2nd Lt. Arthur Bright. who Lost His Life at the Head of his Men Counter Attacking the Zulu Impi at the Point of the Bayonet.

2nd Lt. Arthur Bright, who bled to death in the hectic confines of the small hospital--the surgeons had dressed one wound, but in their haste had neglected to see that his other leg had also been injured.

Looking for photos, medals, eyewitness accounts and any other information relevant to Arthur Bright.

There is a photo of him on this site ;

http://glosters.tripod.com/south.htm

the pictures on the above site are courtesy of John Young.

littlehand. Just missed you.

An Important Kambula Casualty South Africa 1879 Medal to Second Lieutenant A.T. Bright, Who Lost His Life at the Head of his Men Counter Attacking the Zulu Impi at the Point of the Bayonet.
Sold 19th April 2007 for £11,600.

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hi littlehand.
Found this in " FROM MIDSHIPMAN TO FIELD MARSHALL by EVELYN WOOD. FM.VC.GCB.GCMG.

" When in the hospital at the close of action, i did not speak to Arthur Bright, who was dozing, but after we had something to eat
i sent Maude over to see how he was going on. Maude came back saying he was sensible , but very depressed, although the doctors said a bullet which had passed through his thigh had not touched any artery or bone. The two doctors had more than they
could do , and may therefore be readily excused for not having noticed that the other thigh bone had been shattered: and Bright
died , happily without any pain before morning. Over 6 foot in height, and very handsome, he exercised , through his high moral
tone, great influence amongst the subalterns. He had been captain of a boat at Eton, was our boldest and best polo player, and
was a gifted draughtsman , possesing also a beautiful tenor voice. He had only 15 mths service when he took command of the
company of which Maude was captain. This company had been unfortunate , for Stevens , its captain, was dangerously wounded
on the 30/ 4/ 78, when Saltemarshe was killed , and know in one day it had lost its only duty officer, Bright, and the gallant CLR
SGT Allen.

cheers 90th.

Look carefully he moved whilst the plate was exposed hence the ghost row of buttons!

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Source: A well-known Zulu War Historian.

Second Lieutenant Arthur Tyndall Bright, of Woodcote, Aigburth, Liverpool; born 1857; educated under the Reverend T. Browning, at Thorpe Mandeville and thence to Eton 1870-75; his Head of House upon hearing of his death wrote of him, 'his principles were high, his sense of honour unblemished, and his love for liberty that he knew was given to him to use and not abuse unbounded.... For two years a member of the eight, second to none as a foot-ball player, a keen and excellent volunteer officer..... Eton was as dear to him as he was to Eton'; entered Sandhurst, February 1877, and passed out the following December once again drawing praise this time from Major Williams of the College, 'When Colonel, now General Sir Evelyn Wood asked me one day if I could name to him a lad for his regiment, then about to sail for the Cape, whose characteristics should be 'perfect gentleman and keen soldier', I could and did without a moment's hesitation answer, 'Yes Arthur Tyndall Bright''; commissioned Second Lieutenant 90th Light Infantry, January 1878, and a month later embarked for the Cape; arrived in South Africa and joined his corps in the Perie bush, twenty miles north of King William's Town and on termination of the hostilities with the Gaikas Bright proceeded with the headquarters and five companies under the command of Colonel Evelyn Wood to march overland to Natal; the force arrived in Maritzburg ten weeks later and remained there until the 20th October 1878, when they were ordered to Utrecht, Transvaal, the future base of operations for Wood's column; Bright, a talented artist was initially employed in the weeks leading up to the outbreak of the Zulu War to sketch certain positions and in the successful expedition undertaken by Colonel Wood into Zululand, for the purpose of affording protection to a tribe which had declared for British rule, Bright was selected to accompany Wood and to sketch the Zlobane Mountain stronghold; the column attacked the latter on 28.3.1879, resulting in an enemy counter attack on Wood's men at their camp in Kambula the following day; due to casualties suffered from the attack on the 28th Bright was elevated to the command of "G" Company, 'The enemy flushed with their recent success, made the most determined onslaught, approaching again and again to within a few yards of the position held by the column. When for three long hours the defenders of the laager had stoutly resisted them, and dense masses still congregating in the valley beneath showed that a final effort would yet be made, Wood decided on making a counter attack. For this purpose two companies of the 90th were ordered to advance, and at the point of the bayonet force back the threatening impi. One of these two was the G Company , and those who knew Arthur Tyndall Bright can realize with what pride he placed himself in front of the advancing line. It was in this position, while gallantly leading and cheering on his men, that he received his death wound. Though he was tenderly watched and cared for by the medical attendants, and by his faithful servant, he only lingered for a few hours, his name being added, ere the day was quite spent, to the glorious roll of those who have rendered up their lives for Queen and country."

The Washing of Spears adds further detail 'A shot drilled through Arthur Bright's thigh, missing the bone but drenching him in blood'. General Sir Evelyn Wood, writing upon the life of Arthur Bright, says:-
"Arthur Tyndall Bright was a beautiful character, wrote a former comrade, when he heard that the brave young life had been given up on the very threshold of manhood. It was given up in the light of victory. He had sought the post of danger with honourable eagerness, and his unstained past fitted him to encounter sudden death, but it was hard for his surviving friends to realize that he was gone, for he was lively in the best sense of the word. His high spirit, ballasted as it was by a conscientious firmness of mind not common at his age, his cheery grace of manner, his vigour in manly sports, all combined to make him one of those foremost figures in life's groups that seem alike to impress and attract friends. He excelled, too, in the lighter accomplishments, and his sweet, clear voice was greatly appreciated by the soldiers, who used to take especial pleasure in hearing him sing such ballads as 'Nancy Lee' and 'Far Away', for soldiers on active service delight in pathetic music, perhaps because there is a sense of impending farewell in times when no one knows what a day may bring forth. And when the day came that abruptly stilled the voice of the singer, everyone who had known, and therefore loved him, felt that the loss of Arthur Bright was not the loss only of his country, nor even of his personal friends, but that it was, too, a loss to everyone who had been brought into contact with him.' (The South African Campaign of 1879, Mackinnon and Shadbolt, refers).

