Born at Camberwell, Surrey; trade–clerk. Attested at Liverpool on 8/2/77, aged 23 years. Description: 5ft 8½in tall, sallow complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Embarked at Bombay, for England, in HM Troopship Malabar on 28/10/81. Following a medical examination at Netley on 25/11/81, he was found to be suffering from melancholia caused by an ‘hereditary predisposition and aggravated by self-abuse’. His illness was found to be permanent and he would be unable to contribute to his own support. He was declared insane and discharged unfit for further service on 27/12/81. Intended place of residence: c/o Union Authorities, Camberwell, Surrey. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
1241 Private CHESTER Thomas
Born at Calthorpe, Leicester; trade – labourer. Religion: C/E. Attested at Bow Street Police Court on 19/2/77, aged 24 years 7 months. Description: 5ft 10¼in tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean and India. Appointed lance corporal 16/2/78. Reverted to private 25/6/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Returned to England, from India, on 28/5/83. Married Ellen Cave at Cheltenham on 9/12/83. Served in South Wales Borderers but did not transfer to the regiment. Discharged to army reserve on 21/6/83, having served 6 years 121 days. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
1335 Private CHICK James
Attested on 8/3/77. Posted to 2/24th on 11/5/77. Acted as assistant schoolmaster during 1877. He served in D Company, and despite being a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift, he assisted in the defence. Killed in action. (Appendix A.) Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s official report on the action. 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.)
755 Private CLAYTON Thomas
Born at Leominster, Herefordshire; trade – labourer. Attested at Monmouth on 9/2/76, aged 20 years 8 months. Posted to 2/24th on 10/3/76. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Died of disease at Helpmekaar on 5/4/79. (He left the sum of £10 18s. 3d.) Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, the latter gives his initial incorrectly as ‘F’).
1459 Private COLE Robert
Born at Chatham, Kent; trade – gun maker. Religion: C/E. Attested at Brecon on 29/10/77, aged 19 years. Description: 5ft 6in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. Posted to 2/24th on 13/12/77. Served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. He served in F Company and was, presumably, a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift. (Corporal Michael McMahon, Army Hospital Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing Private Cole from the Zulus at Rorke’s Drift.) Posted from India to England on 1/12/83. Married Elizabeth Gibelin at St Bartholomew’s Church, Birmingham, on 20/4/84. To South Wales Borderers on 1/7/81, but did not transfer to the regiment. Discharged to Army Reserve at Brecon on 8/12/83. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
801 Private COLE Thomas
Attested at Monmouth on 23/3/76, aged 20 years 10 months. Posted to 2/24th on 20/6/76. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Killed in action. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s official report on the action, also in letters by Private Hook and Corporal Lyons. 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.)
1396 Private COLLINS Thomas
Born at Camrose, Haverfordwest, Pembroke; trade – labourer. Religion: C/E. Attested at Monmouth on 22/5/77, aged 22 years. Previously served in the Monmouth Militia. Description: 5ft 6½in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean, 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. Re-engaged for the South Wales Borderers (SWB 28) at Ranikhet, Bengal, on 19/8/89. As a result of his service and the climate, he suffered from rheumatism, and following a medical examination at Netley he was invalided as ‘unfit for further service’ on 16/6/91. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
906 Private CONNOLLY John
Born at Trevethin, Monmouth; trade – labourer. Religion: R/C. Attested at Newport on 20/11/76, aged 20 years 8 months. Description: 5ft 6½in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair. Previously served in Monmouth Militia. Posted to 2/24th on 25/11/76. He served in C Company and was a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift. Wrongly named as Conley and injury incorrectly described as a ‘broken leg’. In actual fact, Connolly was suffering from synovitis due to a partial dislocation of the left knee, caused whilst loading a wagon at the Lower Tugela river. He was brought before an Invaliding Board in Natal on 11/3/79, and recommended for return to this country. Following an examination by a medical board at Netley he was found unfit for further service and invalided from the army on 25/8/79. Medal for South Africa clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll which gives his number as ‘106’, and ‘Ba’ roll, also ‘D’ list.)
2310 Private CONNORS Anthony
Date of attestation not traced. He arrived in India to join the 2/24th on 28/12/71. In July 1873 he was sentenced to 168 days hard labour at Millbank Prison. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Sent to Netley on 18/7/80. No trace of date of discharge. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll, which gives his name incorrectly as ‘Arthur’, also on ‘B’ roll with wrong initial ‘H’ amended to ‘A’ on ‘Ba’ roll, also on ‘D’ list.)
1323 Private CONNORS Timothy
Born at Killeaty, Co. Cork; trade – labourer. Attested at Bandon on 15/3/60. Description: 5ft 4¾in tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark brown hair. Served in India, Mauritius, South Africa and Gibraltar. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Re-enlisted at Rangoon on 26/7/67. He was discharged at Colchester on 2/5/82, having served 21 years 7 months (LSGC Medal). Intended place of residence: Lough, near Bandon, Co. Cork. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
2453 Private COOPER William
Date of attestation not traced. Posted to 2/24th in January 1873 when stationed at Warley. Served in ‘F’ Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Sent to Netley on 1/2/80 and subsequently discharged to the army reserve. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’ issued on 17/6/81. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.). Attended Military Tattoo at Gateshead with Frank Bourne in 1934. Committed suicide in 1942 while suffering from depression, probably as a result of long-term tuberculosis and pleurisy.
