George Deacon. Rorkes Drift defender.

Someone posted this interesting item on the RDVC.

OLD SOLDIER SHOWS HIS MEDALS.
2s. 4d. A DAY PENSION FOR A RORKE'S DRIFT HERO.
"NO COMPLAINTS."
EXPERIENCE THAT MADE A GENERAL'S HAIR WHITE.

Blind, paralysed, and bed-ridden, an old soldier who fought in one of the most famous defences in British military history is ........ a week.

He is Mr George Power of Hill Crescent, Ilford. When a ...... member of the heroic garrison at Rorke's Drift which, during the Zulu War, defied the ceaseless onslaughts of Cetewayo's troops, fresh from their victory at Isandhlwana.

Now 79 years of age, he lives on an Army pension of 2s. 4d a day, plus his old age pension.

When I called on him to-day (writes a "Star" reporter) I found him to be a fine specimen of the English soldier, with his handshake still powerful despite the affliction which keeps him lying all day on his back.

His one joy in life is showing his medals. He keeps them locked in a black tin box which none but he must open.

His constant companion and helper is his daughter Helena. When his blind fingers groped and could not find the lock to his medal box, she offered to open it for him.

"No, my dear, I must open it myself," he protested.
"Bill" (as his daughter calls him), "will not let anyone assist in showing his medals," said Miss Power.

One by one he handed them to me - the Khedive Star, the South African Medal, the Queen's Medal with bar, testifying to many years spent under scorching suns.

"I enlisted when I was 18, under a false name, so that my father should not trace me," he said. "In January, 1879, I landed in South Africa with the 2/24th Regiment. We marched straight away out in the direction of Rorke's Drift, knocking out several native chiefs on the way, and burying them.

"On arrival at Rorke's Drift, B Company, which was mine, was detailed to garrison the post and maintain the provision supply of the column which was marching into Zululand under Lord Chemsford.

"One morning I was standing outside the post baking little loaves in a field kitchen. Suddenly a few stragglers limped past our sentries with the news that half Lord Chelmsford's column had been destroyed at Isandhlwana.

"Our meagre defences were quickly thrown into as good a state as possible, and at 2 o'clock the Zulus attacked from across the Buffalo River. They were as thick as grass, outnumbering us by thirty to one. For twelve hours a rifle scarcely left my hand. They gave us pepper.

"For a minute or two we stopped to bandage a wounded comrade, or to give him a drink of water, then back to our loopholes. Our rifles got so hot with the constant firing that the barrels bacame bent, and the rifles useless.

"I was stationed in the store-room, and several times a few of the Zulus forced their way inside. They did not live long. And when they got on our mealie bags we soon put 'em off.

"The Zulus did everything except the one thing that might have carried Rorke's Drift. They did not think of ripping up our mealie bags with their assegais.

"When dawn came - the most dreadful dawn a soldier ever saw - we were still leaning against our loopholes, grimly determined to make the best use of the few rounds of ammunition that were left.

"Fortunately, Lord Chelmsford relieved us with the other half of his column. His hair had gone white in a night."

Funny how is does'nt mention any of the other defenders who were with him. If you read other accounts from defenders they all mention some of the other defenders by name.
I know I would.

anyone know why they were given pepper ?

hi gary.
In answer to your question, i think he meant they were PEPPERING the camp with rifle fire from the
hill overlooking the compound, and that the fighting was so intense, like the old sayings, "we gave em curry"
Meaning they had a torrid time, hope i explained well enough gary, im sure you understand what i tried to say ! :lol!:
cheers 90th.

Or it could be for the following reason.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

hi john.
That was bloody hilarious, :lol!: .I really enjoyed it.
cheers 90th.

I just know,i'm going to enjoy this forum. John that really was funny, and un-expected. :lol:

Nice one John.

Gary. That's a good question. However I don't know the answer, but it will give me something to research.

Extract from Private Hitch:

Deacken (Deacon), a comerade, said to me as I was leaning back against buicust (biscuit) boxes: 'Fred, when it comes to the last shill (shall) I shoot you?' I declyned. 'No, they have very near done for me and they can finish me right out when it come to the last.' I don't rem(em)ber not much after that. When I came to myself again, Lord Chamford (Chelms ford) had realived (relieved) us of our task. Bromhead brought His Lordship to me and His Lordship spoak very kindley to me and the Dr dressed my wound. Bromhead was my principal visiter and nurse while I was at the Drift.

Legacy Volume 3 - Heroes of Rorke’s Drift

CONTENTS:

Joseph Bromwich - Warwickshire
George Deacon - London
John French - London
Arthur Howard - London
Patrick Kears - south Wales
James Keefe - south Wales
James Marshall - Nottinghamshire
Thomas Moffatt - Cheshire

I was wondering, if this is what Deacon was on about, He is speaking about the rifle before he said,

Quote :

“For twelve hours a rifle scarcely left my hand. They gave us pepper.”

I’m sure I have read somewhere when they call this type of burn (Pepper markings)

Quote :

"Due to the lack of an effective obturation seal, after several shots, the breech would fail to close entirely. This caused the gas escaping from the breech to burn the skin of the soldier. As a result, soldiers could not aim accurately without burning themselves and were forced to fire from the hip."

I found this on the net.

9th Lancers Scatter Arabs

Just then the Arabs tried to rush round our flank, but the 9th Lancers, a native Indian regiment -

Quote :

met them and gave 'em pepper,

red and raw. They beat 'em. back time and time again. It was a glorious sight - the horses crashing against each other, the lances and the swords flashing, and then the white garments of the Arabs streaming out as they flew back on their horses.

May it mean a good fight? Or Thrashing

interesting thoughts on the pepper , thanks .

i like the idea of wearing a bell , just to tell the lion its dinner is ready ? :lol!:


on the same subject , here in romania it is bears which sometimes cause a problem , they are not normally aggressive unless threatened but i wouldnt want to argue with one !