Thanks very much for you replies, more than I expected.

Doe's anyone have a photo of his grave.
Or were they buried in one mass grave,

Hi 24th

I do have a photo of his grave and memorials, will post them when I have more time.

1879Graves

See: Pictorial catalogue of AZW graves

2nd Lt. Arthur Bright

It was suggested somewhere on the forum that 2nd Lt. Arthur Bright may have been killed by friendly fire was this theory or has been recorded officially. Its also says that the surgeons had dressed one wound, but in their haste had neglected to see that his other leg had also been injured. I was trying to work out what type of wound this could have been for them to have missed it. (Maybe a Broken leg perhaps) Any replies welcome.

Dave

Dave it was just a theory. But possible as he lost His Life at the Head of his Men Counter Attacking the Zulu Impi at the Point of the Bayonet. A stray Bullet from the British may have been the cause.

Thanks S.D. Was there ever a mention of a M.H Bullet causing the wounds. Was it possble that some of the Zulu's had M.H.s that were taken at the Battle of Isandlwana.
I take it they would have removed the bullet to prevent infection. If it was a M.H Bullet would they have mentioned it in any reports regarding the cause of death.

hi all .
The following from Ian Knight's , The Zulu War , Then And Now.
" 2nd Lt. Arthur Bright , shot through both legs during Hackett's attack , dragged back to safety , in the confusion of the
crowded hospital which was still dealing with the aftermath of Hlobane , the surgeons only noticed one injury and Bright
bled to death from a wound which , besides breaking the bone , had severed an artery in his other leg .

Dave.
Wood states in his report after the Kambula battle that several Martinis were recovered , these from Isandlwana
and Ntombe . Now it is possible he could have been hit by a stray british bullet , there is no hard evidence either way.
Or none that I have come across as yet.
cheers 90th.

This is the peice of ground over which the bayonet chaqrge took place, the laager to the left, the high ground is the stone fort.
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Only 13 martinis and Sniders were recovered from Khambula, (Emery).

Quote :

Wood states in his report after the Kambula battle that several Martinis were recovered , these from Isandlwana

So it was possible that he was hit by a Zulu armed with a M.H.

I would like to how the rumour came about that Bright might have been killed by friendly fire.

Was there any cases reported of Troops being killed by friendly fire.


By the way thanks for all your replies.

hi Dave .
I think this has been covered on the forum but not sure where , maybe pete can help . The only case I can
recollect is I think it was Lt. J.A. Roberts killed by one of the first shells fired onto the Nyoni Ridge . I have seen this
written in several publications . I will check a few more sources and see what turns up .
cheers 90th.

As Requested.
http://1879zuluwar.forumotion.com/general-discussion-area-f6/were-there-any-incidents-of-friendly-fire-in-the-zulu-war-t1764.htm?highlight=friendly+fire

hi pete .
Thanks for that link.
cheers 90th.

Came across this video, it was Lt Brights Favorite song. He could be heard singing it before his death.

littlehand wrote:

2nd Lt. Arthur Bright, who bled to death in the hectic confines of the small hospital--the surgeons had dressed one wound, but in their haste had neglected to see that his other leg had also been injured.

Looking for photos, medals, eyewitness accounts and any other information relevant to Arthur Bright.

I have Lt. Arthur Tyndall Bright's revolver in my collection and I am hoping you will share the information you may have found. Thanks so much!! Tom

Hi ktb.
Sorry nothing new to add, however are you able to post a photo of his revolver.

I was hoping to buy it but someone beat me to it. Thanks!!

Do you know what the hammer price was.

I would imagine today his death his would have been due to neglect.

Do we know the names of the medical staff who would have cared for Bright. ?

Littlehand,

There were two officers of the Army Medical Department present during the action Surgeons James O'Reilly and Anthony Lennon Brown.

Both officers were mentioned in Wood's despatch of the action at Khambula:
The wounded were cared for most promptly by Surgeons O'Reilly, Brown, and Staff generally under fire.

Given that they were also dealing with the casualties from Hlobane, as well as those confined to the hospital through sickness such as Captain George Sandham, it quite possible that they may not have treated Bright themselves.

The South African Campaign of 1879 states: ...Though he was tenderly watched and cared for by the medical attendants, and by his faithful servant, he only lingered for a few hours...

John Y.

Ray63 wrote:

Came across this video, it was Lt Brights Favorite song. He could be heard singing it before his death.

thanks for posting this.

littlehand wrote:

Hi ktb.
Sorry nothing new to add, however are you able to post a photo of his revolver.

yes please. I too would like to see a picture of that revolver.

Hi Littlehand
I think neglect is a little harsh , I'd go with an oversight , the medical team would've been extremely busy , and at night there was hardly any light to speak of , not like flicking a switch as we know . Don't forget they thought he'd only been shot in one leg , the Broken one . It was tended to well , it was the wound they didn't realise he'd suffered , which was the cause of his death .
90th