The Natal Mounted Police have almost been forgotten.

Doe's anyone have a complete list of names of the Natal Mounted Police who were KIA at Isandlwana.

Hi Dave,
Natal Mounted Police list as requested
Cpl m. Lally, L-Cpl H.M. Campbell, Troopers Banger, Berry, Blakeman, Capps, Clark, Daniels, Dovey, Eason, Fletcher, Lloyd, McRae, Mears, Neil, Parsons, Pearse, Pleydell, Secretan F, White and Winkles

Hope this helps

Regards
Phill

Hi Dave / Phill

Here are some others from the NMP who were KIA Isandlwana ........

C. Craven - Lloyd , Dovey Should read C.T. Dorey , Mears should read C.H. Meares , Pearse should read H.T. Pearce Jno ,
A.F. Pollard , J.W.M. Siddall , Walter Edye Stimson , Sydney C Thicke . Dave if you want their initials send me a pm .
Cheers 90th .

PS . These names from the wonderfully detailed lists in ' England's Sons by Julian Whybra .

Hi Dave/90th,
Now I'm fully awake here is what I should have posted:
Corporal Michael Lally
Lance-Corporal Hugh F. Campbell
Troopers:
George Henry Banger.
Hugh Berry.
Edward Blakeman.
Henry I, Capps.
John Clark.
Henry Craven Jesse Lloyd.
Charles T. Dorey.
John A. Eason.
William Fletcher.
Thomas McRae.
Charles Henry Meares.
Henry Neil.
Arthur Robert Parsons.
Henry Thomas Pearce.
John William Pleydell.
Arthur Fielding Pollard.
Francis Louis Secretan.
J.W.M. Siddall.
Walter Edye Stimson.
Sidney Claude Thicke.
Charles White.
Henry Winkles.

Hope this post is better than last time

Regards
Phill

Hi All

This is listed in THE MOUNTED POLICE OF NATAL BY H. P. HOLT

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Hi All,
Sorry I missed Trooper Samuel Daniels.

Regards
Phill

Hello All,
In a Roy Dutton's recently published book "Forgotten Heroes", Zulu and Basuto Wars, there is a sub note on the list of the Natal Mounted Police against a Trooper William Driemayer, which states "murdered at Newcastle". What I do know is that he was discharged from the Corps 6 October 1879, so if this statement is true when did it occur?
His anyone any details to confirm or deny this.

Regards
Phill

Hi Phill.
Cant tell you much more , in Terry Sole's Book ,,, '' For God , Queen and Colony '' it states the following .....
Driemeier ( Driemeyer ) , William . From Osnabruck , Germany . Attested 26 / 9 / 76 . Discharged 6 / 10 / 81 .
cheers 90th.

Hi 90th,
Thanks for you reply. I find this strange, as you say Terry Sole does not make any mention of it, nor does Donald Forysth in his Medal Roll. I can only think it occurred after his discharge from the NMP and comes from a newspaper report. Maybe we should ask Roy Hutton?
Regards
Phill.

Hi Phill

The only other information I can add is the following.

Ref. 1882/2916.
Messrs C B Cooke and W Driemeier (Corporal, Natal Mounted Police) apply for the appointment of keeper of the Estcourt gaol.

Source ‘Pietermaritzburg Archives Repository

This is only my opinion, if he had been appointment of keeper of the Estcourt gaol, he could well have been murdered by an inmate

Hi 1879graves,
Sorry about the delay in a response, still going through Terry Sole's book. I concur with your theory althought I cannot find confirmation of his actual appointment, but it does seem logical. The local newspapers of the time would have reported the event, you would have thought, but we are now going outside the reportable time of the Anglo-Zulu War.
Unfortunately I cannot get hold of Roy Hutton to ascertain the his source but will keep trying.

Regards
Phill

Hi Phill

Please do keep us posted on any updates, This is an interesting thread

I know Driemeyers still living in the Estcourt area of KZN. The first Driemeyer (Rudolf Friedrich)came to Durban with the cotton growers of New Germany in 1847. He came from Osnabruck.

Hi Johann,
Well the birthplace ties in with what is listed in the muster roll, so it looks as if you may be on to a positive lead. Please keep us informed.

