906 Pte. John Connolly redication |
re-dedication |
Colin Fielding
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Well done to those involved in organising the event, hope it goes well for you.
Unfortunately, being midweek I can't get there but will make a point of visiting when I am next in the area. Regards, Colin Fielding. |
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Alan
Site Admin
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The chap's name is Peter Hall. He's spent a lot of time on the project
and it's a credit to him and everyone involved. It does look a bit lonely. |
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Pte Connolly |
Colin Fielding
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Is this the same Pte Connolly that was in the hospital building with a twice re-arranged leg?
Regs, Col. |
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Alan
Site Admin
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There was 199 John Connolly who was killed at Isandhlwans as was his brother 722 Pte. Cornelius.
906 Connolly was the only one at RD. The Noble 24th. only mentioned a partial dislocation to a knee at the Lower Tugela on 25/02/79. |
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Colin Fielding
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Thanks, that'll be him then!
Regs, Col. |
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Alan
Site Admin
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You may be interested in this YouTube video of the rededication. https://youtu.be/ov-BQHGvIXM |
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Alan
Site Admin
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There has been a tracing of Pte. Connolly's present day relatives, thanks to the efforts of Peter Hall and
John Thomas. Here is a report by Peter on their visit to the newly dedicated grave. Private John Connolly was at the battle of Rorke�s Drift but was buried in an unmarked paupers grave at Danygraig Cemetery Port Tennant Swansea in 1906 - he laid buried and forgotten for 113 years until recently when a memorial stone was given free of charge by Nurse and Payne Memorials and his grave re-dedicated after some detective work by local Swansea historians Peter Hall and John Thomas. Although the quest to have a memorial for Private John Connolly was achieved it was hoped that living relatives of Private Connolly could be traced. At the time of the memorial rededication it was thought that the chances of John Connolly having living relatives seemed very obscure but Peter Hall and John Thomas sought the help of two Swansea genealogists Anthony James and John Griffiths. They put together a family tree of the Connolly family and their movements from Swansea in 1906 and traced them to the area of Monmouth. Private John Connolly had originally joined the Monmouth Militia and then went on to the 24th Warwickshire Regiment that fought at Rorke�s Drift, so was it possible that the family had relocated back to the Monmouth area. After an article in the South Wales Argus Alison, Kevin and Emma Connolly of Monmouth contacted Peter Hall - Kevin Connolly said that a family member was at Rorke�s Drift but didn�t know any other details other than what a relative had told him. For a number of years Alison Connolly had tried to find out if the story was correct but it couldn�t be verified that is until the work of the Swansea genealogists and her own genealogy research did indeed confirm that Private John Connolly buried in Swansea was their long lost relative. At 10am On Saturday 31st August the Connolly family met Peter Hall and John Thomas at 1940s Swansea Bay Museum Swansea and then visited the grave of Private John Connolly where a wreath was laid by the family - they also visited two streets in Swansea where he lived one of which he was taken from to his final resting place. YouTube Video Link to Family Laying Wreath https://youtu.be/iEBWJRKOmy0 https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/paupers-grave-rededicated-as-swansea-historians-reunite-long-lost-family/ |
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Alan
Site Admin
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Great Job |
WelshPhill
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Thanks for this post.
I've been fascinated by the actions of those involved at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. I have a family connection with the Zulu wars which I'm trying to get to the bottom of. Not much success yet. I'm on a mission to create my own database of the graves in the UK and overseas, then (hopefully) visit them. I've done those in Philip's Park Manchester and hope to get to S Wales shortly. |
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Alan
Site Admin
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Many participants listed here have burial details and locations. Those in the 24th. Regt. are listed in 'The Noble 24th.' by Norman Holmes.
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906 Pte. John Connolly redication |
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