Natal Mounted Police nominal rolls - Introduction

The Natal Mounted Police
The Natal Mounted Police (NMP) was formed in 1874 and lasted until 1894, when Natal became a self-governing Colony and its law-enforcement agencies were amalgamated to become the Natal Police. The NMP was a paramilitary organisation that was the Colony’s first line of defence in times of trouble. At such times it was strengthened, if necessary, by the mobilisation of the Colony’s volunteer regiments, such as the Natal Carbineers. In its early years, it was seriously under-manned and poorly equipped but, nevertheless, the force survived to earn acclaim and develop an enviable esprit de corps.
The most notable period in the NMP’s short history was the five years between 1877 and 1881, during which several notable events in Natal’s history took place. The NMP played a significant role in these events. They were:
1877 - Annexation of the Transvaal
1879 - Anglo-Zulu War
1880 - Visit of the Empress Eugenie of France
1880 - Basutoland Rebellion
1880/81 - Transvaal Rebellion (1st Anglo-Boer War).

The only medals awarded to the NMP during its existence were earned during this period. They were the South Africa Medal (1877-79) for service during the Zulu War (a total of 257), and the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal for service during the Basutoland Rebellion (29). The NMP’s commanding officer, Major John Dartnell, was decorated with the CMG for his service during the Transvaal Rebellion, for which no service medal was awarded.
There were, therefore, only 286 named service medals and one decoration awarded to the NMP during its existence and, as such, they can be regarded as rarities.

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

ANNEXATION OF THE TRANSVAAL – 1877


The men of the Natal Mounted Police who provided the escort for Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the Special Commissioner whose duty it was to annex the Transvaal on behalf of the British Government, are listed below. No medal was issued for this duty.

Sub-Inspector F L Phillips (later Inspector)

16 Sergeant J W Abbott
84 Corporal R Cushing
15 “ W R Faddy
145 “ F Champ
112 “ D F McQueen

94 Trumpeter W Knott

130 Trooper M Allison
139 “ W Bartley
138 “ R Bradshaw (afterwards drowned in the Mooi River)
100 “ A Grisair
109 “ P A Holmes
105 “ P Husband
132 “ T W Jenkins
“ Mathie (either 135 J R Mathie or 136 E C Mathie)
26 “ J McDonald
147 “ T F Myers
49 “ A Owen
102 “ J W Pleydell (killed at Isandlwana.)
36 “ G L Rafter
51 “ C A Scrivener
59 “ R M Sharp
101 “ W H Sharp
140 “ C M F Sparks
45 “ T Ward
71 “ J Whitwell

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

ANGLO-ZULU WAR 1879

CENTRAL COLUMN
(ISANDLWANA & RORKE’S DRIFT)

The muster roll of the Natal Mounted Police given below was recorded at Rorke’s Drift on the morning after the Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift in order to find out the names of missing men. It was given by W J Clarke in his 1893 history of the NMP. Service numbers and initials have been added and the spelling of names follows that on the NMP enlistment roll. The men were awarded the S A Medal (1877-79) with the 1879 clasp.

The muster roll names all the Natal Mounted Policemen who were part of the Colonial mounted force that crossed into Zululand with the Central Column under the command of Lord Chelmsford. The list identifies the 34 men who were at Isandlwana and three who were at Rorke’s Drift when these camps were attacked by the Zulus. The remaining 97 men must have been with the patrol led by Major Dartnell that went in search of the Zulu army the day before the attacks on Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. They returned to the Isandlwana camp on the evening of the battle, spent the night in the devastated camp and left for Rorke’s Drift early the following morning. The parade during which the muster roll was compiled took place after the men were given a meal of tinned meat, bread and rum, the first food for many of them in 60 hours.



