82 Lance Sergeant TAYLOR James
Born at Meltham, Halifax, Yorkshire; trade – clerk. Attested on 13/3/74 at Manchester, aged 19 years. Religion: C/E. Description: 5ft 8½in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean, India and Burma (IGS Medal with clasp ‘Burma 1887–89’). Promoted corporal 3/3/75. Reduced to private 27/5/75. Appointed lance corporal 10/1/76. Promoted corporal 4/8/76. Appointed lance sergeant 26/10/77. Reverted to corporal 25/11/77. Appointed lance sergeant 11/7/78. Served in E Company at the defence of Rorke’s drift. Promoted sergeant on 23/1/79, in E Company. Reduced to private 20/3/80. Extended his army service on 27/4/80. Promoted corporal 16/9/83. Appointed lance sergeant 3/9/84. Re-engaged in the South Wales Borderers (SWB 1682) at Madras on 23/11/85. Again promoted, eventually becoming orderly room sergeant on 5/6/91. Presumably discharged after 8/3/94. Next-of-kin: mother – Mrs S. Taylor, 33 Parkfield Road, Rusholme, Manchester. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll, ‘B’ roll gives his rank incorrectly as Corporal, also on ‘D’ list.)
1328 Lance Sergeant WILLIAMS Thomas
Attested at Brecon on 6/3/77. Posted to 2/24th on 13/12/77. Appointed lance corporal 8/1/78. Promoted corporal 1/2/78. Date of appointment to lance sergeant not recorded and it is possible that this may have been a local appointment. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Wounded in action and died of wound on 23/1/79. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s report and also in his letter to Queen Victoria. He is buried in the cemetery at Rorke’s Drift and his name appears on the monument. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. The medal roll gives his initial incorrectly as ‘J’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls.)
1240 Corporal ALLEN William Wilson VC
Born in 1844. Attested at York on 27/10/59, aged 15 years 8 months. Description: 5ft 4in tall. Joined the regiment at Aldershot on 31/10/59. He is known to have served in Mauritius and South Africa. During his early service career he was confined in cells Oct.–Nov. 1860, July–Sept. 1861, Jan.–March 1861, July, Aug., Sept. 1864, Oct.–Nov. 1864. Re-engaged in 1873. Posted to regimental depot on 21/4/74. Appointed lance corporal 18/5/76. Promoted corporal 6/7/77. Appointed assistant schoolmaster whilst at the depot, receiving an additional 6d. per day. Returned to 2/24th on 26/1/78. Appointed lance sergeant 22/5/78. Reverted to corporal on 21/10/78. Awarded Good Shooting and judging distance prize in 1878. His wife, Sarah Ann, who appears on the married roll at Brecon in 1879, received from him a monthly allowance of £3. Children born circa May 1877, July 1878, August 1880, April 1882 (twins). The twins seem to have died about 1883. Served in B Company and wounded in action at Rorke’s Drift. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s report on the action, and also in his letter to Queen Victoria. Corporal Allen was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct at Rorke’s Drift and received his decoration from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9/12/79. Following the action at Rorke’s Drift, he was sent to Pietermaritzburg and from there to England on 26/8/79. He was serving with the 3rd South Wales Borderers Militia at Brecon by 8/11/79 and later served with the Provisional battalion at Colchester. Appointed sergeant instructor of musketry (date not traced). Died on 12/3/90 aged 46 years at 85 Monnow Street, Monmouth, and was buried at Monmouth. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
582 Corporal FRENCH George
Born at Kensington, London; trade – groom. Attested at Westminster on 16/12/59, aged 18 years. Description: 5ft 4in tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Promoted corporal 8/11/60. (Followed by several demotions and promotions.) He gained extra pay as a fencing and gymnastics instructor. Promoted corporal 16/7/71. His wife, Mary, appears on the married roll in 1873; by 1877 they had two children. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Promoted sergeant in B Company 23/1/79. Later transferred to ‘G’ Company and reduced to private on 28/6/79. Promoted corporal 9/2/81. Reduced to private 3/8/81. Discharged on 3/1/82 on completion of his service (22 years 11 days). Intended place of residence: 8 Hillaire Street, London. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
2389 Corporal KEY John
Attested on 28/8/71 at Secunderabad, India. Appointed drummer in 1873. Reduced to private 25/9/77. Appointed lance corporal 3/5/78. Promoted corporal 13/7/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Appointed lance sergeant 31/3/79 in ‘H’ Company. Promoted sergeant 20/3/80. To unattached list 1/3/84, while at Secunderabad, which suggests he settled at the same place as he enlisted. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll where his rank is incorrectly given as lance corporal.)
