Surgeon Major P. Shepherd Army Medical Department.

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Source: RSA

Great post. I never knew that. The good thing is, with forums like this he will never be forgot.

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Source: Roll of commissioned officers in the Medical service of the British army.

Hi all.
The following is from ' Zulu Rising ' by Ian Knight ...........
Surgeon Shepherd must at last have recognized that tending to the wounded in the camp was hopeless , for Trooper Muirhead
saw him just beyond the big gully . Muirhead had set off with a friend , Trooper George Macleroy , known to his fellow Carbineers
as ' Kelly ' when ; " Kelly staggered in the saddle , evidently hit with an assagai . I stopped my horse to see what was the matter ,
and tried to support him , but could not , and had to lift him onto the ground . At that moment Dr. Shepherd came galloping past.
I called out to him , and he dismounted to examine poor Kelly . After carefully examining him he said, Ah , the poor fellow !. Too late,
too late ! , I had just mounted my horse and Dr. Shepherd was in the act of putting his foot into the stirrup , when he was struck
fatally with an assagai .
This is also quoted in Shepherds Biography in Mackinnon and Shadbolt , The South African Campaign of 1879.
cheers 90th.

Hi All

A good article about Surgeon Major Peter Shepherd

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2542683/pdf/bmj00471-0052.pdf

"Surgeon Major Shepherd never returned from South Africa. As principal medical officer withChelmsford’s Third Column, he was caught up in the massacre at Isandhlwana on 22 January 1879, when a huge Zulu impi of some 20,000 routed and massacred the 1700 members of the British force. Shepherd, as the surgeon based at his regimental outpost, had remained in his camp; but as the survivors attempted to flee the massacre he went to the aid of a stricken soldier and was himself cut to pieces.

It transpired that as Shepherd had voyaged with his unit to South Africa in 1878, on board the Conway Castle , he had written a pocket- sized aide memoire to be used as a first aid text for the troops. This small work contained instructions for the stopping of haemorrhaging, how to splint broken bones and notes on stretcher drill. It also instructed soldiers how to cope with such conditions as: ‘Ague, Apoplexy, Bites by snakes and mad dogs, Burns, Colic and diarrhoea, Dysentery, Drunkenness, Delirium Tremens, Drownings, Emetics and Fainting’. Shepherd never lived to see the outreach of his work. Within a year of his death, 100,000 Certificates for First Aid had been awarded by the St John Ambulance Association. Within a decade, a million St Johncertificates had been issued in centres as far afield as Barbados in the
Caribbean, Dunedin in New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia. Today, in developed nations such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the European Union one in every thirty civilians possesses a current first aid certificate. Logical and self-evident as the tenets of first aid are, audits of its success rates indicate that progress has been modest at best. Following coronary occlusion, even with best-practice first aid delivered in the context of witnessed cardiac arrests, the survival rate does not exceed 10 per cent. When such first aid skills are supplemented by on-site defibrillation, there is evidence to indicate that salvage ratesæmeasured in the terms of discharge from hospital with an intact brainæmay rise to 40 per cent. The big challenge for both civilian and military authorities is to promote the concept that first aid is a necessary skill for all, irrespective of rank or position; and that with the provision of simple and reliable equipment many lives can be saved. Research indicates that when first aid is required, in more than 60 per cent of cases the person administering it is a partner, parent, child, workmate or fellow team member of the sick or injured victim. In the military world, when first aid is required, if possible, it should be given by a ‘buddy’. Such was von Esmarch’s original concept when he developed the simple uni-
versal calico bandage to be carried by all soldiers. If needed, it was to be applied by anyone on site, irrespective of occupation or rank."

Wasn't aware that a medal had been produced in Peter Shepherd's memory.

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Peter Shepherd was born in 1841 in Leochel Cushnie, Aberdeenshire. In 1851 he was living at his father’s 50 acre farm Craigmill, with his parents, Peter (aged 50), Mary (aged 38), younger brother James, sister Mary Ann, his 19 year old cousin Peter, as well as 16 year old farm labourer John Edwards. He is listed in the census as a “scholar”. At 19 he was lodging in 37 Bonaccord Street, Old Machar, Aberdeen and studying medicine at the University.