Regards

Phill

Hi All

I have contacted Roy Hutton concerning this subject and he has jusy replied. Unfortunately at the moment he is working on a project about the 21st and his notes on the "Forgotten Heroes-Zulu War", have been archived (In his attic!), but he has promised to retrieve his source as soon as possible and lets us know. I will keep you all posted.

Regards
Phill

Hi Phill

Many thanks for the update.

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"The Natal Mounted Police (NMP) was formed in 1874 by a retired British Army officer, Major (later Major-General Sir) John Dartnell as a para-military force and the first line of defence in the Colony of Natal. Its men first saw action in the Zulu War of 1879, where one detachment went in search of the Zulu army while another stayed and fought in the Battle of Isandlwana. Twenty-five of the latter died of whom 21 fought in a last stand with 19 Natal Carbineers trying to protect the camp commander, Colonel Durnford. Two men, one of whom was killed, took part in the Battle of Rorke’s Drift."
Source: Ladysmith History

Hi littlehand .
This photo is after the zulu war but cant tell you the date . Certain the uniforms arent those as worn during 1879 .
cheers 90th.

Hi Littlehand .
I can tell you on further investigation there were 3 ( Not 2 ) NMP at R.Drift , Trooper Robert , S, Green , Henry Lugg and poor
Sydney , H . Hunter , who was assegaid after leaving the hospital when he turned and went in the wrong direction .
cheers 90th.

Hi Littlehand.
I can tell you that Green & Hunter were at R.Drift suffering from Rheumatic Fever , Lugg had injured his knee after
falling from his horse . Lugg has been covered on the Forum before , if I remember rightly his Woollen hat is in
a museum along with other personal belongings , sorry cant remember which museum it is , sure another member
will kindly let us now .
cheers 90th.

Reference to Lugg's hat is in the General Discussion area page 4 .
cheers 90th.

I was reading a book today, and the author made a statement along the lines that the NMP will never get the recognition for their part during the Zulu War, even though they fought in all the major battles and sold their lives dearly. And to thank them for their part they was not included in the final battle at Ulundi. I just had a look on the forum and there are a total of 16 posts deadicated to the Natal Mounted Police. The author was right.

Impi. Totally agree with you. Not sure what book your reading, but what I have read. The Men of the NMP really found it a pleasure to work under Major Dartnell. By all accounts he was one the best officers in South Africa. A very sober man. It has been forgotten what these men did during the Zulu War. A good example is the few that joined up with members of the 24th on the nek of Isandlwana and died along with those of the 24th. And to be denied action in the last battle was appalling. Perhaps between us we can post some accounts of what these brave men went though.

There is a book I recall on amazon, something like The Mounted Police Of Natal, which I think is a 2010 reprint of what was previously an expensive and very hard book to get hold of. It covers the Zulu War amongst other campaigns, although I don't have it myself. But I might get a copy.

Colin. This is one ofthe best books I have ever read.

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Click on link. Then click on page to turn. If you have IBooks or Kindle you can download to that. Enjoy.

Cheers Littlehand. That appears to be the same book that was reprinted as a paperback in 2010.

Colin. Thats a copy of the original. 1913

Hi all.
From memory the NMP only took part in the battle of Isandlwana and had a couple of members at Rorke's Drift . They didnt
take any part in the second invasion ( Croosing the Border ) as far as I recall . Happy to be corrected . They werent at Khambula or Hlobane as far as I'm aware .
cheers 90th.

90th is correct about the actions the NMP did and did not take part in. The only other NM Policemen to cross the Tugela River were those making up an escort for Sir Garnet Wolseley, who toured Zululand after assuming command as Governor of Natal and the Transvaal.

These men were awarded the SA Medal (1877-79) with the 1879 clasp, with the single exception of Corporal F M Abraham, who received the medal without the clasp.

The total numbers of Zulu War medals awarded to the NMP were 168 with the 1879 clasp and 89 without the clasp.

The NMP existed for only 20 years (1874 - 1894) and also took part in the 1880 Basutoland Rebellion (29 Cape of Good Hope General Service Medals awarded), and the 1880/81 Transvaal Rebellion (1st Anglo-Boer War), for which no service medal was issued, although Major Dartnell (later Major-General Sir John Dartnell KCB CMG) was awarded the CMG.

Thus, a total of only 286 service medals were issued to the NMP. I have no idea what the survival rate of these medals must be, but I suspect that many have been lost or ended up in the melting pot. Those that survive are rarities well worth treasuring.