1112 Corporal LYONS John
Attested on 28/1/77. Posted to 1/24th, transferred to 2/24th on 22/2/77. Appointed lance corporal 13/1/77. Promoted corporal 26/11/77. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift, where he was wounded in action (see p. 208). Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s letter to Queen Victoria (see p. 375), and also wrote an account of the battle. He was sent to the depot at Pietermaritzburg on 1/3/79. Date of discharge not traced. Died on 1/5/03. The bullet that had caused his wound was extracted and given to him as a memento. Lyons had the bullet mounted on a silver watch chain, which he evidently wore on his person. The bullet and chain are on display in the regimental museum at Brecon. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’ issued on 5/9/81. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, neither of which lists him as wounded, also on ‘D’ list.)
849 Corporal SAXTY Alfred
Born at Buckland Dinham, Somerset; trade – labourer. Attested at Newport on 18/9/76, aged 19 years. Religion: R/C. Description: 5ft 7½in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean, India and Burma (IGS Medal and clasp ‘Burma 1885–7’). Appointed lance corporal 24/4/77. Promoted corporal 23/8/77. Appointed lance sergeant 1/2/78. Reverted to corporal 11/7/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Promoted sergeant 23/1/79. Reduced to private 18/5/81. (Followed by several promotions and demotions.) Married Mary Copeland at Madras on 30/12/85. Children: Albert (b. 20/5/87 at Wellington). Following the death of his first wife, he married Mary Cole at Wellington, Madras. Children: Wilfred (b. 2/11/90 at Secunderabad), Leo (b. 20/12/94 at Rangoon). He re-engaged at Wellington, Madras on 1/1/88 into the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, to complete 21 years service. On 30/11/91 he transferred to the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in the rank of sergeant. Discharged at his own request at Thayetmyo, Burma, on 28/2/95 as a corporal with 18 years 170 days service. Admitted as an In-Pensioner at the Royal Military Hospital, Chelsea, on 12/6/1930. Died on 11/7/36, of myocarditis and senility, at Woolaston House Infirmary, Newport. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. Two replacement medals (for South Africa and Burma) issued under 68/GEN/5160. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, the latter giving his rank incorrectly as sergeant, also on ‘D’ list.)
1287 Lance Corporal BESSELL William
Born at Bethnal Green, London; trade – porter. Attested at Bow Street, London, on 26/2/77, aged 20 years 11 months. Religion: C/E. Description: fresh complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. Served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Appointed lance corporal 26/11/78. Promoted corporal 23/1/79, in B Company, vice Jones. Reduced to private 25/11/79. Transferred to army reserve on 28/6/83. Discharged 26/2/89. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll and ‘B’ roll which shows his name incorrectly as Bissell, also on ‘D’ list.)
1282 Lance Corporal HALLEY William
Attested on 3/3/77. Posted to 1/24th, transferred to 2/24th on 13/12/77. Served in South Africa, India and Burma. Appointed lance corporal 17/7/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Promoted corporal 23/1/79 in B Company vice French. Reduced to private 2/8/79. Appointed lance corporal 21/2/80. Reduced to private 10/1/82.
