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Date	Original Topic
19th February 2001	Isandlwana fugitive on foot By Alan Critchley I have been told that there was only one survivor from Isandlwana who escaped on foot. He eventually became a General, and died in a road accident in Wiltshire. If true, does anyone have a name? Alan Critchley
Date	Replies
19th February 2001	John Young Alan, This is my hero, Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien, and to your delight a Hertfordshire man to boot! Attached as a special service officer from the 95th, and the subject of my next Sandhurst lecture. Lost his horse at the Fugitives' Drift and from there swam the Buffalo and run to Helpmekaar. In 1991 I had the honour to meet his only surviving son. I could mail you my piece on him if you'd like. John
20th February 2001	Barry Iacoppi Could you post you piece on here John ? I am sure that others here would like to see it.
13th March 2001	Mike McCabe Curiously, Rupert Furneaux in his 1963 book: "The Zulu War, Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift" cites the usual source (Brickhill) on page 102 on the fate of "Band Sergeant Gamble", but then lists, presumably the same person, amongst other survivors in the statement (page 106, of the JP Lippincoat Edition): "Other survivors were Henderson (a police officer in Durnford's force), Sergeant Gamble, Mr. Foley, and Hamer (a commissioned officer)." He does not attribute the source of the information, which is unsurprising in this very compact book. It is possible that Gamble did indeed survive on this basis. Brickhill left him while still alive and on foot, but in poor state. However, it would be nice to know which source or observer report would actually support such a theory.
13th March 2001	Mike McCabe Except, of course, for "the inconvenient fact".1-24/570 Sgt David Gamble is recorded on the 1st Bn Casualty Roll as killed, apparently based on the eye witness report of 139 Private John Williams - who also left Sgt Gamble still alive. "On my way to the drift I passed Band Sgt Gamble 1/24th Regiment on foot but could give him no assistance." It is not too clear whether Brickhill or Williams saw Sgt Gamble last; both apparently saw him on the Fugitives trail rather than at the drift itself. Could there have been another (Colonial) Sgt Gamble referred to by Brickhill.
20th March 2001	John Green John Keegan's "The Penguin Book Of War" contains a very good account by (then) LT Smith-Dorrien on his flight from Isandhlwana
12th February 2002	julian Whybra No, there was no other Gamble other than the poor Band Sergt. Do not rely on Furneaux's book - it's packed with errors.