LIVING HISTORY by Graham Mason   [ Picture ]

Many years ago when the world was a kinder place and I had a waistline, I saw a film called "Zulu". Little did I know that it would prove to be a source of great personal satisfaction and to my becoming a keen researcher and what I call a "Zuluologist".

Do the names Charles MASON, Caleb WOOD or George William MABIN mean anything to you? They didn't to me until a number of years ago when visiting a friend in South West London of many years standing: as he was making a cup of tea I picked up a book called "The Silver Wreath"by Norman Holmes and it contained amongst others a roll call of the defenders of Rorke's Drift or "Kwajimu"(Jim's Place), a mission station that after 125 years has stood the test of time and been researched ever since it entered the history books. I didn't realise what path I had set out on. At the time I was living in Waltham Abbey, Essex, and found out much later that one of the defenders (Fred HITCH VC) came from nearby Southgate in North London: more about Fred later.

The three men I mentioned earlier were also part of that little garrison on the fateful day of Jan 22 1879. Once I started asking questions I opened a veritable floodgate of enquiries resulting in my life changing forever.

Back in the 1880s life was harsh and grim, rampant poverty was everywhere, especially in the big cities. To escape the grinding reality many men joined the army in the hope of a better life. In Victoria's day, when a man enlised he firstly joined the army and the authorities then decided which regiment he would be sent to. It is a misconception that the 24th Regt of Foot was a Welsh regiment, in fact it was an English regiment raised in the Midlands. The Warwickshire Regt consisted of two battalions, one being the 6th Regt of Foot (1st Battalion) and the other being the 24th Regt of Foot (2nd Battalion) which was recruiting in Brecon, South Wales. A Man had a choice of enlisting in the following: Infantry, General Service, Artillery or Cavalry. If he were to enlist in the first two he was expected to serve 10 years if aged 18, or 12 years if in the Artillery or Cavalry, odd when in that era a man attained his majority at 21. In the army, he was considered "of age" at 18.

If enlisting at 17 he was expected to serve 10 years plus another year to make up to 18 and so on. In many cases lads as young as 13 or 14 joined up. The 24th Foot were pretty bad when it came to record-keeping, many mistakes were made and until the Cardwell reforms of 1881 much confusion reigned when it came to an individual and his movements within the services. A man could be given a service number, say 1234, and could be sent by the brigade he joined to the first battalion of a regiment such as the 1/24th. If he were to transfer to the second battalion he would be given another number, say 5678. To confuse the issue even further he might decide to return to the first battalion and was given yet another number! It does not end there, however. For many men the regiment they were in was not suitable so they transferred to another regiment and, yes, were given another number. In the meantime the old number was issued to another man and much chaos ensured. Thankfully it was eventually realised that once given a number it was far better to retain this than have all these different numbers.

As stated, if a man enlisted in the Infantry he was expected to serve 10 years if aged 18. However, the recruiting Sergeants had a little ploy I only discovered when I started obtaining service papers held at Kew in London (now known as the National Archives, I prefer to call them by the old name: The Public Record Office).

I soon found out that in the majority of cases the enlistment sheet was missing: reason? Well, I saw that when recruited in a lot of cases a man had signed up for 12 years as opposed to 10 if it was for the Infantry. This way an extra 2 years was "stolen" from a man's life. Other papers, where the enlistment sheet is intact, indicate that men did sign up for 10 years for General Service or the Infantry. Discipline was harsh and a man was still liable to be flogged for minor offences: losing a pair of boots was one of the worst crimes he could have committed.   [ Picture ]

The holding brigade for the 24th Regt of Foot (all named differently after the Cardwell reforms of 1881) was 25 Brigade. It is a misconception that the 2/24th were mainly Welsh, this is not so. Many were from Eire and just as many from London and the Home Counties. Charles MASON, a solder maker, was from Aldersgate in London; Caleb WOOD from Ruddington in Nottinghamshire worked in the lace industry while George William MABIN originally from Bristol had transferred from the Rifle Brigade to become a clerk - three quite different occupations. All three found themselves on Jan 22 1879 at Rorke's Drift, which was used as a store depot and makeshift hospital, as I'm sure you are aware. In the main the small garrison was of "B" Company 2/24th with various other odds and sods attached. Many were in the converted hospital due to drinking contaminated water. Nothing was known about water-borne diseases in 1879.