He joined the medical service of the Army on 30 September 1864 and was promoted to Surgeon Major on 30th September 1876. In 1878 Surgeon-Major Shepherd of the Royal Herbert Military Hospital, Woolwich, London, together with Colonel Francis Duncan established the concept of teaching first aid skills to civilians. Shepherd conducted the first class in the hall of the Presbyterian school in Woolwich using a comprehensive first aid curriculum that he had developed. It was Shepherd who first used the English term "first aid for the injured" Dr James Cantile later published Shepherd’s lesson notes from that course as “First Aid To The Injured”. It wasn’t long before the newly-formed St. John Ambulance was running other public courses in cities throughout Britain.

In 1879 he was with the troops that crossed Tugela River into the Zulu kingdom. Outmanoeuvred by King Cetshwayo the troops were ambushed and heavily defeated at Isandlwana. Surgeon Major Peter Shepherd attempted to move a wagon of injured troops back to Rorke’s Drift. The ambulance never made it out of this area and was overrun. The wagon could be seen for months. The injured soldiers were hauled out and killed.

There is no grave marker for Peter Shepherd at Isandlwana. But if he was buried where he fell it would be feasible to narrow the area down to a twenty yard radius of where George MacLeroy of the Natal Carbineers died, as his death site is marked. It was George that Shepherd was attending to shortly before his own death, an eyewitness Andrew Muirhead stated that Shepherd was killed by a thrown assegai soon after. Surgeon Major Shepherd's pony was recognised later by Surgeon Major Reynolds VC as it was ridden back to the camp at Rorke's Drift by a native soldier

A memorial brass was placed on the wall of the Royal Victoria Hospital Chapel at Netley, "In memory of Peter Shepherd, M.B., University of Aberdeen, Surgeon-Major Her Majesty's Army; born at Leochel Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, 25th August I841; who sacrificed his own life at the battle of Isandhlwane, Zululand, 22nd January I879, in the endeavour to save the life of a wounded comrade. Erected by his brother officers and friends[8]" The committee that arranged the Shepherd Memorial for the Netley Chapel also placed a marble tablet to his memory in the graveyard of Leochel Cushnie Church and founded a "Shepherd Gold Medal" to be competed for annually as a surgical prize in the University of Aberdeen.

Original News print.
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Does anyone have any information on the early life & career of Peter Shepherd, not just the records that are available everywhere ?
I am trying to find out because he is my 4x Great Uncle

Hi Bob. Welcome to the forum. Good to see a member who's related to a well respected man who took part and lost his life in one of the most talked about battles of the Zulu War of 1879.

What information do you have on him yourself or are you in the same boat as us when it comes to information on Major Peter Shepherd.

So far I just know same as is already on this site, but am trying to find out info through a friend at Aberdeen Uni.
Most of the older members of the family are gone now, so there is not a lot to go on,
but still trying.

This is from Trooper Muirhead of the Carbineers

“As Kelly and I were riding for our lives, the Zulus pursuing us, my companion – almost a boy, Trooper Kelley – staggered in his saddle, evidently hit. I stopped my horse to see what was the matter, and I tried to support him, but I couldn’t , and had to lift him off on to the ground. At that moment, Dr. Shepherd came galloping past. I called out to him, and he dismounted to examine poor Kelly. After carefully examining him he called out, “Ah! Poor fellow, too late”. I had just mounted my horse and Dr Shepherd was in the act of putting his foot into the stirrup, when some instinct warned me to look round. As I did so I saw an assegai coming straight towards me. I turned to the left in my saddle: at the same moment it passed close to my head, and unfortunately, struck Dr. Shepherd in the side. He immediately fell, and I put spurs to my horse, and galloped off as fast as the horse could go”.


Cheers

90th wrote:

Hi all.
The following is from  ' Zulu Rising ' by Ian Knight ...........
Surgeon Shepherd must at last have  recognized that tending to the wounded in the camp was hopeless , for Trooper Muirhead
saw him just beyond the big gully . Muirhead had set off with a friend , Trooper George Macleroy , known to his fellow Carbineers
as ' Kelly ' when ;  " Kelly staggered in the saddle , evidently hit with an assagai . I stopped my horse to see what was the matter ,
and tried to support him , but could not , and had to lift him onto  the ground . At that moment Dr. Shepherd came galloping past.
I called out to him , and he dismounted to examine poor Kelly . After carefully examining him he said, Ah , the poor fellow !. Too late,
too late ! , I had just mounted my horse and Dr. Shepherd was in the act of putting his foot into the stirrup , when he was struck
fatally with an assagai .
This is also quoted in Shepherds Biography in Mackinnon and Shadbolt , The South African Campaign of 1879.
cheers 90th.