Major J G Dartnell (later Major-General Sir John Dartnell KCB CMG, Natal Police)
Inspector G Mansel (later Colonel G Mansel CMG, Natal Police)
“ F A Campbell
Sub-Inspector F L Phillips

25 Sergeant-Major W Stean (later Sub-Inspector and Adjutant)
15 Sergeant W R Faddy
115 “ W H Hobson
112 “ D F McQueen
82 “ R Moor
151 Corporal W S Chaddock (died of fever at Helpmekaar)
118 “ T H DeBathe
67 “ W Jordan
74 “ M Lally (killed at Isandlwana)
175 “ M A Masson (later Sub-Inspector)
21 “ J A Melville
178 Lance-Corporal H M Campbell (killed at Isandlwana)
269 “ R N Eaton (escaped from Isandlwana)
270 “ A Groschke
255 “ E H Lyons
149 “ A Smart

167 Trumpeter R F Angove
94 “ W Knott
80 “ J Haygarth
256 “ R W Stevens (escaped from Isandlwana)

234 Trooper C F Adams
1 “ G Babington
286 “ A C Bacon
133 “ W Balloch
261 “ F Bampton
287 “ G H Banger (killed at Isandlwana)
215 “ F E Bates
185 “ W J E Bawtree
277 “ H Beeby
258 “ G Bennett (died of fever at Helpmekaar)
179 “ H Berry (killed at Isandlwana)
276 “ E Blakeman (killed at Isandlwana)
141 “ H Boik
262 “ W I Brown
209 “ H F Campbell
124 “ H I Capps (killed at Isandlwana)
143 “ J Carpenter
264 “ C J Carter
188 “ L Carter
216 “ S Chappell
218 “ H Clark
239 “ J Clark (killed at Isandlwana)
249 “ W J Clarke (later Chief Commissioner, Natal Police)
199 “ G Collier (escaped from Isandlwana)
89 “ G I Cooper
236 “ W N Cuming
180 “ S Daniels (killed at Isandlwana)
200 “ E A Day
104 “ D Doig (escaped from Isandlwana)
284 “ H V Dorehill (escaped from Isandlwana; later Sub-Inspector)
231 “: C T Dorey (killed at Isandlwana)
142 “ W Driemeyer (murdered at Newcastle)
238 “ T Dryer
170 “ J Eason (killed at Isandlwana)
274 “ A J Evans
186 “ W Fletcher (killed at Isandlwana)
197 “ C Fogg
184 “ J Ford
240 “ A S Fowler
237 “ F Freyings
157 “ J Gilmore
159 “ D Gleeson
220 “ H C Green
219 “ R Green (wounded in the defence of Rorke’s Drift)
106 “ L Haigh
246 “ M W Hall
69 “ W Hall
268 “ W G Hall
253 “ C Hamilton (later Sub-Inspector)
254 “ H R Hamilton
113 “ G F Harrison
273 “ W Hayes (escaped from Isandlwana; died of fever at Helpmekaar)
245 “ M Hifferman
83 “ H Heise
280 “ S Hunter (killed at Rorke’s Drift)
57 “ G Hughes
288 “ J Hughes
169 “ P B Ingram (died of fever at Helpmekaar)
198 “ F E Irving
148 “ G W Jones
227 “ W Kershaw
164 “ R Kincade (escaped from Isandlwana)
232 “ C J Laughnan (died of fever at Ladysmith)
229 “ R T Litton
291 “ H C J Lloyd (killed at Isandlwana)
271 “ H Lugg (in the defence of Rorke’s Drift)
129 “ T McRae (killed at Isandlwana)
136 “ E C Mathie
152 “ C H Meares (killed at Isandlwana)
247 “ W A Medigan
278 “ P Nagle (died of fever at Helpmekaar)
235 “ H Neil (killed at Isandlwana)
272 “ W Nelson
257 “ H Newhook
49 “ A Owen
223 “ H Palmer
248 “ A Parsons (killed at Isandlwana)
230 “ W G Patrick (not on medal roll)
289 “ H T Pearse (killed at Isandlwana)
172 “ H J Pitt
102 “ J W Pleydell (killed at Isandlwana)
156 “ A F Pollard (killed at Isandlwana)
154 “ R Reed
134 “ C Robson
212 “ J Roffey
153 “ C W Royston
63 “ A Rummings
259 “ A Secretan
“ F R Secretan (killed at Isandlwana; service number not found)
177 “ R I Shannon (escaped from Isandlwana)
123 “ J W M Siddal (killed at Isandlwana)
192 “ C W Singleton
205 “ E Smith
266 “ J S Smith
9 “ H S Smithe (committed suicide at Helpmekaar)
225 “ J Soundy
202 “ J A Sowerby
140 “ C M F Sparks (escaped from Isandlwana)
126 “ T B Steer
193 “ W E Stimpson (killed at Isandlwana)
201 “ S E Thicke (killed at Isandlwana)
166 “ G E Turner
190 “ J F Walker
292 “ W B Walker
111 “ E Wall
285 “ A G B Warner
214 “ C White (killed at Isandlwana)
119 “ M H White
275 “ H Winkles (killed at Isandlwana)
265 “ D Wright