Regards
Brett

Well at lease they took part in the two battles that are mostly discuused today. Isandlwana and RD.

I'm sure there is an account about many of the bodies on the nek at the very beginning of Fugitives' Trail were N.M.P., suggesting, to me at least, they had made a stand of their own away from the mixed force at the front of the Stoney Koppie, perhaps fighting the Right Horn. The N.C. do seem to get mentioned more than them. I can't remember offhand how many men from these individual units were killed at Isandhlwana.

Hi colin
25 men of the NMP died at Isandlwana,
22 men and 2 offficers of the Natal Carbineers died.
The Newcastle mounted rifles lost 2 officers and 5 men
The Buffalo Boarder gaurd lost 3 men killed

DB14, many thanks. I found the part of the account by Archibald Forbes relating to the N.M.P. - 'Still following the trail of bodies through the long grass and among stones, I approached the crest. Here the slaughtered ones lay very thick, so that the string became a broad belt. Many hereabout wore the uniform of the Natal Police.' - page 83 The Zulu War: Then And Now. by Ian Knight & Ian Castle.

The NMP did not remain idle while Lord Chelmsford’s forces advanced on Ulundi.

Rorke's Drift Garrison v Natal Mounted Police Cricket Match, 28th June 1879

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Petty Officer Tom

Must have spent some time handing out traffic tickets on Town Hill. Their descendents sure love doing that.

I think the reason the NMP were not as famous as the Carbineers was that only a few died with Durnford and around 14 Carbineers died around his body. The rest died on the Saddle not at the slope of the Stonnie Koppy.


Regards DB14

On page 23 of Clarke's (1893) history of the NMP he writes as follows:

In the numerous descriptions of the battle field, more especially in those published in the Colonial newspapers, very little mention is made of the Police and the honour of making the last stand on the neck of the hill has been generally accorded to the Volunteers alone, whereas about equal numbers of the N.M.P. and Volunteers stood by Colonel Durnford. In justice to the dead, therefore, the following extracts are published:-

Daily Telegraph of 15th August, 1879.
"N.M.P. It is stated that no fewer than 23 of the slain surrounding the body of Lieut, Col. Durnford on the field of Isandlwana - the total number being 35 - were recognised as being members of the Natal Mounted Police. The strength of the Corps is 150 and the proportion of casualties, therefore, speaks eloquently for the courage and devotion of those who thus shed their blood at the call of duty."

Archibald Forbes, the well known war correspondent, writes:-
"On reaching the crest, I found the dead lying thick, many in the uniform of the N.M.P. In a patch of long grass, near the right flank of the camp, lay Colonel Durnford's body, a central figure in a knot of brave men, who had fought it out around their chief to the bitter end. Around him lay 14 Natal Carbineers and 20 N.M.P. Clearly they had rallied round Col. Durnford in a last despairing attempt to cover the flank of the camp and had stood fast there from choice, when they might have essayed to fly for their horses, which were close by at the picket line."

Inspector Mansel, in his official report, says:-
"When we went out the morning before the fight, we left 34 men behind - men whose horses had sore backs, &c These men were in charge of a Corporal only. Nine men escaped and we buried all of the 25 that were killed. Twenty-one men were killed just round Col. Durnford, three about 200 yards away and one at Fugitive's Drift."

There are slight differences in the figures given, but those of the burial party are likely to be the most vrelaible.

Brett

I have been flicking through the pages of this book book ( Natal Mounted Police) looking for the name of a trooper, that accidentally discharged hs revolver his punishment, was to be sent back to Isandlwana, where he was killed, any help would be appreciated. It may not even had been it this book, but I remember reading it somewhere.

24th i rememember reading it to i think it could be in Ian Nights Zulu Rising

Regards

It was 248 Tpr A Parsons, who was from Dulwich, London.

Brett

Brett is correct.

" A trooper named Parsons, in attempting to load his revolver, accidentally discharged the weapon. His horse shied and he fell off. As a reward he was sent back to camp in disgrace, the incident causing a good deal of merriment. Parsons was killed during the attack on the camp the next day."

Page 54 Natal Mounted Police.