Died on 30/4/87 at Thayetmyo, Burma. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. Medal returned to mint on 23/11/97. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
1713 Drummer GALGEY Patrick
Attested at Cork on 12/3/65, aged 14 years. Description: 4ft 7½in tall. Appointed drummer 1/2/66. Joined the regiment in India on 5/4/69. Reduced to private 1/7/70. Appointed drummer 23/2/72. Served in D Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Reduced to private 1/2/80. Discharged (date not known) under AGL 89. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’ issued on 17/6/81. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
2067 Drummer HAYES Patrick
Born at Newmarket, Co. Clare: trade – labourer. Attested at Ennis on 8/9/68, aged 14 years. Description: 4ft 8¼in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair. Appointed drummer (boy) on 8/12/69. Reverted to boy 8/11/70. Appointed private 9/9/71. Appointed drummer 1/4/73. Served in India, South Africa, Mediterranean and Burma. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Re-engaged on 22/11/79. Appointed lance corporal 28/4/84. Promoted corporal 22/9/85. Reverted to private 10/9/87. Appointed bandsman 7/10/87. Permitted to continue in the service beyond 21 years by authority dated 19/10/89. Discharged on 30/11/92. Following his discharge he became a civilian workman at the barracks at Brecon, remaining in this capacity until well past 60 years of age. On retirement he lived at a house in Riverhall Street, Wandsworth Road, London. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
2381 Drummer KEEFE James
Born at St Andrew’s, London; trade – none. Religion: C/E. Attested at Marlborough Police Court on 3/3/71, aged 14 years 10 months. Description: 4ft 7½in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. private 4/3/73. Appointed drummer 21/8/74. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean, India and Burma. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Reengaged at Secunderabad on 18/12/79, to complete 21 years service. Reverted to private 6/4/83. (Followed by several promotions and demotions.) Transferred to South Wales Borderers (SWB 2311), as a private, on 10/10/87. Sent to depot and promoted corporal 28/11/89. Married Margaret Ellis at Brecon Registry Office on 17/4/89. (His son, also named James, served in the South Wales Borderers.) Transferred to 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, as permanent staff on 16/4/90, having been promoted sergeant on 15/4/90. To 3rd Volunteer Battalion – permanent staff – on 22/9/91. Permitted to continue in the service beyond 21 years, by authority dated 10/3/92. Appointed lance sergeant 4/3/92. Died on 18/9/93. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
Drummer MEEHAN John
Date of attestation not traced. He appears on the muster roll for 1/1/73, at Warley, as a ‘Private from the depot’. Appointed drummer 7/8/78. Awarded 42 days hard labour, of which 11 days were remitted, in June 1877 – yet still retained his rank. He was awarded a ‘Good Shooting’ prize in 1878. Served in A Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Posted from India to England, for discharge, on 29/1/83. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll, which names him incorrectly as Pat Meeham, and ‘Ba’ roll which appears to name him as T. Meechan, also on ‘D’ list.)
987 Private ADAMS Robert
Attested on 21/12/76. Previously served in East Middlesex Militia. Posted to 2/24th on 22/1/77. Sent to general depot on 1/11/78, returning on 21/12/78. He served in D Company and was a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift. Killed in action. Effects claimed under E/78649/4 AGL 77. He is buried in the cemetery at Rorke’s Drift and his name appears on the monument. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls.)
913 Private ASHTON James
Born at St Mary’s, Liverpool; trade – groom. Religion: C/E. Attested at Cork on 3/3/59, aged 17 years 9 months. Description: 5ft 5½in tall, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair. Served in Mauritius, East Indies and South Africa. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. There is a report that on 23 January, after the Zulus had been repulsed at Rorke’s Drift, Private Ashton appeared with a Zulu prisoner. No one in authority had time to spare for either the soldier or his prisoner, and he was told to dispose of the captive. It was later discovered that Ashton had taken this in a literal sense and had hanged the Zulu. Colour Sergeant Bourne stated that Ashton had told him: ‘I took him [the Zulu] to Lieutenant Bromhead and he told me to get the hell out of here with him – and I did.’ Similar confirmation is provided by Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien who had ridden to Rorke’s Drift on the day following the battle and was shocked to discover two Zulus hanging from the gallows he had erected to stretch hides. Private Ashton was discharged on 29/3/81, on completion of his service (21 years 110 days). Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, with the latter giving his number incorrectly as 912, also on ‘D’ list.)