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

ANGLO-ZULU WAR 1879

ESCORT FOR SIR GARNET WOLSELEY

Sir Garnet Wolseley (later Viscount Wolseley), the new Governor of Natal and the Transvaal and High Commissioner of Southern Africa, arrived in Durban in July 1879. The Natal Mounted Police provided an escort for Wolseley during his trip to Zululand in the closing stages of the War.

The names of the escort are copied from the list given by Terry Sole in his book, For Queen and Country (Token Publishing, 2011). The service numbers are from the NMP enlistment roll. With the exception of Corporal Abraham, the men were awarded the SA Medal (1877-79) with the 1879 clasp.


Sub-Inspector F L Phillips

69 Sergeant J W MacLaren
213 Corporal F M Abraham
221 “ G Eicke
176 “ J G C Hammond

130 Trooper M Allison
295 “ P Berthold
302 “ F H Billing
222 “ F Billson
163 “ B Cooper
233 “ C C Davies
320 “ G Harrison
263 “ J A Hope
290 “ G A Howie
161 “ W Lellyott
86 “ F Loftus
352 “ W H A Molyneux
296 “ R W Newbold
294 “ W Owens
217 “ H Piers
211 “ H T Read
195 “ R Richardson
354 “ J H T Robinson
“ C Watts (service number not found)


NATIVE POLICE

Sergeant Mankamane
Corporal Tintibella

Private Boya
“ Boza
“ Isifuba
“ Jantze
“ Madagan
“ Magamene
“ Nyoni
“ Sobantu
“ Ujan
“ Umpini

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

ANGLO-ZULU WAR 1879

RESERVE FORCE NOT ON ACTIVE SERVICE

The names of the reserve force, which was based in Pietermaritzburg and Harding, are copied from the lists given by Terry Sole in his book, For Queen and Country (Token Publishing, 2011), and D R Forsyth’s S A Medal (1877-79) roll. The service numbers are from the NMP enlistment roll and some spellings have been changed to conform with those on the roll. The men were awarded the S A Medal (1877-79) without a clasp.

