And once again another mystery photo.

Subject: And once again another mystery photo. Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:31 pm

I have been asked if this is Rorkes Drift. I think not. But I thought I would post it for member’s opinions. It was found on one a photo site with no title.

I am thinking Boer war. I also think there are to many buildings in view to be RD before or after the battle.

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Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Its about time we had another one of these Littlehand.

The landscape looks similar to R.D but I don’t remember there being a church at Rorkes drift. I cannot be sure; it would help if we knew when this photo taken was it 1879 or later. If I had to choose Littlehand I would say it was not R.D

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:54 pm

Thanks OldH.

I have enlarged the image.

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Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Thanks Littlehand. Looks the same, just nearer.

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

I don't think that is R.D. To be honest, it could be just about anywhere. US for instance. scratch

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

I believe that is R.D. But for the life of me, i cannot remember where I saw it. (And it wasn’t that long ago)

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:36 am

When Eugenie visited the battlefields De Witt was rebuilding his Church. The position of the church on the right hand side of the photo is correct. The old house/hospital was destroyed and rebuilt over the old foundations. Thats also in the right position. Behind it is what apears to be the grave yard with the monument.
The topography is definitly familiar.
My only real problem would be the building on the extreme left. That doesnt ring any bells at all. Possible it was built and subsequently removed.
Over all if it isnt RD its a really good imitation.
After having written the above I managed to enlarge the photo, there are to many buildings crowded to the left of the hospital.
So ................. a really good imitation, not the original
Regards

Posts : 747 Join date : 2009-10-18

I have spent most of the night searching the web for images of D.R and cannot relate this photo to R.D. I’m also swinging towards the USA. An old mining community or something along those lines.

G

Last edited by Admin on Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:03 pm; edited 1 time in total

Morning Gents.

The photo is from Ian Knights Book Rorke's Drift 1879: Pinned Like Rats In A Hole.

Page 24.

“The Rorkes Drift mission 1882. The church (Right) stands on the site of the old storehouse, with Witt’s house (the site of the old hospital) next to it. The other buildings all post-date the battle. The picture suggests something of the way the Shiyane hill over-looked the post”.

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:25 pm

Looks a poor quality image for 1982 ?

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:03 pm

Thanks Gary. Amended.

Subject: mystery photo Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:46 am

hi all.
From a well known zulu war historian , The photo is R.D In the 1880"s , The church was built by Witt
in 1882.
cheers 90th.

Posts : 10 Join date : 2009-02-12 Location : Bristol, UK

I would say it is R.D. viewed from Shiyane, the hill in the background being Sinqindi. But I can't make out the cemetary or the Mellsop memorial, should that be showing in the 1880's ?

Subject: mystery photo Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:53 am

hi alleng.
Yes , they are both there , look in the middle of the photo , below the only building in the centre and you can see them.
If you have a magnifying glass it will be easier.
cheers 90th.

Posts : 10 Join date : 2009-02-12 Location : Bristol, UK

90th, now that you have said it, I can just make it out.

Cheers ALLENG

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Mon Feb 15, 2010 2:08 pm

Ive traced the photo back to source.
Its from the Bryaan Maggs collection and was taken in 1885.

Regards

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:00 pm

Posted on behalf of Ken Gillings. (Nice Photo's)

"Definitely Rorke’s Drift. The one photo with the children (Rorke’s Drift from Shiyane) is from a print that I took in the 1970s while the other two are more recent digital photos. Unfortunately, the Eucalyptus trees have obliterated the church but most of the other buildings in Littlehand’s posting are visible.

The original two trees in front of the reconstructed mission building (which many guides amusingly refer to as the site of the original hospital – it isn’t, because they were or course demolished and a new building reconstructed 5 yards further back!). They were still alive in the early 1970s but died and fearing that they would fall on top of someone, the authorities had them cut down. In the process, I believe that several saws were ruined because of the number of bullets in them."

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Photo’s supplied by Ken Gillings

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:52 am

Im presently trying to establish the provinance, without to much success, of a photo of RD taken from the front of the 'Hospital'. The photo is designated as taken before the battle. I have extreme doubts over that. However it does look as though its from the same period as Littlehands shot.
The bullet laiden trees are still in evidence, to my mind it looks like an early 20th century photo with the re built hospital replacement.
Incidentally Ken I had a rather strong discussion with a guide about the hospital. He insisted that it was built on the original foundations and to the original plan. he even had the audacity to tell a party of tourists that the present doors linking the rear rooms/museum were constructed around the openings hacked during the escape. I contacted his company and requested that they stick to facts. The responce was effectivly, so what its only a bunch of tourists.

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:04 am

Springbok9, I would be very grateful if I could have that fellow's details because this nonsense has to stop. You are welcome to e-mail them to me. I'll then post a correction on the Province's Tourist Guide network.
As I have mentioned repeatedly, the original hospital building was slightly smaller and 5 yards further back than the present one. It is extremely frustrating for me to listen to some guides at Rorke's Drift describing the action in the hospital and saying: "At this very door so and so was dragged out and disembowelled alive' or "where we are standing at this window, so and so was barricading it with his body".
Regards,
Ken

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:21 am

Do the Guide’s actually need some form of qualification or registration to be able to Guide on the Battlefields of the Zulu War or any war come to think about it?

Subject: once again another mystery photo. Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:35 am

hi all.
Well done Ken , I hope you and springbok9 can sort this nonsense out. I find it damn annoying when people
decide not to let the facts get in the way of a good story !!!!. Sounds like news reporters . Idea

.
cheers 90th.

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:37 am

Hi Ken
That particular incident was a number of years ago. But as late as lasy May the FD Lodge Guides were Taliking in much the same way, describing in the way you have described. All good theatre I suppose buy where do we draw the line between fact and fiction?
I am going to ask Admin to post a photo ive found in the Campbell Collection. Its listed as being taken PRIOR to 1879. Would apreciate your input.

Regards

Subject: Re: And once again another mystery photo. Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:48 pm

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Taken prior to 1879

Sourced from the Campbell Collections at the University of Pietermaritzburg.

Photo: Supplied by Springbok9

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Now that is an interesting photo. Does anyone know when it was taken.

Subject: another mystery photo. Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:30 pm

hi all.
I have been informed that it is a photo of Witts house on his return to R.D after the war, you will find the photograph
in Osprey Campaigns - Rorkes Drift by I. Knight.
cheers 90th.

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