Hello 90th
Mackinnon and Shadbolt brought me here, I'm doing a little bit of research into the great man Peter Shepherd. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of information on this gentleman other than what has already been mentioned on this thread. To your knowledge or anyone else for that matter, is there a copy of the 'Little Handbook' available anywhere that he compiled for the Ambulance classes. I'm quite interested in finding out how AZW casualties were treated and I would like to understand a little more about the role of the Ambulance wagons. I remember listening to a lecture on civil War ambulance wagons, the yanks had something similar to todays paramedics and their triage was considered very proficient even by todays standards, I was wondering if we had anything as good during the AZW.

Regards
Waterloo

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Surgeon Major Peter Shepherd (1841-1879), British Army Doctor, killed at Isandlwana.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2542683/

Waterloo, you may find some useful information here! You will find reference to Surgeon-Major Peter Shepherd and his ‘Little Black Book'

Click Here

Dave wrote:

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Surgeon Major Peter Shepherd (1841-1879), British Army Doctor, killed at Isandlwana.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2542683/

Nice photo Dave.

Click Here

Waterloo,

I have a Shepherd Aide-Memoir, one of his triangular bandages as well as a copy of the First Aid manual produced in his memory.

When I get a spare moment this week I will photograph them and add them to the forum.

Out of interest I used to work with his great-nephew also named Peter Shepherd.

John Y.

littlehand wrote:

Waterloo, you may find some useful information here! You will find reference to Surgeon-Major Peter Shepherd and his ‘Little Black Book'

Click Here

littlehand,

Many thanks for that useful link, it's very helpful.

Regards
Waterloo

John Young wrote:

Waterloo,

I have a Shepherd Aide-Memoir, one of his triangular bandages as well as a copy of the First Aid manual produced in his memory.

When I get a spare moment this week I will photograph them and add them to the forum.

Out of interest I used to work with his great-nephew also named Peter Shepherd.

John Y.

Hello John,

I look forward to seeing the photos, talking of photos, I recall that you posted a photo of an Ambulance wagon a while ago, I can't find it at the moment, would you be able to repost it please.

Many thanks
Waterloo

Originally posted by forum member Dave
http://archive.org/stream/manualofambulanc00longuoft#page/n6/mode/1up

90th wrote:

Hi all.
The following is from  ' Zulu Rising ' by Ian Knight ...........
Surgeon Shepherd must at last have  recognized that tending to the wounded in the camp was hopeless , for Trooper Muirhead
saw him just beyond the big gully . Muirhead had set off with a friend , Trooper George Macleroy , known to his fellow Carbineers
as ' Kelly ' when ;  " Kelly staggered in the saddle , evidently hit with an assagai . I stopped my horse to see what was the matter ,
and tried to support him , but could not , and had to lift him onto  the ground . At that moment Dr. Shepherd came galloping past.
I called out to him , and he dismounted to examine poor Kelly . After carefully examining him he said, Ah , the poor fellow !. Too late,
too late ! , I had just mounted my horse and Dr. Shepherd was in the act of putting his foot into the stirrup , when he was struck
fatally with an assagai .
This is also quoted in Shepherds Biography in Mackinnon and Shadbolt , The South African Campaign of 1879.
cheers 90th.

Good Morning 90th
This personal story concerning George Macleroy and Dr Shepherd is very moving i am hoping the next time I visit Isandlwana at the end of the year
fingers crossed i find the exact site of this meeting between the above 2 brave men.

One item I am finding confusing is in Ian Knight book it mentions Macleroy hit with a assagai the below exert was taken from Page 216 For God Queen and Colony it gives far greater detail of the moments before the meeting of the above two brave men.