Sub-Inspector C R Jackson

19 Sergeant E C H Crallan
145 Corporal F Champ
132 “ T W Jenkins

195 Trumpeter R Richardson

47 Trooper J G Adams (accidentally killed)
281 “ F Bekkely
301 “ J W F Biggs (enlisted as J W Forbes-Biggs)
279 “ T Blakeman
299 “ H S Boome
353 “ J N Bowman
196 “ F G H Bradbury
182 “ S Burgoyne
207 “ A Burney
250 “ E Camp
303 “ C A M Campbell
125 “ T Charlesworth
128 “ W Charlesworth
304 “ E Cheesman
308 “ H D Clarabut
155 “ S W Coates
309 “ J G Connorton
351 “ A E Cunningham
311 “ E C Dalrymple
312 “ E M Daw
313 “ W Dickenson
314 “ W D Dreweatt
206 “ E T Drury
204 “ R W Farr
315 “ W W Fry
316 “ W B Gardner
317 “ T Gill
305 “ J Gray
318 “ H C Green
220 “ H C Green
210 “ E M Hampshire
319 “ H D Harris
321 “ P Harrod
355 “ A Haynes
322 “ H W Hern
323 “ J H Hern
324 “ J M Hutton
325 “ F Ilbery (ILBERY)
160 “ E F Jenner
326 “ S H Joseph
327 “ H Langmid
306 “ A Leslie
328 “ J T Liddell
181 “ F E Lochner
329 “ H Longfield
356 “ J MacDermott
307 “ C R G MacDonald
330 “ G Martin
331 “ E C Marsh
332 “ W C Marshall
135 “ J R Mathie
298 “ H F Mattheys
333 “ C W Morland
334 “ F W C Moxon
147 “ T F Myers
242 “ R Palmer
241 “ J R Pardy
335 “ W P Pavey
283 “ W R Pearson
“ J Pierson (service number not found)
336 “ W C Penny
168 “ P Pringle
337 “ E A Purser
338 “ G C Richards
339 “ A B Russ
340 “ C C Secretan
341 “ A P Sidney
342 “ W Simons
343 “ F C Steffan
344 “ D J Stephens
345 “ W Taylor
“ D Thomson (service number not found)
346 “ H S Wardrop
347 “ J D Watson
348 “ H T Widdrington
267 “ T Wignall
349 “ W Williams
350 “ R W Wingfield
183 “ A J S Young


NATIVE POLICE

Private Endengiza
“ Matchlan
“ Siquosa
“ Umbedda

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

BASUTOLAND REBELLION – 1880


When the Basutoland Rebellion broke out, the Natal Mounted Police were deployed to defend the passes in the Drakensberg against incursions from Basuto stock thieves. Those men who were considered to be on active service qualified for the award of the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. All, except one man, received the medal with the Basutoland clasp.

The exception was Trooper M de M Harris, who was awarded the Transkei clasp. Harris’ name does not appear on the NMP enlistment roll and the issue of an unlikely clasp suggests that he belonged to another unit.

Another error was the listing of Corporal W V Dorehill of the NMP under the Natal Mounted Rifles. The NMR did not exist in 1880.


Major J G Dartnell (later Major-General Sir John Dartnell KCB CMG, Natal Police)
Inspector F A Campbell
“ G Mansel (later Colonel G Mansel CMG, Natal Police)
Sub-Inspector F L Phillips (later Inspector)

115 Sergeant W H Hobson
175 “ M A Masson (later Inspector)
213 Corporal F M Abraham
216 “ S Chappell
249 “ W J Clarke (later Chief Commissioner, Natal Police)
284 “ W V Dorehill (later Inspector)
253 “ C Hamilton (later Sub-Inspector)
370 “ A Prendergast (later Inspector)
94 Lance-Corporal W Knott
390 “ C A Martin

391 Trooper W D Campbell (later Sub-Inspector and Quartermaster)
304 “ E Cheesman
313 “ W Dickenson
372 “ F Evans (later Sub-Inspector)
444 “ W C H George (later Inspector)
69 “ W Hall
( “ M de M Harris)
321 “ P Harrod
377 “ G S Mardall (later Chief Commissioner, Natal Police)
382 “ H Pennefather
386 “ C J Perceval (later Earl of Egmont.)
419 “ O Petsch
495 “ J Pearson
337 “ E A Purser
397 “ H R Tully
400 “ C A Vibert

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

ESCORT FOR EMPRESS EUGENIE OF FRANCE – 1880

The Empress Eugenie visited Natal for seven weeks during April, May and June 1880 in order to see the place where her son, the Prince Imperial of France, Louis Napoleon, was killed during the Zulu War. No medal was issued for this duty.