470 Private DAVIES George
Attested at Wrexham on 15/10/74, aged 21 years. Posted to 2/24th on 4/12/74. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. There is no trace of his name in the regimental records after 4/3/81, and it is presumed that he was discharged on or about this date. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1363 Private DAVIS William Henry
Born at St Bartholomew’s, London; trade – porter. Religion: C/E. Attested at Bow Street Police Court on 26/2/77, aged 24 years. Description: 5ft 4½in tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean and India. Served in B Company in the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Transferred to army reserve on 21/1/83. Discharged on 10/8/89. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1178 Private DAW Thomas
Born at Merriott, Somerset; trade – labourer. Religion: C/E. Attested at Crewkerne on 5/2/77, aged 18 years 6 months. Description: 5ft 4½in tall, florid complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. Served in South Africa, India and Mediterranean. Served in B
Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Served in South Wales Borderers from 1/8/81 but did not transfer to regiment. Discharged to army reserve on 31/5/83. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1467 Private DEACON George
Born at Bank; trade – clerk. Attested at Chatham on 10/11/77, aged 19 years. Confined in cells from 12 to 18 March 1878. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Confined in cells from 11 to 24 February 1879 for ‘Failing to obey an order’. Deserted at Pietermaritzburg on 9/9/79. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. Medal rolls searched on 6/1/20 under 19/Inf/239 and 2177. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls.)
1357 Private DEANE Michael
Attested on 10/3/77. Posted to 2/24th on 26/1/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Deserted at Gibraltar on 22/7/80. Did not, therefore, receive his campaign medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, the latter giving his initial incorrectly as W, also on ‘D’ list.)
1697 Private DICK James
Born at Island Magee, Co. Antrim; trade – labourer. Attested at Belfast on 3/2/65, aged 18 years. Description: 5ft 7in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, curly brown hair. Served in India, South Africa and Mediterranean. May have served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Re-engaged at Secunderabad on 18/11/71. Discharged at his own request on 20/2/89, having completed 24 years 15 days service. (LSGC Medal.) Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. Incorrectly named on medal as W. Dicks (see next entry). (Ref. ‘B’ roll only named as 1697 W. Dicks.) In view of the confusion regarding this man and 1634 Pte William Dicks, it is impossible to determine whether either or both were present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. James Dick was illiterate and therefore may not have been aware of the confusion regarding his true name.
1634 Private DICKS William
Born at Islington, London; trade – labourer. Attested at Westminster Police Court on 26/11/64, aged 17 years. Description 5ft 6in tall, fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. Transferred tom 1/24th to 2/24th on 31/1/65. Served in India, South Africa and Mediterranean. Re-engaged at Secunderabad on 6/8/72. Appointed lance corporal 17/9/77. Promoted corporal 14/11/77. Appointed lance sergeant 3/5/78. Reduced to private on 19/9/78. May have served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Served in South Wales Borderers from 1/7/81, but did not transfer to regiment. Next of kin: sister, Mrs A. Framplar, 42 Havelock Street, London. Discharged on 9/2/86, having completed 21 years 65 days service. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll only.) The official records frequently confuse him with James (‘William’) Dick (see previous entry). For example, his medical history sheet originally bore James Dick’s number 1697, which was later amended to the correct number 1634, also on ‘D’ list.
971 Private DRISCOLL Thomas
Attested on 15/12/76. Posted to 2/24th on 22/1/77. Served in South Africa and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Transferred from B to A Company on 29/1/79. Served in South Wales Borderers but did not transfer to regiment. Date of discharge not traced. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
1421 Private DUNBAR James
Attested at Newport on 20/6/77. Posted to 2/24th on 13/12/77. Appointed lance corporal 1/2/78. Promoted corporal 15/3/78. Reduced to private and awarded 28 days hard labour on 22/7/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s letter to Queen Victoria. Served in India and returned to England on 11/4/83. Discharged to army reserve on 9/10/83. Intended place of residence: Newport. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
972 Private EDWARDS George (Real name George Edward Orchard)
Born at Charles Street, St James’s, Bristol, in 1855. He worked as a shoemaker’s apprentice and in the building trade before enlistment. Attested at Newport on 24/11/76, aged 21 years. To 2/24th on 15/12/76. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Confined to cells for 10 days during June 1880. Served in India and returned to England on 29/1/83. Discharged in 1889. Intended place of residence: Withy Mill, Paulton, Somerset. Married (wife – Rena, Elizabeth), and had 10 children. Lived at New Pit, Paulton, Somerset, and worked in a boat factory. Died on 14/2/04 and is buried at Paulton Cemetery. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
969 Private FAGAN John
Attested on 13/12/76. Posted to 2/24th on 22/1/77. Convicted by Civil Power to 5 days imprisonment on 7/11/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Killed in action. Mentioned by Lieutenant Chard in his report of the action. 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. ‘B’ and ‘B’ rolls.)
