Rorke's Drift
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1061 Private JOBBINS John
Attested at Pontypool on 12/1/76. Previously served in Monmouth Militia. Posted to 2/24th on 31/1/77. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Described the battle in a letter to his father who was then working at the Crown Hotel, Pontypool. Returned to England from India on 29/1/83. Discharge not traced. Died at Pontnewenydd, Monmouthshire, in December 1934, aged 79 years. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ roll, also on ‘D’ list.)
1428 Private JONES Evan
Born at Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire; trade – labourer. Attested at Brecon on 20/7/77, aged 18 years 4 months. Previously served in Royal Monmouth Engineers. Description: 5ft 4½in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair. Religion: R/C. Posted to 2/24th on 26/1/78. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean, India and Burma (IGS Medal with clasp ‘Burma 1887–89’). Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Appointed drummer 8/8/80. Reverted to private 31/10/84. Appointed drummer 17/12/87. Served in South Wales Borderers from 21/7/89, but did not transfer to the regiment. Re-engaged at Ranikhet on 24/8/89. Transferred to Gloucester Regiment 30/9/89, to then unattached list on 10/10/89. Transferred to South Wales Borderers (SWB 2835) on 31/12/92. Reverted to private on 16/12/93. Appointed lance corporal 13/7/94. Appointed drummer 25/9/95. To South Wales Borderers at Brecon on 27/5/96 as permanent staff – 4th Battalion. Allowed to continue in the service beyond 21 years. Claimed discharge on 17/10/99. Married Alice Evans (widow) at Welshpool Registry Office on 15/10/98. Attested at Welshpool on 17/3/00 for Royal Northern Reserve Battalion (1226); trade – musician. Discharged on 16/3/01. Served in Montgomery Yeomanry, dates of service not traced. (Territorial Long Service Medal.) Attested at Aberystwyth on 15/4/15 for 2/7th Royal Welch Fusiliers (291067). Appointed drummer 9/5/15. Appointed lance corporal 29/8/15, acting corporal 24/8/16, acting lance sergeant 7/8/17. Discharged on 15/2/19. Attested at Wrexham on 12/8/19 as a private in the Northumberland Fusiliers (99052). Discharged on 10/2/20. Intended place of residence: 18 Union Street, Welshpool. At the time of his discharge he had served for 43 years. Died in 1931 aged 72 years and was buried at Welshpool. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll which shows him incorrectly as Evan Jordes, and ‘B’ roll which names him correctly, also on ‘D’ list.)
970 Private JONES John
Attested on 13/12/76. Posted to 2/24th on 22/1/77. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Served in South Wales Borderers but did not transfer to the regiment. Returned to England from India on 29/1/83. Date of discharge not traced. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
1179 Private JONES John
Born at Merthyr, Glamorgan; trade – labourer. Attested at Tredegar on 2/2/77, aged 24 years. Previously served in Cardiff Militia. Description: 5ft 5½in tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Religion: C/E. Posted to 2/24th on 23/2/77. Served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. To South Wales Borderers on 1/7/81, but did not transfer to regiment. Next of kin: cousin, D. Morgan, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil. Transferred to army reserve on 28/6/83. Discharged on 6/2/89. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, on ‘D’ list.)
716 Private JONES Robert VC
Born at Penrose, Raglan, Monmouth; trade – labourer. Attested at Monmouth on 10/1/76, aged 18 years 5 months. Description: 5ft 7½in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. Religion: C/E. Posted to 2/24th on 28/1/76. Served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. 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. Private Jones was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallant conduct at Rorke’s Drift, and received his decoration from Sir Garnet Wolseley at Utrecht on 11/9/79. To South Wales Borderers but did not transfer to regiment. Served at the depot from 1/7/81 to 26/1/82, then to army reserve. Recalled on 2/8/82 and re-transferred to reserve on 7/2/83. Discharged on 26/1/88. Married Elizabeth Hopkins at Llantilio on 7/1/85. Committed suicide on 6/9/98 and is buried at Peterchurch, Hereford. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, on ‘D’ list.)
