NeilEvans Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Today whilst researching, i found a reference to the chap below having fought at Rorke's Drift. Are there any other Rorke's Drift veterans who died in WW1? Geoffs search brought up no matches Name: BLOUNT, WILLIAM Initials: W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Serjeant Regiment/Service: King's Shropshire Light Infantry Secondary Regiment: Royal Welsh Fusiliers Secondary Unit Text: and Age: 56 Date of Death: 10/12/1915 Service No: 14655 Additional information: Son of William Blount; husband of Emily Blount, of 6, Leegomery Cottage, Wellington, Salop. Served in the Afghanistan and South African Wars. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 16170. Cemetery: WINCHESTER (WEST HILL) OLD CEMETERY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 There were two veterans (one a VC) who served in WW1 and survived the war. I'll dig the details up and oost (although I think they are already somewhere on the forum already) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilEvans Posted 28 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Ah cool Thanks Centurion Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Here's a link to a thread in the forum has some details. It alsos contains an onward link to the Rourkes Drift forum which does contain all you need. RK&WW1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilEvans Posted 28 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Brilliant Many Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T8HANTS Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 This is Even Jones, recruiting for the 7th RWF. I cannot remember where I "borrowed" the photo from, so apologies all round if someone out there claims it. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 What a superb photo, what an expression! he looks as if he thinks the photographer is a 'horrible, dirty, little civilian' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 When I visited the Brecon museum many years ago they told me of a Rorke`s Drift VC who was employed there during WW1. His favourite ploy was to go into local pubs, heaving with new recruits, wearing his greatcoat. The young lads usually took the mickey out of the old timer who then casually removed his greatcoat to reveal his VC ribbon and free drinks for the night followed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Do search on Zulu in Geoffs search engine will bring some up Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilEvans Posted 28 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Wow thaks for the input, great photo Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 With regards to William Blount - he didn't serve at Rorke's Drift - at least not on the infamous night/action. He was Pte William Blount, 2731, 2nd Btn 24th Foot. His medal entitlement for South Africa was the South Africa 1877-79 Medal without clasp.... so did not see any significant action (i.e. never crossed the river into enemy territory). Info taken from the excellent book - "The Noble 24th". Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilEvans Posted 28 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Oh thanks Les My source states Rorke's Drift with the South Wales Borderers, i'll dig deeper and correct this when i produce my work. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Righto boyo. If anyone comes across a WW1 chap they feel served in the 24th during the SA campaign and would like a look up for verification.... let me know. Les. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 28 May , 2008 Share Posted 28 May , 2008 Neil, On a side note, there was a Pte H Blount, 976, (poss brother?) that served in the 1st Btn and received the SA Medal with 1877-8-9 clasp. However he didn't serve at RD in Jan 1879 either. I have both lists (S/M Bourne & Chard) that give all those that saw action on 21/22 Jan. (Chard's give all names where as Bourne's only give 2nd Btn details). Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilEvans Posted 29 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 29 May , 2008 Thanks Les I'll head down to the library and get to the bottom of this. Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 Charles Livesay didn't fight at Rorkes Drift but he did serve in the Zulu war. He also served in the Mashona War and the South African War. He was one of the first New Zealanders to volunteer for WW1 and was first sent to Egypt and then France where at the age of 64 he fought at the Somme with the rank of Sergeant Major. He was recorded by a NZ newspaper as on leave in London sometime in 1917. I don't know if he survived the war. He had six sons all who fought in WW1, at least five being KIA. The sixth was commissioned and due to go to France in 1917 - again I don'r know if he survived (there doesn't sem to have been a 'saving private Ryan' concept at the time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 There was an officer called Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien who also served in the Zulu War and produced some fine sketches