With his fellow Carbineers, George Macleroy had been invovled in fighting a long time before they were ordered back into the camp by Colonel Durnford.  
In the rearguared action of which they had been part most of the morning all went well with them until they retreated to the camp.  Here as before the horses were given to holders or tied to a convenient point and the men  once more joined the firing line. Here at the final defence of the camp Macelroy was shot in the side without a word yo anyone, he walked from the firing line to his horse in the rear, and mounting it turned in the direction of home and set off on his last ride.
Obviously aware of the wound was fatal his last effort was not one of abandoning his comrades, but one of wanting to be with loved ones at home. Joined in the camp by Muirhead the two became part of the mad, terrifying scramble for the Buffalo river, Natal for Safety.  About half a mile from the nek Macleroy strength finnaly ebbed from him and he fell from his horse.  Dismounting and coming to  Macelroy assistance, Murihead unable to do anything himself spotted Surgeon Major Shepheard fast approaching and stopped him and asked the Surgeon to look at Macleroy. After a brief examination Shepherd concluded that the trooper was beyond help. As he was mounting his horse an assegai struck him in the back killing him At this  Muirhead remounted his horse and was one of the lucky ones who made it to safety

It gives the impression above once Shepherd finishes his examination he got on his horse and that is when he is struck by an assagai the above story is very moving.  So of these three men only trooper Muirhead escapes with his life and i would say the above testimony would be his.

later in June burial parties started to arrive at Isandlwana to bury the dead its at this occasion Lieutenant w. Royston discovers Macelroy body and make the following  comment.

George's body has not been stripped save for the removal of his tunic and equipment Lieutenant Royston made a search of the body and discovered still loaded
a last chance Derringer - type pistol in George's boot. Apart from the single bullet wound which entered his upper thigh and penetrated into his body George's body was not mutilated.

Its these personnel story's that really that shows us the stupidity of war and this war which was forced on the Zulu is no different for the Glory of Empire

I understand mate your going to visit Isandlwana with Ian knight very shortly can you take a photo of this site were Trooper Macelroy and  Dr. Shepherd died there is a Cairn there with Isandlwana in the forground it will really place the above story perfectly.

Anyway i hope the above testimony gives us all an appreciation of the sacrifice made on both sides its a shame we dont have a equal moving story from the Zulu point of view

Aussie Inkosi

One thing I would like to debunk is the assertion that George's nickname was 'Kelly'. I have a very close friendship with the family and the only nickname contained within the volumes of correspondence and reams of letters from his friends and family is 'Geordie'.

Personally I think the initial report gave the correct name, but it was mistakenly subsequently reported as Kelly.

The piece referred by Aussie Inkosi appears to have drawn on an article I wrote based on family's diaries, yet does not cite me as the reference for the original article.

John Y.

Sorry John I apologize

Of all the stories I have read on this battle I have found this one the most moving. Do we know of George's , movements early in the morning of that fateful day one source places him in the area of the Ngbweni valley early morning it also seems he was with Durnford in the final donga before they retreated to the camp.

Again thanks John for your gift i received in the mail

if you can post any more info on George Macelroy I and others in the forum would be greatly
appreciated

Thanks so much John

Aussie Inkosi,

Not having a pop at you old chap. I shared some information with another person, and they don't appear to acknowledge my contribution in their work.

I'm hopefully seeing my contact with the MacLeroy family soon, I try and get permission for the sketch that he has in Geordie's notebook looking towards Isandlwana.

I'll try and find the Shepherd aide-memoir over the weekend, and post that as well as something one of the forum members has sent to me.

Regards,

John Y.

That would be great mate I can not wait.

If you can find out from the MacLeroy family if possible that is, concerning George's movements on that faithful morning whether he was on picket duty and where  seeing the great mystery of the pre battle timetable.

Thanks again mate.

Added on behalf of forum Bob a Job

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Aberdeen University's Shepherd Medal

Hi Aussie
I mentioned Macelroy to Ian Knight during the Holt's Tour of 2014 as I was also keen to locate and see it , I seem to remember him saying they thought , or actually did locate the Macelroy cairn , cant remember what sources they had at their disposal whilst looking for it , Ian said he'd only seen it the once , as it's in a part of the trail this is well and truly overgrown , and not on the main part of the trail that's used nowadays . It was a few years back from memory when Ian thought they found the Macelroy Cairn .
90th

Morning 90th
Neil Aspinshaw posted a photo of the cairn and headstone some time back, on the western side of Mahlabamkosi around 3 to 400 metres down from the neck I seem to recall.
Cheers

Thanks Frank , I'll have to keep that in the memory bank , I'll ask Ian again on its whereabouts .
90th

Ive been trying to find the photo, without any luck Im afraid. In the same post Neil also had a photo of a cairn on top of Mpethi.