I would always have like to have seen a painting in the same highly-detail of Fripp or De Neuville, showing the last stand of the Colonials at the foot of the Stony Koppie - N.M.P., N.C., N.M.R., B.B.G., including some I.M.I., with the visible appearance of Capt. Bradstreet and Lt. Scott in their midst, all this being before Col. Durnford joined them. There are one or two more modern images in existence, a couple of colour plates too, but not capturing the right emotional as well as heroic historical moment which these men deserved.

The members of the force who were killed at Isandhlwana were :

Corporal Lally
Lance-Corporal Campbell,

Troopers:

Banger,
Berry,
Blakeman,
Capps,
J. Clarke,
Daniells,
Dorey,
Eason,
Fletcher,
Lloyd,
McRae,
Meares,
Niel,
Pearse,
Parsons;
Pollard,
Pleydell,
F. Secretan,
Siddall,
Stimson,
Thicke, C.
White,
Winkle.

The men who escaped were :

Lance-Corporal Eaton,
Trumpeter Stevens,
Troopers Collier,
Doig,
Dore-hill,
W. Hayes (died of fever at Helpmakaar),
Kincade,
Shannon,
Sparks.

[i]"The police who survived were unable to say much about the last scenes. They had been sent out with all the mounted men to hold the main Zulu army in check,
which they did until their ammunition was exhausted. Messengers galloped back frantically for more cartridges, but did not return, so the whole body retired.
It was then learnt that the messengers had found the cartridges, tightly screwed up in boxes, and it was impossible to get at them. The practice of screwing down the lids was abolished when the news of this incident reached England.

At the moment the mounted men fell back to the camp the right horn of the impi appeared on the nek, closing the road to Rorke's Drift. Even then, had the troops been concentrated, and ammunition available, it is possible that the position might have been held, but the infantry were split up, and it was too late to move away.

As the final rush came, Colonel Durnford clearly saw that death was inevitable for nearly every one.

' ' Get away as best you can , " he shouted to the police and volunteers near, but very few heard or obeyed him.

To escape along the Rorke's Drift road was impossible, and those who left could only make a dash over terribly rocky ground where even horsemen had the greatest difficulty in avoiding the pursuing natives. Scarcely a single person on foot reached the Buffalo River alive. The river was in flood, but the Zulus pressed hard behind, and there was no time to look for a ford. Each man dashed into the stream as he reached it. Trumpeter Stevens, of the police, was washed off his horse, which swam across. The trumpeter owed his life to a native constable, who caught the animal and bravely took it back, enabling Stevens to cross the river before the Zulus attacked him."[i]

Source: Natal Mounted Police.

Brett

Quote :

Twenty-one men were killed just round Col. Durnford

This is the 2nd confirmation of numbers who died along side Durnford.

"In the numerous descriptions of the battlefield very little mention is made of the fact that the police shared with an equal number of volunteers the honour of having made the last stand on the nek of the hill. At the crest where the dead men were lying thick, a large proportion of them were in the uniform of the Natal Mounted Police. In a patch of long grass, near the right flank of the camp, lay Colonel Durnford's body, a central figure of a knot of brave men who had fought it out around their chief to the bitter end.

Around him lay 14 carbineers and 21 of the police. Clearly they had rallied round the Colonel in a last despairing attempt to cover the flank of the camp, and had stood fast from choice when they might have essayed to fly for their horses, which were close by at the picket line."
Source: Natal Mounted Police

Died During the Zulu War 1879

Cpl Lally Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
L/Cpl Campbell Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper C H Bango Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper H Berr Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Tpr F Blakeman Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper H S Capps Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper T Clark Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper S Daniel Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper C Doury Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper J Eason Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper W Fletcher Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper H S Lloyd Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper T Macrae Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper C Mears Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper H Neil Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Tpr A R Parsons Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper W F Pearse Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Tpr J W Pleydell Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper A T Pollard Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Tpr J W M Siddal Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper F Secretan Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Tpr W E Simpson Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper S Thicke Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper C White Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper H Winkles Natal Mounted Police Isandlwana
Trooper S Hunter Natal Mounted Police Rorke’s Drift
Cpl C Cradock Natal Mounted Police Helpmekaar
Trooper C Bennett Natal Mounted Police Helpmekaar

Thanks. Brett & Littlehand.

Do we have any photo's of the Natal Mounted Police Zulu War Campaing Medals.

I have a medal to a man who was on the Dartnell patrol, and medals to two men who did not cross into Zululand. I don't know how to go about posting them.

Brett

Hi 24th

Here is one for you.

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