preserved in official reports; he also served in and survived WWI. didn't fight at Rorkes Drift but he did serve in the Zulu war. I thought this thread was about those who were at Rorkes Drift, not just anyone who served in the Zulu War? Has Any one run a thread for those who served in Egypt & Sudan, particularly in 1882 and went on to be in WWI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 I'm trying to compile a list of those who fought in a variety of earlier wars and went on to serve in WW1. So far I'm working on the Mashonaland War, The Matebeleland War, and the Zulu War (and picking up SA War vets as many who served in one of these served in this as well). Then I'll move onto Sudan and Somaliland and then China. In passing no doubt I'll pick up others (one guy appears to have served in the Spanish American war!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john gregory Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 Oh thanks Les My source states Rorke's Drift with the South Wales Borderers, i'll dig deeper and correct this when i produce my work. Neil I do'nt know everyone keeps saying it was the South Wales Borderers at Rorke's Drift. It was not, it was the 24 th Foot, 2nd Warwickshire Regiment. The 24th Regt. became The South Wales Borderers in 1881, Rorke's Drift was 1879. Mind you the film "Zulu" starred a Welshman and was narrated by a Welshman so they are bound to say it was a welsh Regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 And was a good excuse for all that singing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tybaltstone Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 With regards to William Blount - he didn't serve at Rorke's Drift - at least not on the infamous night/action. He was Pte William Blount, 2731, 2nd Btn 24th Foot. His medal entitlement for South Africa was the South Africa 1877-79 Medal without clasp.... so did not see any significant action (i.e. never crossed the river into enemy territory). Info taken from the excellent book - "The Noble 24th". Les Les - the CWWGC entry mentions service in Afghanistan (presume 1880) - do you know anything of his service there or who he was attached to? Best - Garen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest geoff501 Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 Do search on Zulu in Geoffs search engine will bring some up Mick Thanks Mick. Looks like no one else has tried this! There are a dozen or more and 4 more from the 1906 Zulu affair. Including this one, who seems to have died at home, the only one where Rourke (sic) is mentioned. So a search on Rorke would not find him. Is the date in this record correct? (1897-8) for the infamous Rorke's Drift? Or was he just there later. geoff Name: THOMAS, THOMAS Initials: T Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Defence Corps Age: 61 Date of Death: 09/09/1920 Service No: 3710 Additional information: Son of David and Esther Thomas; husband of Gwenllian Thomas, of 13, East Street, Fochriw. Served in the Kafir and Zulu campaigns, 1897-8. (Was at Rourke's Drift). Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 9. 9. (S.W. part). Cemetery: PENTWYN FOCHRIW (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 Afraid not Geoff - 1879. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 The only person called Thomas that was at Rorke's Drift in Jan 1879 was 1280 Pte John Thomas of 2/24th. However RD was manned for a few years after the battle and not just given up and left empty. It is possible that many men could have laid claim to serving at RD but without mentioning that they weren't there in the January. The book "The Noble 24th" does list 2 privates "T Thomas" as having served in SA with the 2/24th each receiving the SA Medal with 1877-8-9 clasp. There were many Thomas' in the 1/24th but none were called Thomas Thomas. Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linden Posted 29 May , 2008 Share Posted 29 May , 2008 The only person called Thomas that was at Rorke's Drift in Jan 1879 was 1280 Pte John Thomas of 2/24th. However RD was manned for a few years after the battle and not just given up and left empty. It is possible that many men could have laid claim to serving at RD but without mentioning that they weren't there in the January. The book "The Noble 24th" does list 2 privates "T Thomas" as having served in SA with the 2/24th each receiving the SA Medal with 1877-8-9 clasp. There were many Thomas' in the 1/24th but none were called Thomas Thomas. Les Hello Terry I have just noticed your reference to the book about the 24th . At present I'm trying to discover more about my great great grandmother's brother , Bandmaster Peter Waters . He retired from 2/24th in 1879 , just as the Regiment left for South Africa . He seems to have served with them in India , Burma and (maybe) Mauritius . Would there be any mention of Peter Waters ? (I've just been told that the archives at Knellor Hall have found an 1865 photograph of him - I'm hoping to receive a copy soon) . Thanks Linden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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