Sergeant Francis Attwood DCM

With the generosity of the Co-op Funeral Service in Plymouth, and the efforts of Cpl Tim Needham of the Royal Marines Band currently based in Plymouth, a new plaque has been placed in Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, to the memory of Cpl Francis Attwood of the Army Service Corps, a defender of Rorke's Drift 22nd / 23rd Jan 1879.

Cpl Attwood was awarded the D.C.M. for his actions at Rorke's Drift. He died at the age of 38 at home in Cremyll Street, East Stoneham on 20th Feb 1884. Attwood was buried with full military honours in Milehouse Cemetery. His headstone suffered severe damage in a German bombing raid over Plymouth in 1941.

In the 1960s, Milehouse Cemetery was cleared and the mortal remains of Francis Attwood were re-interred at Efford Cemetery in communal ground. Since his reburial there has been no memorial in Efford Cemetery to Cpl Attwood until now.



See Pictorial catalogue of AZW graves

Rorke's Drift closely followed one of the British Army's worst defeats when on 21 January 1879; a force of 20,000 Zulu warriors attacked a column of 1,700 British soldiers at Isandlwana, killing over 1,000 men. The following day about 4,000 Zulus attacked the nearby small British garrison and mission station Rorke's drift, where there were at the time 130 soldiers, including those who lay sick and wounded in the adjoining military hospital. This small force miraculously over a period of some hours defended the outpost. Eventually at dawn the Zulus withdrew.
The award of eleven Victoria Crosses and four Distinguished Conduct Medals, the most ever awarded for a single action demonstrates the bravery of the small force. Amongst those recognised was Cpl Francis Attwood ASC. In the account of the battle he is commended for his bravery in defending the storehouse and hospital, which the Zulus continually tried to burn down.

THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDALS AWARDED FOR ACTION AT RORKE'S DRIFT: 22-23 Jan. 1879.
1. 2469 2 Cpl. Attwood, Francis. A.S.C.
2. 2459 C.Sgt. Bourne, Frank 2/24th Regt.
3. 2076 Gnr. Cantwell, John. Royal Artillery.
4. 3359 2 Cpl. McMahon, Michael Army. Hospital Corps. (subsequently withdrawn)
5. 1542 Pte. Roy, William 1/24th Regt.

Its Good to see good work done. Well done to Co-op Funeral Service in Plymouth, and the efforts of Cpl Tim Needham. Another defender remembered.

hi all.

a big thank you should be given to all , who try to give these poor fellows the true recognition they fully deserve !. lets hope they will all eventualy have a marker of some description , where they R.I.P.

cheers90th

Veterans honour Rorke's Drift hero
Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 10:00
A HERO of the Anglo-Zulu War has finally been honoured with a new gravestone – 125 years after his death and almost 70 years since the original headstone was destroyed.

A special ceremony at Efford Cemetery in Plymouth remembered Sergeant Francis Attwood DCM, a survivor of the battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879, which was immortalised in the film Zulu starring Michael Caine.

A corporal at the time, he was one of just 130 soldiers who defended a British garrison and mission station against 4,000 Zulus.

More than 1,000 of his comrades were killed in battle the previous day, as the British Army fought to extend its territory in what is now South Africa.

Cpl Attwood survived and was posted to Plymouth as sergeant to take charge of the military bakery.


He lived in Cremyll Street, Stonehouse, but died suddenly in 1884, aged 38.

The Rorke's Drift hero was buried with full military honours at Milehouse Cemetery – but German bombs destroyed his headstone in January 1941.

Veterans from the Institution of the Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport Plymouth Association gathered yesterday for a ceremony to unveil the headstone.

Association president Brigadier Peter Bowser, said the project was the brainchild of Royal Marine Cpl Tim Needham, who has previously campaigned for similar tributes.

"It was a really nice occasion," said Brig Bowser. "I would like to thank Cpl Needham, who instigated the presenting of this plaque."


http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/Veterans-honour-Rorke-s-Drift-hero-new-gravestone/article-1200974-detail/article.html

Thanks once again to the generosity of the Co-op Funeral Service in Plymouth, and the efforts of Cpl Tim Needham of the Royal Marines Band currently based in Plymouth, a new plaque has been placed in Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, to the memory of Cpl Francis Attwood of the Army Service Corps, a defender of Rorke's Drift 22nd / 23rd Jan 1879.

Cpl Attwood was awarded the D.C.M. for his actions at Rorke's Drift. He died at the age of 38 at home in Cremyll Street, East Stoneham on 20th Feb 1884. Attwood was buried with full military honours in Milehouse Cemetery. His headstone suffered severe damage in a German bombing raid over Plymouth in 1941.

In the 1960s, Milehouse Cemetery was cleared and the mortal remains of Francis Attwood were re-interred at Efford Cemetery in communal ground. Since his reburial there has been no memorial in Efford Cemetery to Cpl Attwood until now.



CPL FRANCIS ATTWOOD

hi all.
Well done to all those involved . :lol: .
cheers 90th.

Francis Attwood was responsible for shooting a Zulu that was holding a lighted torch to the eves of the storehouse.

"I made an awful mess of one fellow, he was running towards the house in a slightly stooping position when I let fly at him on the crown of the head, the effect of which was to blow the entire side of his face away."

During part of the defence he was posted to the storehouse to defend the upper windows. Attwood was awarded the Silver Medal for Distinguished Conduct, and was promoted to Sergeant. He received his medal at a Special parade on 13th November 1879. On his return to England, Attwood married, and served with the Commissariat and Transport Corps at Plymouth

Natal Witness Saturday 15th November 1879