593 Private JONES William VC
Born at Evesham, Worcester; trade – shoemaker. Attested at Birmingham on 21/12/58, aged 19 years. Description: 5ft 5in tall, sallow complexion, brown eyes, brown hair. Served in Mauritius, East Indies and South Africa. Promoted corporal 1/9/59. Reduced to private 4/9/60. Re-engaged at Rangoon on 10/1/68, to complete 21 years service. An unconfirmed story published in the Natal Mercury on Wednesday 18 June 1879 states: ‘When he [Jones] came here with his regiment his wife came with him, but after he had been at the front some time she became dangerously ill, and he obtained leave of absence to come down to attend to her. Jones took a little room in a house facing the St George’s hotel Tap, and there, by working night and day repairing boots and shoes, he managed to earn many comforts for his then dying wife. He was a steady, plodding fellow, but his wife was beyond recovery and he remained with her until she died. The next day he buried her remains, and at once started off to join his regiment…’ Served in B Company and assisted in the defence of the hospital at Rorke’s Drift. Mentioned in Lieutenant Chard’s report on the action, and also in his letter to Queen Victoria. Jones was awarded the Victoria Cross and received his decoration from the Queen at Windsor Castle on 13/1/80. Jones was examined by a medical board at Pietermaritzburg on 3/9/79 and was found to be suffering from chronic rheumatism. Invalided to England, he was sent to Netley and discharged on 2/2/80 as ‘unfit for further service due to chronic rheumatism of the joints’. Intended place of residence, 174 Lupin Street, Birmingham. Jones, having remarried, later moved to Rutland Street, Chorlton, Manchester. In 1912 he was found wandering the streets, and although able to identify himself, he could give no address. He was taken to Bridge St Workhouse, where, later having been identified by his wife, he was returned to his home. Jones was found to be ill and in an impoverished state. He had been forced to sell his VC some twenty years previously when out of work and unable to provide for his family. He died at 6 Brampton Street, Ardwick, Manchester, on 15/4/13. He was buried on 21/4/13 in a public grave at Phillip Park Cemetery (Bradford Ward), Manchester. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’ issued on 5/9/81. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
2437 Private JUDGE Peter
Date of attestation not traced. Posted to 2/24th in January 1873. Awarded a ‘Good Shooting’ prize in 1878. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Returned to England from India on 29/1/83. Discharged to army reserve (AGL 105), date not traced. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’ issued on 28/3/82. (The medal roll gives his initial incorrectly as ‘T’.) (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
972 Private REARS Patrick
Born at Liverpool, Lancashire; trade – labourer. Attested at Liverpool on 6/12/76, aged 19 years. Previously served in 2nd Royal Lancashire Militia. Description: 5ft 4¾in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Religion: R/C. Served in South Africa from 1/2/78 to 1/10/79. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. (Confirmed by an entry in his service documents ‘Took part in the Defence of Rorke’s Drift’.) Examined by a medical board at Pietermaritzburg on 23/7/79 as a result of debility and recommended for a ‘change of climate’. Sent to Netley on 3/10/79 and then to depot at Brecon on 17/10/79 and married Annie Lewis at Brecon on 16/11/80. Transferred to army reserve on 1/2/83 and discharged on 8/12/88. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
1386 Private KILEY Michael
Attested at Brecon on 24/4/77. Posted to 2/24th on 11/5/77. Confined by Civil Power on 7/10/78 and sentenced to 5 days hard labour. Served in B Company at the defen
ce of Rorke’s Drift. Confined on 11/3/79, tried by Court Martial for insubordination on 17/3/79, sentenced to receive 50 lashes and to be fined £1. Again confined by Civil Power on 26/9/79. On release he was sent to the general depot on 1/1/80 and appears to have been struck off the strength. He made remittances to Helen Kiley and Mary Sullivan. Transferred from B to G Company on 29/1/79. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll which names him incorrectly as Riley. Correctly named on ‘B’ list, also ‘D’ list.)