15 Sergeant W R Faddy
182 Corporal S Burgoyne
249 “ W J Clarke (later Chief Commissioner, Natal Police)

295 Trooper P Berthold
262 “ W Brown
391 “ W D Campbell (later Sub-Inspector and Quartermaster)
310 “ G I Cooper
375 “ H Eardley-Wilmot (sometimes recorded as Tpr Wilmot)
372 “ F Evans
184 “ J Ford
318 “ H C Green
413 “ G W Heathcote
324 “ J M Hutton
“ Lochner (either 181 F E Lochner or 423 F W Lochner)
329 “ H Longfield
382 “ H Pennefather
289 “ H T Pearse (sometimes recorded as 217 Tpr H Piers)
359 “ A W Ravenscroft
339 “ A B Russ
256 “ R W Stevens

NATAL MOUNTED POLICE

TRANSVAAL REBELLION – 1880/81
(1st ANGLO-BOER WAR)

When the Transvaal Rebellion began in December 1880, the Governor of Natal and Officer Commanding the British Forces in south-east Africa, Major-General Sir George Colley, had no Imperial cavalry under his command, so a detachment of the Natal Mounted Police was called out to form a mounted presence on the Transvaal border. The NMP remained on active service until 30/3/1881. In keeping with the British tradition of not honouring a defeat, no campaign medal was issued for this conflict, although Major Dartnell was awarded the CMG.

The roll of men involved in the Transvaal Rebellion given by W J Clarke in his 1893 history of the NMP has been improved with the addition of service numbers and initials, while spellings follow those in the NMP enlistment roll.


Major J G Dartnell (later Major-General Sir John Dartnell KCB CMG, Natal Police)
Inspector G Mansel (later Colonel G Mansel CMG, Natal Police)
Sub-Inspector F L Phillips (later Inspector)

15 Sergeant W R Faddy
112 “ D F McQueen
175 “ M A Masson (later Inspector)
182 Corporal S Burgoyne
249 “ W J Clarke (later Chief Commissioner, Natal Police)
418 “ W Driemeyer
253 “ C Hamilton (later Sub-Inspector)
26 “ J McDonald
370 “ A Prendergast

262 Trumpeter W I Brown
80 “ J Haygarth

286 Trooper A C Bacon
277 “ H Beeby
295 “ P Berthold
222 “ F Bilson
362 “ A K Blagameno
303 “ C A M Campbell
304 “ E Cheesman
311 “ E C Dalrymple
312 “ E M Daw
313 “ W Dickenson
375 “ H Eardley-Wilmot (sometimes recorded as Tpr Wilmot)
441 “ H English
399 “ W Errington
365 “ B Fisher
184 “ J Ford
“ A C M Foster (service number not found)
315 “ W W Fry
444 “ W C H George
361 “ H G Gibson
317 “ T Gill
305 “ J Gray
429 “ R B Greenwood
246 “ M W Hall
319 “ H D Harris
320 “ G Harrison
“ H Hearn (service number not found)
“ J Hearn (service number not found)
442 “ C T Holand
324 “ J M Hutton
364 “ G H Ingram
326 “ S H Joseph
384 “ E Kneller
379 “ J G Knowles
Kornatsky
327 “ H Langmid
328 “ J T Liddell
329 “ H Longfield
392 “ F Manning
377 “ G S Mardall (later Chief Commissioner)
331 “ E C Marsh
298 “ H F Mattheys
381 “ H H Mayberry
296 “ R W Newbold
257 “ H Newhook
389 “ F A Olmersdahl
374 “ R Paterson
336 “ W C Penny
382 “ H Pennefather
376 “ J P Prior
337 “ E A Purser
359 “ A W Ravenscroft
339 “ A B Russ
345 “ W Taylor
397 “ H R Tully
166 “ G E Turner
292 “ W B Walker
347 “ J D Watson

Brett Hendey wrote:

“ F R Secretan (killed at Isandlwana; service number not found)

Unusual. Even on his medal which was sold at DNW in Mar 2012, the full inscription on the rim reads:

Tr. F. Secretan. Natal Md. Police

But then again, the service of number of other men to this unit does not appear on the medal either. The naming is formatted exactly like Secretan's medal. Here's a couple.