90th wrote:

Hi Aussie
I mentioned Macelroy to Ian Knight during the Holt's Tour of 2014 as I was also keen to locate and see it , I seem to remember him saying they thought , or actually did locate the Macelroy cairn  , cant remember what sources they had at their disposal whilst looking for it , Ian said he'd only seen it the once , as it's in a part of the trail this is well and truly overgrown , and not on the main part of the trail that's used nowadays . It was a few years back from memory when Ian thought they found the Macelroy Cairn .
90th

Bonjour,
There is a photography of the Macleroy cairn on the website Maritzburg college.
cheers
Frédéric

Hi Frederic
I cant seem to find it, could you post a link? The editor of that site is fond of using photos without acknowledgment. I had a word with him a couple of years ago, seems he is still doing it.

Bonjour Frank,
Maritzburg College War Graves Commission
http://collegewargraves.blogspot.com

Cheers
Frédéric

Bonjour Mr Young,
Where can I find your essay about Macleroy, please?
Cheers
Frédéric

Morning Frederic,

I will e-mail something to you, when I get home later, I off to try and find isandula.

Otherwise look at 'Dear Megs' articles in the A-ZWRS journals.

Regards,

John Y

John Young wrote:

Morning Frederic,

I will e-mail something to you, when I get home later, I off to try and find isandula.

Otherwise look at 'Dear Megs' articles in the A-ZWRS journals.

Regards,

John Y

Mr Young,
Thank you very much for your help.
I have a copy of " Dear Megs", I will take a look.
Cheers
Frédéric

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The photo is either taken by Neil Aspinshaw or Rob Caskie. With due recognition to either.

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Hi 90th
I may be going after Christmas for my holidays  I sourced a photo from Rob Caskie I may need to get Rob to take me because all the other people I know
Have no idea.  Although I am not certain whether Rob from the lodge or Dalton may know where it is.  I must say George's story really moved me
Thanks for your reply mate

Photo & Text by
Aussie Inkosi

I forgot that Meg, George's sister, was the bride of the sulfur Drummond (Chelmsford's staff / killed at Ulundi)
Cheers
frédéric

Frederic,

'Megs' was unofficially engaged to Drummond, her father George Snr. disapproved of the relationship. As a token of his affection he presented her with a locket - a family heirloom - which contained his photograph. There is a gap in her diaries after her brother's death and further one following following Drummond's demise.

John Y.

Mr Young,
Thank you very much. It seems that at this time, Natal was "a little world" ( links between Henderson and Shepstone Family, Vause and Raw......). All names well known in the history of the AZw.
Cheers

Probably crossing over a couple of threads but regarding the position Shepherd died. Testimony has been that Shepherd died whilst helping Macleroy, or shortly afterwards. Macleroys headstone and cairn is quite some way down the trail of on the side of the rear of Mahlabamkosi. Theoretically then I would assume he is buried under one of the cairns on the trail,
Harford however comments: "Surgeon major Shepheard, at one time Assistant surgeon of the 99th regiment, lay within a few yards of the ambulance Wagon and close to where I was posted on the neck of the hill at Isandlwana the night of the 22nd."

Cheers

Letter from Lt Royston (NC), Landmann's drift, 22 June 1879:
"We arrived at the camp (I.E Isandhlwana)... we found Macleroy's remains about a mile from the neck and buried him here".
Source: "IN Zululand with the British army" / Norris-Newman

See the dilemma Frederic, Macleroy and Shepherd died in the same place, but one is found in the camp the other ( its not a mile ) outside.

Cheers

A Shepherd and Smith reference from Mainwaring
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Morning Frank

Do we know what "PWD" stands for?

Steve

Hi Steve
Public Works Department. They controlled the whole area many years back. In the period of this visit, and up to the late 60s White people had to have a permit to visit the tribal areas.

Thanks Frank. I assume their records (if they exist) have been explored?

Steve