Pulline at Isandlwana

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

What do we know about Pulline. His body was never identified, and I have read three stories relating to him at Isandlwana.

(1) He was seen by some of those that escaped, on the neck rousing the men to fight..

(2) He was seen near the buffalo with some other troops.,

(3) He went into his tent to write a letter to his wife and children, a Zulu entered the tent, Pulline fire his revolver nicking the Zulu’s neck. The Zulu fell upon him and killed him..

Does anyone have any information with regards to the correct account of Pulline.

Cheers
Old Historian2

Posts : 627 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 46

Old Historian2
Sorry its a short reply, bit busy at the moment.
But number (1) would be the version I would choose.

sas1

Posts : 527 Join date : 2009-02-28

Old Historian 2

There are several stories concerning the death of Pulleine; the most likely is that he died in the middle of a strong stand of the 24th which was overwhelmed on the saddle, where the 24th memorial stands today.

It is also equally possible that Pulleine survived the British collapse only to be killed in one of the desperate last stands which took place after it became obvious the British were doomed.
Commandant George Hamilton Browne describes coming across and saluting Pulliene's corpse on his way back from visiting his tent on the morning of the 23rd, as Browne was commandant of the 1st/3rd NNC who's tent's were at the extreme left of the camp it seems probable that Pulliene was killed in the camp and not in one of the big last stands in the saddle or 1st /24th camp.

In Zulu Dawn: Pulleine returns to his tent to pen a last letter to his wife. He is discovered by one of the escaped Zulus and, unwilling to kill the young soldier, the elderly Pulleine allows himself to be killed in his tent.

This extract from the Welsh Soldiers in the Zulu War

Letter from No. 1415 Thomas Thomas of Ystalyfera to his Uncle and Aunt.

We went about 300 yards and they were so many that they came in our rear and took the camp and everything that belonged to us; they came about us so thick that we could not handle our guns and then we knocked them down with the butt of the gun; the Zulus killed about 1841 of our fellows altogether but we ourselves killed some of the volunteers because they were running away and the colonel in command shot himself because he knew he had done wrong. He should not have put us to advance after them and leave the ammunition.

Thomas' statement that 'the colonel in command shot himself ' (referring probably to Durnford but possibly to Pulleine) is hard to credit; at the same time it is difficult to understand why he should have made such a statement had he not believed that such was the case.

S.D

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

Thanks S.D

So I take it, there is not an accurate account of what happen to him.

The accounts we read in the history books are just speculation by others.
It appears there wasn’t any witnesses on the British side to say what actually happen inside the camp. Are there any accounts from the Zulus regarding Pulline or is it just speculation on their side too.

Cheers
Old Historian2

Posts : 3384 Join date : 2009-03-03 Location : Devon

1879Graves photo's regarding Pulleine has been moved to (British Officers Zulu Wars 1879 section forum)

Regards
Pete.

Admin