ONE OF THE OLD 24th

Subject: ONE OF THE OLD 24th Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:40 pm

Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News 28th December 1907.

ONE OF THE OLD 24th

"I am one of the old 24th Regiment, and I am proud of it" said Charles Highfield, a fine looking old man, to the Kingston Justices on Monday, when charged with intoxication.
His breast adorned with medal and ribbons for service in the Indian Mutiny, the Chitral campaign, and Zululand, accused being one of the survivors of Rorke's Drift. A well chosen sentences, the old fellow told the bench that is appearance in court was the first charge that had ever been preferred against him, and that his condition on Saturday evening was due to his having met an old comrade.
The old man implored the bench to let him off, but was ordered to pay half crown, and was allowed until January 1st, when he draws his pension, to pay the fine.

Posts : 3381 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Eddie

No one of the name Highfield is listed on the Medal Roll.

Andy

Subject: Re: ONE OF THE OLD 24th Sun Aug 28, 2022 6:40 pm

Thank you. Another tall story.

Posts : 604 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

Kindly remember when reading these stories that in those days there were no military charities that old soldiers could fall back on. The 24th (SWB) Comrades Club - the first regimental benevolent fund - was formed on RD day at Aldershot in January 1909. There is a moving entry in the old Ben Fund Ledger where a former soldier made a request for help to buy a pair of working boots so that he could earn money to support his family.

The soldier reported in the Cardiff Times was not 24th but probably 1289 2/13th Foot who served 22 years 218 days. The 24th never served in the Chritral campaign. Charles Highfield was born in Scrooby, Nottinghamshire in 1833. Just a guess.

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