963 Private LEWIS David
Attested at Brecon on 9/12/76. Posted to 2/24th on 22/1/77. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. No trace of his further service or date of discharge found. He made a pay allowance to Miss Emma Owens. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. A search of the medal roll (for the Royal Hospital, Chelsea) was made on 7/5/28 under 68/L/261. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1528 Private LINES Henry
Attested at Birmingham on 11/10/64, aged 18 years. Description: 5ft 5in tall. Served in Mauritius, South Africa and India. Promoted corporal 4/7/68, sergeant 12/8/69. Reduced to private 14/1/70. Attended a course at the School of Musketry, Hythe, in 1874. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Appointed lance corporal 2/11/81. Promoted corporal 31/1/82. Reduced to private on 6/3/83. Returned to England from India in October 1883. Date of discharge not traced. He died at Horden, near West Hartlepool, in 1922 at the age of 76 years. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
1409 Private LLOYD David
Born at Dowlais, Merthyr, Glamorgan; trade – collier. Attested at Brecon on 5/6/77, aged 19 years 1 month. Previously served in Royal South Wales Borderers. Description: 5ft 4½in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair. Religion: C/E. posted to 2/24th on 3/8/77. Served in South Africa, Mediterranean and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Returned to England from India on 30/11/83. Transferred to army reserve on 13/12/83. Discharged on 5/6/89. Married Mary Price at Merthyr Tydfil on 21/1/85. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
1176 Private LOCKHART Thomas
Born at St Michael’s, Manchester; trade – fitter. Attested at Derby on 6/2/77, aged 19 years. Description: 5ft 9¼in tall, fresh complexion, dark grey eyes, brown hair. Religion: C/E. Posted to 2/24th on 23/2/77. Served in South Africa and Gibraltar. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. He returned to England from Gibraltar on 11/8/80. In September 1881, whilst at Colchester, he was attacked by other soldiers and received a blow on the head, which caused him to suffer from epilepsy. Following an examination by an invaliding board at Colchester on 30/1/82 his epilepsy was found to be of a ‘permanent nature’, being ‘induced by an injury to the head received at the hands of soldiers of the Colchester Garrison who waylaid and maliciously ill-treated him without provocation and notice – causing a fracture of the orbit and displacement of certain other bones’. It was considered that his disability would ‘very seriously interfere with his powers of supporting himself’. He was found unfit for further service and discharged on 6/2/82. Intended place of residence: 41 Butler Street, Manchester. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
1304 Private LODGE Joshua
Attested on 4/3/77. Posted to 2/24th on 16/1/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Appointed lance corporal 1/11/81. Promoted corporal 1/1/82. Reduced to private on 21/7/82. Served in South Wales Borderers but did not transfer to regiment. Returned to England from India on 1/5/83. Date of discharge not traced. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also ‘D’ list.)
942 Private LYNCH Thomas Michael
Born at Limerick, Co. Limerick; trade – letter sorter. Attested at London on 10/11/76, aged 18 years 2 months. Description: 5ft 4¼in tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Religion: R/C. Served in South Africa, India and Gibraltar. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Appointed drummer 1/6/82. Transferred to army reserve on 30/3/83. Rejoined the Colours on 16/10/84 and posted to the Cameron Highlanders. Transferred to permanent staff, as a drummer, 4th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, on 14/1/85. Convicted of ‘Felony’ by Civil Power on 9/3/88 and in consequence discharged from the service on 17/4/88, at Stirling. Next of kin: mother – Covent Garden, London. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘B’ roll only.)
1441 Private LYONS John
Born in Killaloe, O’Brien’s Bridge, Co. Clare; trade – labourer. Attested for the 87th Foot at Ennis on 31/3/59, aged 22 years. Description: 5ft 7¾in tall, fresh complexion, grey eyes, red hair. Transferred to 2/24th Foot 1/7/61. Served in Mauritius, East Indies and South Africa. Served in A Company and was a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift at the time of the Zulu attack. Awarded LSGC Medal with gratuity of £5. Sent from South Africa to England and admitted to Netley on 10/6/79. Examined by a medical board at Netley on 16/7/79 and found to be suffering from ‘General debility at the Cape 1879. Treated for supposed Bright’s Disease referable to exposure to wet and cold – after 10 days treatment at Rorke’s Drift was transferred to other hospitals. A very clear and honest case of a worn–out old soldier – scarcely able to earn anything for his family’. Discharged as unfit for further service on 4/8/79. Intended place of residence: Manchester. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, on ‘D’ list.)