1381 Private BARRY Thomas
Attested at Newport on 6/4/77. Posted to 2/24th on 11/5/77. Served in South Africa and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Returned to England from India on 26/4/83. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
918 Private BENNETT William
Attested at Brecon on 22/11/76. Posted to 2/24th on 15/12/76. Confined in cells from 29/10/78 to 5/11/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Sent to Netley on 1/2/80, and from there discharged to army reserve (AGL 149). Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1427 Private BLY John
Date of attestation not known. Posted to 2/24th on 1/1/73. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Sent to Netley on 1/2/80, and from there discharged to army reserve (AGL 149). Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1524 Private BROMWICH Joseph
Born at St Mary’s, Warwick; trade – porter. Religion: C/E. attested for the 6th Regiment, 28 Brigade (18B/1028), at Warwick on 27/8/77, aged 18 years. (His attestation papers originally gave his name as ‘Bromage’, this later being amended in all instances to his correct name. See note below re ‘B’ roll.) Description: 5ft 5½in tall, fair complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair. Next of kin: mother, Mrs M. Bromwich, 12 Brook Street, Warwick. Transferred as a private to 2/24th Regiment on 24/1/78. Served in South Africa, India and Mauritius. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Transferred to South Wales Borderers on 1/7/81. As a result of his military service and the climate, he developed chronic hepatitis resulting in an irreparably damaged liver. Following a medical examination at Netley on 1/7/82, his disability was found to be permanent and ‘Will for some 12 months impair his power of earning a living.’ He was invalided from the service on 25/7/82. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll and ‘Ba’ roll, which show him as Bromatch, also on ‘D’ list.)
1184 Private BUCKLEY Thomas
Attested on 15/2/77. Posted to 2/24th on 23/2/77. Served in South Africa, India and Burma (IGS Medal with clasps ‘Burma 1885–7’ and ‘Burma 1887–89’). Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Served in the South Wales Borderers, but did not transfer to the regiment. Appointed lance corporal 2/10/82. Promoted corporal 1/8/83. Reduced to private on 6/10/83. Returned to England on 12/1/89. He is known to have been alive in 1932. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. Two replacement medals (for South Africa and Burma) were issued to him on 5/7/24, under AG10/19689 and IV475/AG10 respectively. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, on ‘D’ list.)
1220 Private BURKE Thomas
Born at Liverpool, Lancashire; trade – labourer. Religion: R/C. attested at Liverpool on 14/2/77, aged 18 years. Previously served in 2nd Royal Lancashire Militia. Description: 5ft 4in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean, India and Burma (IGS Medal with clasp ‘Burma 1885–7’). Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke�
�s Drift. Appointed lance corporal 24/11/80. Promoted corporal 1/11/81. Served in South Wales Borderers, but did not transfer to the regiment. To army reserve on 21/6/83. Rejoined in 1st Liverpool Regiment on 19/10/84. Re-engaged at Fuzabad on 20/8/88, to complete 21 years service. (Followed by several demotions and promotions.) Discharged at his own request on 15/10/97, as a sergeant, after 18 years service. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
2350 Private BUSHE James
Born at St John’s, Dublin; trade – tailor. Religion: C/E. Attested at Dublin on 14/9/70, aged 18 years. Description: 5ft 5in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, black hair. Served in India, South Africa, Mediterranean and Burma (IGS Medal with clasp ‘Burma 1887–89’). Promoted corporal 20/11/75. Reduced to private 17/5/77. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Injured in action. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s letter to Queen Victoria. Appointed lance corporal 10/2/79 and transferred from B to F Company. Promoted corporal 28/11/79. Appointed lance sergeant 24/11/80. Served in South Wales Borderers, but did not transfer to the regiment. Reengaged at Secunderabad on 2/12/80, to complete 21 years service. Reverted to private, at own request, on 2/11/81. Appointed lance corporal 1/6/83. Promoted corporal 27/4/87. Discharged on 10/10/91. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, in both instances incorrectly shown as Bush, ‘B’ roll also gives his rank as corporal, on ‘D’ list.)
1181 Private CAMP William Henry
Rorke's Drift Page 26