In charge to start with was a Maj SPALDING, responsible for overseeing the stores and equipment for the column at nearby Isandlwana. he decided to go and look for reinforcements himself rather than send Lt Gonville BROMHEAD who was the officer in charge of "B" Coy 2/24th. At the nearby river-crossing constructing ponts (floating ferries) was Lt John Rouse Marriot CHARD Royal Engineers. Both were to win VCs later that day and both would be dead before they reached the age of 50, Bromhead dying in India and Chard of tongue cancer due to an over-fondness of tobacco. Bromhead was quite deaf and Chard considered somewhat of a plodder, typical reasons why this type of officer was stationed in this location. The duties were pretty boring but there was an abundance of ammunition and mealie bags which proved so useful on the afternoon of January 22 1879.

Amongst the garrison whose numbers are still a topic for argument was one James Langley DALTON, an old "sweat" from the 85th Regt. He was in the fledgling Commissariat unit and had a very good knowledge of Zulu matters: for my money he was the man truly responsible for the successful defence on that day. I am not going into the battle at Rorke's Drift as the basic facts are well-known. However, since I have researched the men involved I have estimated that 152 is the best number of men in total that took part in that action. The NCO in charge of the men was Frank BOURNE. Later to be a Lt Colonel DCM, he was aged but 23 when in charge as C/Sgt and known as the "Kid". He became a C/Sgt in 1878 but there was one senior, that was George William MABIN, the "Fighting Clerk: as he was known, who went on to serve 30 years unblemished service, fell in love with South Africa and eventually settled there. He was in his 90s when he died in 1938. The last person to pass away was Frank BOURNE on VE Day 1945 aged 91.

I am still amazed that Mabin who was a Chief Clerk at this time was never called upon to produce a roll of the garrison. This was left to Chard who was the senior officer when Maj Spalding left as opposed to Bromhead, and to C/Sgt Bourne the SNCO of the men under his command he produced TWO lists. A fourth was compiled by a Maj DUNBAR and he was not even there! Legend has it that Chard asked Gunner CANTWELL of the Royal Artillery to compile a list: this I find hard to accept but such is the stuff of legend.

Amongst the VC winners was Cpl SCHIESS NNC who was Swiss by birth. Incredibly, he was to die of malnutrition at the age of 28 when aboard ship heading for the UK. Playing devil's advocate, I wonder just how many VCs awarded for this action were warranted; some argue that BROMHEAD and CHARD only received theirs because they were officers.

Of the 11 recipients only Alfred HOOK was awarded his at Rorke's Drift. Fred HITCH from Southgate in London has become my favourite for many reasons.

In 1998 at Brecon The 1879 Group was born, thanks to Maurice Jones and Roger Morgan, both keen followers of the Ango Zulu War of 1879. You can check the Group out at www.1879Group.com and see what they do.   [ Picture ]

Part of their activities involves rededication of graves. About 60 or 70 graves of the garrision of Rorke's Drift are still to be found but once a year the Group aim to dedicate a grave of a man who fought in this campaign. This year alone, being the 125th anniversary of the battle at Kwajimu, many celebrations were held both in South Africa and in the United Kingdom. On January 25th 2004 at Chiswick a Blue Plaque was, after much effort and research, erected to Fred HITCH VC.   [ Picture ]   [ Picture ] On June 20th at Bredgar in Kent, a monument restored was dedicated to a Private soldier (Pte Ashley GOATHAM 1/24th) who fell at Isandlwana on his 24th birthday.   [ Picture ] A unique event took place at Ruddington in Nottinghamshire when two men from the same village, Robert TONGUE and Caleb WOOD   [ Picture ]   [ Picture ] who were defenders at Rorke's Drift, had headstones erected thanks to the enthusiasm of keen followers of this campaign. Members of the 1879 Group attended these occasions in period uniform and there are some 100+ descendants of men who fought in the Anglo Zulu War now part of the Group.   [ Picture ]

Currently under investigation in Natal is the grave location of Gunner CANTWELL DCM who died in Addington Hospital Durban on August 14th 1900. Resting places of many more men have still to be found. Much more can be written on this subject and if required I shall write another piece on this most fascinating period of military history.

Footnote: In the film "Zulu" Stanley Baker asks Michael Caine "Who is the Sgt with the muscles?" As the man in question was in shirt sleeves, how did he know he was a Sgt? Thank you and goodnight,

Graham Mason - Anglo-Zulu War Researcher.   [ Picture ]