1731 Private MANLEY John
Attested at Cork on 17/4/65, aged 15 years 3 months. Description: 5ft 1in tall. Appointed drummer on 1/12/66. Served at the depot until posted to 2/24th about December 1868. Reduced to private on 14/7/68. Appointed drummer 1/1/69. Reduced to private 7/8/76. Served in A Company and was a patient in the hospital at Rorke’s Drift at the time of the Zulu attack. Sent to Netley on 1/2/80. Date of discharge not traced. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’ issued on 17/6/81. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘Ba’ rolls, on ‘D’ list wrongly named as Momley.) In 1885 he was convicted of a minor assault and after the authorities heard that Manley was one of the defenders of Rorke’s Drift, he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour.
964 Private MARSHALL James
Born at Hitchin, Hertfordshire; trade – chimney sweep. Attested at London on 4/12/76, aged 20 years 9 months. Description: 5ft 6in tall, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair. Religion: C/E. Served in South Africa, India and Gibraltar. Confined on 1/8/77, tried and convicted of ‘Fraudulent enlistment’ on 3/9/77, released on 25/11/77. Re-convicted on 22/10/78, released on 11/11/78. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Served in South Wales Borderers but did not transfer to regiment. Transferred to army reserve on 28/6/83. Discharged at Brecon on 4/12/88. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll only, also on ‘D’ list.)
756 Private MARTIN Henry
Born at Binegar, Somerset; trade – quarryman. Attested at Newport on 10/2/76, aged 19 years. Posted to 2/24th on 10/3/76. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Returned to England from India on 28/10/81. Date of discharge not traced. Married (Wife – Polly), no children. Died in 1937 and was buried at Binegar Parish Church. A memorial was erected in 1965. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
1284 Private MASON Charles
Born at Aldersgate, London; trade – solder maker. Attested at London on 26/2/77, aged 22 years 5 months. Description: 5ft 6¼in tall, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair. Religion: C/E. Served in South Africa, Gibraltar and India. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Transferred to army reserve on 28/6/83. Recalled to 1st South Wales Borderers on 30/10/84. Discharged on 26/2/89. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. (Ref. ‘C’ and ‘B’ rolls, also on ‘D’ list.)
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nbsp; 1527 Private MINEHAN Michael
Born at Castlehaven, Co. Cork; trade – groom. Attested at Bandon on 14/10/64, aged 19 years. Description: 5ft 9¾in tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Found to have joined West Coast Artillery Militia on 9/5/64. Allowed to continue in 2/24th Foot. Served in India, South Africa and Mediterranean. Re-engaged at Secunderabad on 7/10/71. Served in B Company at the defence of Rorke’s Drift. Penn Symons wrote: ‘Minehan was a great pal of mine; he was right-hand man, front rank of “B” Company, who knew his drill well and had often kept me straight.’ At one stage of the battle at Rorke’s Drift, Minehan had been posted in the kraal. The day after the fight he was unable to speak as a result of exhaustion, but had taken Penn Symons to the corner of the kraal at which he had been stationed. By means of gesticulation he indicated the body of a Zulu, partly hidden under the straw. It appeared that during the battle the Zulu had crawled under the straw and grabbed Minehan by the leg. Minehan had ‘prodded’ the straw with his bayonet and one such thrust had penetrated the Zulu’s body, killing him instantly. Private Minehan was again posted to India on 12/8/80 and whilst there contracted cholera on 15/4/84. He was invalided to England on 30/4/84, and following his examination by a medical board at Netley on 29/6/84 he was found unfit for further service and discharged on 2/9/84. Next of kin: sister, M. Regan, Castletown, Co. Cork. Minehan was apparently highly regarded by his officers and received a testimonial from Lieutenant Bromhead on 24/3/84. Medal for South Africa with clasp ‘1877–8–9’. He is named incorrectly in the medal roll as ‘Minshaw’. (Ref. ‘C’ roll which gives his name incorrectly as ‘Michan’, and ‘B’ roll which names him correctly, also on ‘D’ list.)