Any nominal role of G Coy 2/24th regiment

Posts : 6 Join date : 2024-06-29

My great grandfather pte robert taylor was also G company and was with lord Chelmsford when zulus attacked at islandwana, he was also at rourkes drift morning after battle and we believed was injured at ullandi and was eventually moved to Gibraltar before coming back to uk and being invalided out of Army and returning home to family in Briton ferry, just interested if there is any copies of nominal role ,i have my great grandfathers number if that helps and a copy of a letter he sent home to uk when awaiting further orders while at rourkes drift after the event

Subject: Re: Any nominal role of G Coy 2/24th regiment Sun Jun 30, 2024 1:05 pm

Welcome to the Forum,

Any personal letters and info etc, about serving soldiers are always welcome on the forum pages. It gives a bit more insight into who they were.

Is your G. Grandfather 25B/1073 Robert Taylor?

Julian Whybra's "England's Sons" has a list of all G Company's casualties at Isandlwana, plus if you add those sick stationed at Rorke's Drift you will get the full nominal roll. (You must not forget C/Sgt Ross and three Privates who went out with Chelmsford's column, I don't have their names at hand).

The only thing I'm not sure about are those who were detached serving with the Mounted Infantry troops, I don't know if all their original companies are known.

Incidentally, Taylor (if 1073 as above) was originally C Company before being transferred to G Company on the 31st January (Battalion Orders, held at Brecon Museum).

Why do you believe he was injured at Ulundi? The 2nd Battalion was not part of the 2nd invasion and only members of the 1st Squadron M.I. took part in the battle part of which consisted of men of the 1/24th only. The 1st Battalion itself was left to guard the camp a few miles back and also took no part at Ulundi.

Hope you can share what you have on your G Grandfather's service.

Bill

Posts : 6 Join date : 2024-06-29

Only reason i mentioned ulundi was that what we were led to beleive but obviously haven't any proof that he was injured there ,he was reassigned to G Coy from what we have been able to find out ,but you have hit nail on head with his service number ,we have photocopy of a letter he sent home to his brother in Briton ferry while at rourkes drift after battle

Posts : 6 Join date : 2024-06-29

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Posts : 6 Join date : 2024-06-29

A copy of newspaper cutting of letter that was sent home to his brother in Briton ferry

Posts : 3380 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

Hi Wayne

The Ulundi reference probably comes from this Newspaper article.

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South Wales Daily Post, 03 July 1900.

Robert does not state he was at Ulundi, the Newspaper Headline suggests it.

Andy

Posts : 3380 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

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Western Mail 04 April 1879.

Posts : 6 Join date : 2024-06-29

Thank you so much for two letters i have never seen first one and will pass it on to my brother who started research into my G Grandfather's experiences, i had already received second one that he sent home to his brother in Briton ferry as you say he never mentioned being at ullandi but its what we were led to believe. We were told he had an injury to his leg from a zulu spear but again have no proof of this

Subject: Re: Any nominal role of G Coy 2/24th regiment Thu Jul 04, 2024 8:49 am

TAYLOR Robert – Private – 25B/1073 (Incorrect No.25B/1097) – 2nd/24th C Company
Enlisted Tredegar, Monmouthshire 1877.
Transferred from C to G Company at Rorke’s Drift, Natal, South Africa 31/1/1879.
Arrived at Casemate Barracks Gibraltar in the Mediterranean 13/1/1880 aboard H.M.S.Orontes.
South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1877-8-9.
Died Pontypool, Monmouthshire, Wales 30/8/1935 aged 83 years.
Buried Pontypool 2/9/1935. A donation was made from the Regimental fund to help with funeral costs.

Subject: Re: Any nominal role of G Coy 2/24th regiment Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:15 am

Wayne
G coy 2/24th was wiped out at out Isandhlwana except for 3 men at Rorke's Drift (one of whom was killed there) and four men out with Chelmsford. Afterwards it was decided to reconstitute G coy from drafts and by transferring men from other 2/24th coys. That's how your relative switched from C to G.

Posts : 3380 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

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Western Mail, 02 September 1935.

Subject: Re: Any nominal role of G Coy 2/24th regiment Thu Jul 04, 2024 9:34 am

Taylor of course does not appear in the infamous Bassage roll of C coy members since it must have been composed after 31.1.1879.

Posts : 6 Join date : 2024-06-29

Thank you so much to everyone that has responded to my initial enquiry and for passing on so much information about my G Grandfather we as a family were not aware of his service untill last few years myself and my brother were actually in Royal regiment of wales so it was quite strange to find out that a relative had actually served in a forebearer to our own regiment and obviously history that wrnt with it ,so thanks again for all information unfortunately we still cant find any photos or anything of what he looked like although my mum who is now in her 90s can remember a photo or painting of a gentleman dressed in scarlet tunic which was on wall in my great grandmothers bedroom but no idea what happened to it over many years that have passed

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