Did Grant leave another account of the RB?

Subject: Did Grant leave another account of the RB? Mon Nov 27, 2023 10:13 am

Did Hector Grant leave another account of the Rocket battery?

Going through the Internet looking for onfo about the NNH, I have found a website by Pat Rundgren.

It states:-

It is unsure how Major Russell met his end. Private Grant later said that the enemy had fired their first volley, killing Captain Russell and 5 men – “Major Russell met his death, sword in hand, at the head of his little force”.

I've been through the usual statements left by Grant but cannot find this reference.

We have accounts of how Russell died and was wondering if this is another account and if Grant has other info along side it.

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

Cheers

Simon

25B/665 Private Hector Lewis Hugh GRANT C coy 1/24th Regiment, attached to Rocket Battery, No. 2 Column

(A) Account is held in TNA (hand-written original in RMRW).
(B) A brief report, ‘An Isandula Hero’, is in the John O’Groat Journal, 27th January 1881.
(C) Letter to his brother, Helpmekaar 26th April 1879, Northern Ensign, 3rd July 1879.

The line you quote from Grant in Rundgren's on-line piece owes more to Romantic fiction than fact; it's known that Russell most certainly did not die fighting at the head of his little force and did not do so sword in hand.

Thanks,

I have read through these accounts and did assume that the sword in hand was a story or metaphor but I just wondered if it was Grants own story or metaphor.

Cheers

Simon

Subject: Re: Did Grant leave another account of the RB? Mon Nov 27, 2023 5:13 pm

Grant's own, as Gunner Taylor made clear.

Subject: Did Grant leave another account of the RB Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:47 am

Sime yes one needs to be wary of internet literature for this exact reason .
90th Very Happy

Subject: Re: Did Grant leave another account of the RB? Tue Nov 28, 2023 7:35 am

Yes but Pat Rundgren.....this is why I thought I would ask....Imagine if PR had got his hands on another account......everything starts somewhere....Skottowe was 'unheard' (or at least his connection with the ZW) of a few years ago

» Who was the first fugitive to leave iSandlwana?
» Jack Grant
» Where to from here