Looking for Information. Natal Native Pioneers

Hi. Does anyone have any information relating to the Natal Native Pioneers? Looking for what their roll was during the Zulu War. If possible names of officers connected to this unit.

Dave.

hi dave .
All I have found at this stage is from the MEDAL ROLL by FORSYTHE
CAPT. G.K.E BEDDOES 79 CLASP , W.J. NOLAN 79 CLASP.
STAFF OFFICER. W. ALLEN 79 CLASP.
LIEUTENANTS , G.F. ANDREWS 79 , F.D. CHASE 78-79 , F.E. FOXON 79 , G.R. GRIMES 79 , H. HANCOCK 79,

? . HICKLEY 79 , T.A. PEEL 79 X , W. SOUTHALL 79 , C.S. STEVENS 79 ,
CLERK. J.A. MICHELL NO CLASP.

13 Medals Issued , 1 Medal and Clasp returned to WOOLWICH MINT . ( Peel ).
hope this helps Dave .
cheers 90th.

Hi , this is all i have found ,

No 1 company of 80 men accompanied No 3 column - commanded by Capt J Nolan.

No 2 company of 104 men accompanied No 1 column - commanded by Capt J Beddoes .

No 3 company ot 89 men accompanied No 2 column - commanded by Capt W Allen .

Gary.

hi gary.
That was quick work , well done .
cheers 90th.

Thanks Gary.

Do we know what they did, ie what was their prime duty. Based on the British pioneers, they would be first to advance ensuring the trenches and other aspects of fortifications were ready for the main body of the army to come up.
So I was wondering if the same applied to this unit.

Dave.

"The Natal Native Contingent, the Natal Native Horse, and the Natal Native Pioneer Corps? Whilst raised within the colony of Natal they were not raised by the Colonial, but by the imperial, authorities. Thus, whilst certainly not rooted in the traditions of the British Regular Army, neither can they strictly be termed Colonial units. A related problem applies to the Frontier Light Horse, and similarly the uniformed cavalry corps of Natal represents a distinctly different military tradition from that exemplified in irregular mounted corps. Thus, one observes a three-fold division between those units not rooted in the traditions of the Imperial forces; viz., Colonial mounted volunteers, irregular mounted corps, and Native units."

"The following regiments of Colonial mounted volunteers were involved in the campaign - Natal Hussars, Durban Mounted Rifles, Victoria Mounted Rifles, Stanger Mounted Rifles, Natal Light Horse Natal Carabineers, Natal Mounted Police, Newcastle Mounted Rifles, Buffalo Border Guard, Frontier Light Horse, Cape Mounted Riflemen (Colonial), Baker’s Light Horse, Natal Volunteer Guides, Lonsdale’s Mounted Rifles, and the Border Horse. The irregular mounted units were as follows - Schutte’s Corps, Ferreira’s Horse, Kaffrarian Vanguard, Uys’s Commando, Raafs Horse, and Eckersley’s Contingent."

"Durnford also recommended the formation of an African pioneer corps. Bulwer however had other opinions, and began to frustrate the designs of Durnford and the General Officer Commanding. Bulwer had been instilled with a sense of distrust of armed, organized bodies of Africans by colonists who still harboured a sense of hatred after the Langalibalele affair. Thesiger had no option but to complain to Frere over Bulwer's lack of co-operation. The raising of two companies of Natal Native Pioneers was eventually permitted with the full knowledge of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, the Duke of Cambridge."


Extract taken from. Account written by John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society (Brevet Colonel Anthony W. Durnford, Royal Engineers)

Just a photo showing the various uniforms worn by the Native Pionneer's

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Hi Dave
Hope this helps. Its all I could find.

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hi 1879graves.
It looks as if the last man you posted Lt Chase may have been involved in blowing up the cave
in the Ntombe area according to his service record that you posted.
cheers 90th

Out of Interest.

"It was Captain G K E Beddoes of the Natal Native Pioneers who solved the problem of the moving sun by fixing the mirror on a pivot so it could be easily realigned. The pivot was then placed on top of a barrel and a sighting system of wire directing rods was erected. The Morse flashes were still made by light with a board strapped to the operator’s hand. On 14th March two way communication was opened and remained in operation until Eshowe (Ekowe) was relieved on 3rd April."

G.

hi all.
This from Ian Castle"s book " ZULU WAR - VOLUNTEERS , IRREGULARS AND AUXILIARIES.
NATAL NATIVE CONT ( PIONEERS ) . The Natal Govt regularly called on clan leaders to supply men
to assist in road maintenance and repairs . It was therefore a natural progression to form a part of the
N.N.C as a pioneer section to work on engineering tasks , repairing roads and river crossings and building
earthwork fortifications . In all , 3 comp were formed with a nominal strength of 5 european officers , 4 african
officers and 96 pioneers ( although it seems only no 2 comp attained this target ). The original plan proposed
that Royal Eng Officers would command each co , but there simply wasnt enough available. The Natal Govt
accepted responsibility for the pioneers , recruited officers and supplied equipment. Unlike other NNC units
the pioneers recieved uniforms from the outset, each man was issued a pre - 1872 red serge " frock " of the
british infantry with the facing colour removed , loose fitting knee length white canvas trousers , a blue pillbox
forage cap with yellow band , and an army greatcoat. Each man was allocated either a pickaxe , a shovel , an
axe or crowbar, while firearms confirmed the status of the African NCO"S .Beseiged at ESHOWE from late JAN
until the beginning of April , the pioneers of NO 2 COMP proved themselves excellent scouts , as well as handling
their allotted engineering tasks efficiently.
cheers 90th.