Bullock- hide guard for the 1/24 th Foot

Guest

Hi all

At Isandhlwana, many soldiers of 1/24 th foot had a bullock- hide guard sewn over the stock to protect the left hand from an over - heated barrel...

This was true for all the soldiers of this battalion of 24 th foot ?

This also applies to those of the 2nd Battalion of the 24 th foot ?

This applies to all other British infantry battalions who fought in this war ?

This applies to other units with other types of firearms or only for the units with MH rifles ?

Cheers

Pascal

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Pascal
It was an un-official addition, made in the field. it was not adopted as a standard piece of equipment until 1882.
research proved these were being used as early as September 1873, as I found a reports from the 2/4th foot, the 46th foot and the SOM Hythe testing them.

They were frowned on as they caused rusting of the barrel.

Guest

Hello Neil

They were frowned on as they caused rusting of the barrel,ok...

But can we say that their use was characterized by veterans and was thus a hallmark of the latter relative to young soldiers at the beginning of the Zulu War ?

Cheers

Pascal

Guest

Hello All

Note that contrary to what Neil said previously, the veteran soldiers of the 1/24 had also bullock-hide guard sewn over the stock of their MH to protect their left hands from their over-hearted MH barrels.

For evidence, llight-hearted sketches W.Lloyd.

It was the same for the second battalion and the defenders of RD ?

Cheers

Pascal

Subject: Re: Bullock- hide guard for the 1/24 th Foot Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:52 pm

As Neil stated, "It was an un-official addition'

Guest

Yes prohibited but useful, therefore still used, but may be only by old soldiers and not in the second battalion.

Subject: Re: Bullock- hide guard for the 1/24 th Foot Sun Sep 02, 2012 6:18 pm

The Old Soldiers, probably didn't keep it a secret.

Guest

Yes, but the young soldiers obey military regulations more easily than veterans.

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

I don't see any point in this topic. If it prevented the troops burning thier hands then the method would have been adopted by all.

Guest

Unless the officers forbade it, in this case, only the experienced old soldiers did, this type of behavior is characteristic of soldiers who've fought ...

They know " the music "...

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

I'm sure if you dig deep enough, your probably find an account where some poor old soldier tied his underpants around his rifle to stop his hands getting burned.

Guest

No, I think that the old soldiers are smarter and always by the maximun of experience to make life in the countryside and less tiring to be the most efficasse in battle, always thanks to their past experiences, not things unprepared ...

» Lance-Corporal W. Boyd, Cookhouse Town Guard, late Frontier Light Horse and Prince Alfred’s Volunteer Guard
» Quartermaster Sgt. J. Bullock Natal Carbineers,
» On Guard. Drums of the 24th.