothing of the sort was subsequently evidenced. I believe you are correct,and that Ardendorff fought at Rorke's Drift.