Lugg
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Charlesworth
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The service numbers of Natal Mounted Policemen are not given on their medals. When F R Secretan's medal came onto the market many years ago, a search of the NMP records in Pietermaritzburg failed to reveal his name in the enlistment register (it still isn't there) and, since he clearly was KiA at Isandlwana, it was concluded that the NMP files were faulty. There is no way of knowing how many other names were omitted in those early days - not many, I suspect.

Brett

PS 259 Tpr A Secretan (enlisted 23/4/1878) and 340 Tpr CC Secretan (2/6/1879) are in the enlistment register.

Excellent work there Brett

Jager1

Francis Secretans name is on the monument to those who died at iSandlwana

regards

Hi Brett .
Yes , agree with Jager1 , good job well done .
Cheers 90th.

Jager1 & 90th

Thank you for your kind comments.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett,
Thanks for posting.
Do you happen to have any bio on NMP Tpr Pleydell, kia, Isandlwana and who was the NMP watercart driver there.
In passing I must mention that It is pleasing to see that the names of the Zulu NMP troopers were included in your lists. It is my understanding that there were more of them involved, serving as muleteers, wagon drivers/cooks with the NMP column. One of these, at least, is known to have "gapped it" and got down to the mZinyathi where he helped save NMP Tpr Stevens.

regards

barry

Hi Barry

Sorry, I don't have anything on Pleydell.

The incomplete record of Zulu members in the NMP during the Zulu War was repeated by the NP durng the Boer War. Although the men were largely engaged in menial chores, their services were essential and they deserved more that just occasional references by incomplete names. In the case of the Boer War, Zulus who served in the NP, Zululand Police and as Guides and Scouts in the Field Intelligence Department (and its forerunners)contributed directly to the war effort and were entitled to the award of the bronze QSA. In the case of the Guides, this medal was withheld on the whim of the Secretary for Native Affairs, while in the case of the NP and ZP it is clearly the commanding officers who were responsible for the injustice.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett,
Thanks.
This all just illustrates how inaccurate, in the official records, the total kia numbers are.

regards

barry

Where all the Natal Mounted Police, South Africans or did British recruits form any of their number?

founded by a canadian

Frank Allewell wrote:

founded by a canadian

That's interesting thanks.

Victorian Dad , they were mostly Local or from the UK , bit also other countries as well .
90th

90th wrote:

Victorian Dad , they were mostly Local or from the UK , bit also other countries as well .
90th

Thanks again 90th.

Victorian Dad wrote:

Where all the Natal Mounted Police, South Africans or did British recruits form any of their number?

Appears one of the Natal Police defenders at Rorke's Drift was from Devon! Trooper “Harry” Lugg, who, having departed Devon to seek his fortune in South Africa, enlisted as a Trooper in the Natal Mounted Police and fought with distinction in the defence of that place on 22 January 1879: his account of the action - noted for its inclusion of the quote “As black as hell and as thick as grass” - was subsequently published in the home press, while his heroic deeds were further commemorated by his inclusion in Alphonse de Neuville’s famous oil painting, itself said to have been based upon a sketch provided by Lugg.

Henry (Harry) Lugg born 1859 at Northlew Devonshire.
When he emigrated to SA on board the Roslyn Castle he was with W.J.Clark future Commisioner of the Natal Police.
Luggs Zulu name was Gwazamazulu ( The Zulu Slayer).

His history is very well chronicled in 'A Natal Family Looks Back' written by his son HC Lugg. And yes his sketch was sent to DeNeuville.

