2nd batt/4th Foot (later King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt)

Regimental Movements.

Nov 1878 Stationed at North Camp, Aldershot
1-7th Dec 1878 Received orders to proceed to Natal on active service.
10th Dec 1878 6 companies embarked in transport ship “Dunrobin Castle”
13th Dec 1878 3 companies embarked in transport ship “Teuton”
1 –15thJan 1879 “Dunrobin Castle” arrives Cape Town, South Africa.
3 companies landed at Cape town and garrisoned at Cape Town.
3 companies led by Major Elliott and Capts Knox and Leggett and 2nd Lieuts. Bonomi and Ridley are landed at Durban
“Teuton” arrives and 3 companies landed and join others waiting in Durban
Jan 1879 6 united companies marched to Pietermaritzburg
Jan 1879 Receive news of the disaster at Isandlwana
Jan 1879 6 companies march to Helpmakaar
Jan 1879 6 companies moved from Helpmakaar to Utrecht and Greytown
Jan 1879 3 companies garrisoned previously at Cape Town receive orders to join HQ.
26th Jan 1879 These 3 companies embarked in the “African” a privately owned mail ship, rented by an entrepreneur to the Gov't to quickly get reinforcements to Durban.
29th Jan 1879 These 3 companies arrive at Durban
2nd Feb 1879 These 3 companies reach Maritzburg
Feb 1879 These 3 companies await arrival of 21st Regiment
Feb 1879 These 3 companies continue on viâ Colenso, Ladysmith, and Newcastle to
Utrecht and Greytown, from there they were despatched to Balte’s Spruit, Conference Hill, and Lüneberg. During this march Major Blake and Capt. Moore were surrounded by a Zulu impi (which, it is understood, was under orders to join the King), but were not attacked.
The companies of the battalion were distributed 'in reserve' over a wide area of country, including the Utrecht district, Potgreter’s Farm, Lüneberg, Balte’s Spruit, Conference Hill, etc.
28 Mar 1879 Involved in Battle of Inhlobana Hill
29th Mar 1879 Some 2nd/4th casualties incurred at Kambula.
3rd Jul 1879 Reconnaissance before Ulundi
4th Jul 1879 Battle of Ulundi
Jul 1879 After the battle of Ulundi, the companies were relieved by those of the 24th Regiment of Foot and then proceeded to Lüneberg and Standerton in the Transvaal.
6th Sept 1879 Colonel Bray, with three companies of the regiment, assisted by the Frontier Light Horse and a detachment of Engineers, blew up the caves known as Mbilini’s, in the neighbourhood of the Ntombe River.
Sept 1879 Manyanyoba, the independent chief who had long given great trouble, now surrendered. He had been holed up in the Mbilini's Cave, so commonly referred to as Manyanyoba's Cave.
8th Sept 1879 Some 2nd/4th casualties incurred at Luneberg
Sept 1879 The regiment received orders to return.
Sept 1879 2 companies left at Greytown with the other forces which, under Major Twentyman, were destined for the defence of the frontier.
Sept 1879 On the road back, the companies which had been stationed at Newcastle, Ladysmith, and Dundee rejoined the regiment passing through Pretoria and
Standerton en route.
26th Jan 1880 Regiment arrives at Pinetown
8th Feb 1880 Battalion embark for Bombay minus the 2 companies left at Greytown.
End Feb 1881 News of disaster at Majuba Hill
Xx Apr 1881 Census in England taken, some 2nd/4th on troopship ‘Serapis’
1st Jul 1881 Cardwell reforms, new name assigned ‘King’s own Royal Lancaster Regiment’
Nov 1881 Earl Frederick Roberts arrives in Madras
Xxx 1881 –5 India Poona (Pune) and elsewhere

Movements in India from 1881 to 1885

NB Some named S Africa deaths included:
2nd Battalion 4th Foot (Infantry Regiment)
631 Private R. Beswick - killed in action at Kambula 29 March 1879
910 Corporal I. Pomfret - killed in action at Luneberg 8 September 1879
1644 Sergeant-Major E. Smith - killed in action at Luneberg 8 September 1879.

Source: Ann_Cestor.

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