2429 Private GEE Edward
Attested in November 1872. Transferred from 1/24th 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. Transferred to army reserve under AGL 120, date of transfer not recorded. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
798 Private HAGAN James
Born at Neenagh, Co. Tipperary; trade – labourer. Religion: R/C. Attested at Monmouth on 23/3/76, aged 18 years 7 months. Previously served in Royal Monmouth Militia. Description: 5ft 6½in tall, grey eyes, brown hair, fresh complexion. Next of kin, Mary Ann Martland, N.E. America. Served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. To South Wales Borderers Depot on 25/11/81. Transferred to army reserve on 24/3/82. Recalled to army service at Salford, Lancashire, on 3/8/82. Re-transferred to army reserve on 8/2/83. Married Catherine Barry at Treforrest, Glamorgan, on 8/7/72. Discharged from army reserve on 23/3/88. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll only, also on ‘D’ list incorrectly named as ‘Hogan’.)
1062 Private HARRIS John
Born at Crickhowell, Breconshire; trade – labourer. Religion: Wesleyan. Attested at Brecon on 15/1/77, aged 19 years. Previously served in the Royal South Wales Borderers Militia Rifles. Description: 5ft 6in tall, sallow complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair. Posted to 2/24th on 31/1/77. Served in India, South Africa and Gibraltar. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. (Confirmed by entries in his service documents, ‘Present at Defence of Rorke’s Drift’ and ‘Compensation – loss of kit at defence of Rorke’s Drift’.) He was brought before a medical board at Gibraltar on 16/7/80 and invalided from the service as a result of chronic osteoarthritis. Sent to Netley on 24/7/80 and discharged as unfit for further service on 14/9/80. Intended place of residence: Wandsworth, Surrey. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
1769 Private HAYDEN Garret
Attested at Dublin on 9/12/65, aged 18 years. Description: 5ft 5in tall, joined the battalion at Port Blair on 11/7/67. Appointed drummer on 1/10/68. Reduced to private on 10/9/76. He served in D Company and was a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift. He was killed and mutilated by the Zulus when they broke into the hospital. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s official report on the action. At the time of his death Hayden’s home was in John Street, Brecon. Effects claimed by his father. 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.)
1362 Private HITCH Frederick VC
Born at Edmonton, London, on 28/11/56. Religion: C/E. Attested at Westminster Police Court on 7/3/77; trade – bricklayer’s labourer. Age given as 20 years 3 months. (He was illiterate at the time of his enlistment.) Description: 5ft 8¾in tall, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair. Posted to 2/24th on 11/5/77. Served in B Company and wounded in action at Rorke�
�s Drift. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s report on the action, also in his letter to Queen Victoria. Hitch wrote an account of his part in the battle, and he is also mentioned in a narrative by Private Hook. Private Hitch was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct at Rorke’s Drift, and received his decoration from Queen Victoria at Netley on 12/8/79. Hitch was sent to Netley on 10/6/79, and following examination by a medical board on 28/7/79 he was invalided from the service on 25/8/79. Intended place of residence: Southgate, Middlesex. He obtained employment as a commissionaire at the Royal United Services Institute, Whitehall, and whilst there his VC was stolen from his coat. A replacement VC was ordered by King Edward VII and this was presented to him in 1908. In later years Hitch became a cab driver in London, and resided at 62 Cranbrook Road, Chiswick. He died on 7/1/13, and was buried at Chiswick cemetery on 11/1/13. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’, issued on 23/5/81. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
1373 Private HOOK Alfred Henry VC
Born at Churcham, Gloucestershire in May 1850. Attested at Monmouth on 13/3/77; trade – farm labourer. Previously served in the Monmouth Militia for a period of 5 years. (He was a married man and enlisted in the regular army as the result of a foreclosure on a mortgage.) Posted to 2/24th on 11/5/77. Served in B Company and slightly wounded whilst defending the hospital at Rorke’s Drift. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s report on the action and also in his letter to Queen Victoria. Transferred from B to G Company on 29/1/79, and appointed servant to Major Black. Private Hook was awarded the Victoria Cross and received his decoration from Sir Garnet Wolseley at Rorke’s Drift on 3/8/79. Hook purchased his discharge for £18 on 25/6/80. On returning to his home at Churcham he discovered his property had been sold and his wife, who believed he had been killed, had remarried. He moved to Sydenham Hill, London, and on 26/12/81 he commenced employment as a labourer at the British Museum, later becoming a cloakroom attendant in the reading room. He married Ada Taylor at Islington on 10/4/97. Hook suffered from ill health, but despite this he served for many years as a Sergeant in the 1st Vol. Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. His health continued to deteriorate and he was advised to retire, which he did on 31/12/04. Harry (as he preferred to be called) Hook returned to Gloucester and died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 12/3/05 at 2 Osborn Villas, Roseberry Avenue, Gloucester. He was buried in the churchyard at Churcham. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
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