Cheers

Sorry should have added that Dartnell, founder of the Police, was Canadian of Irish descent who earned his laurels in the Indian Mutiny, a lifelong friend of Harry Lugg

Yes Frank , Dartnell was born in Ontario Canada in 1837 , and was in the British Army in 1855 .
90th

Hi Victorian Dad,


In it's early formative years under Maj James Giles (ex Adj  14th KRH) , then a local magistrate  , the policing function in Natal , which fell under the command of the  magistracys, was manned by many untrained and inexperienced locals who desparately needed the income derived from their employment . Very few of these men were actually suitable for their tasks and, thus, later when Maj  Dartnell took over it was decided to recruit new blood from England to man the NMP, in order to fix the skills requirement.  
One of the requirements of these new recruits was to select and employ properly educated men of integrity, thus better equipping them for leadership roles in the future. Dartnell and Giles had both served in the Indian Mutiny in prestigious British regiments under Maj Gen Sir Hugh Rose and like his predecessor, Maj Giles was decorated there for gallantry too. Dartnell  had been severely wounded in  a battle  when storming, with ladders, a fort held by the  Indian rebels. So, based on their own tough early military experiences, their standards were high.
Slowly, post the AZW, the older less suitable NMP members were leaving the force and the new blood was taking over and this process of natural attrition resulted in most of  the Police leadership being "non local" by late in the century.
Dartnell, by then a General, had left the Natal Police, retiring,  shortly after the turn of the century, and he  spent his latter years in his home in Folkestone.
Clarke, Dartnell's  successor, a Worth man by birth,  transfered from his Natal Police appointment in 1913, taking up instead duties  in the South African Army, as regimental commander of the 2 SAMR. In this roll he was 21c to Gen Lukin, the Chief of the SA Army. From this post he retired in 1919 after returning from a special WW1 assignment in N. Europe. He later, in 1936, deceased in Pietermaritzburg where he had made his home and had raised his family.  
In passing I may mention that this man,  Clarke, at the close of WW1, was the second most decorated military officer in South Africa. He was MID twice in his career.

regards

Hi Barry
I hope you're well ? , do you know where is Clarke is buried in Maritzburg ?
90th

Hi Gary,

All well here, thanks.
In answer to your query; The grave is in the cemetery in Albert Luthuli Street, Pietermaritzburg (adjacent to the old Gray's Hospital), east side, NMP section; approx position ; 29deg 36.23' S/ 30deg 23.06E

regards

barry

Hi Barry
Glad all is well with you mate , I'll certainly try to get there if and when I come over next May / June . I was at the Cemetery in Maritzburg earlier this year , luckily enough to come across the Colenso Family , Charlie Raw ( who found the zulu's in the Ngwebini Valley ) and several others . Thanks for the information much appreciated .
Cheers Barry
90th

104 “ D Doig (escaped from Isandlwana) (listed above) is my third great uncle, he was born 3 Mar 1851 in Durban, Natal, South Africa; christened 24 Jun 1856 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa. His father John Duff Doig brought his family to South Africa (from Bankfoot, Auchtergaven, Scotland) on the ship "Devonian," arriving in Oct 1850.

Thank you for the information on D Doig.
Regards
Brett

Bonjour AnorakABO,
Please, have got letters, diaries written by him, or photographs of him?
Cheers
Frédéric

Hi Brett, ymob, I've reached out to my cousin (great granddaughter of David Doig) for photos, letters etc. I'll pass on anything she sends me. I have quite a few Doig family photos but I've yet to identify everyone.

Hi anorakABO
I to will be looking forward to seeing what you have on Trpr D. Doig . If you'd like to see some photo's of the Natal Mtd Police Headquarters building in Pietermaritzburg , let me know and I'll send them to Xhosa , who'll post them for you when he has the time .
90th

Exactly how many 1879 medals were issued to the Natal Police and out of that number how many are known to exist?

Hi Vic Dad
The D.R.Forsyth Roll has 167 Medals issued to the NMP , of which 7 were returned to Woolwich Mint , they are listed as those with Clasp 166 , 1 No Clasp . Then there's the NMP Roll for those who were Headquarters and Reserves who did not cross the Zulu Border , these recipients were awarded the Medal with No Clasp , a total of 89 , also 7 of which were returned to Woolwich Mint . No way of knowing how many are still in circulation , but I suppose you could work on 50 % ? .
90th

One of the Natal Mounted Police's black constables can be seen on the extreme left of the photo of Sir Theophilus Shepstone's Annexation Escort 1877. He is holding a horse and standing just behind its head.