Information on Major Huskisson

I have found out that Major Huskisson was the first British officer to suggest the use of armoured trains in warfare.
Upon his recommendation it was decided that in the event of the Zulus approaching the town, the engine and trucks of the Natal Railway Company should be manned with riflemen and patrol the line between the Umgeni and town.

General Lord Chelmsford visited Durban in February, 1879, and inspected the various defence works, expressing himself as satisfied with the plan
Adopted for repelling attack.

Can’t find anything else on this man. Any help appiicated

Hi Old H

I have two Huskisson's on my list, a Lieutenant Colonel John William Huskisson and a Captain & Br Major Samuel George Huskisson. Do you know which one is yours?

Good to see you back. i'm looking for Major Samuel George Huskisson.

Your helps appricated

Hi Old H

This is the only info I have listed on Samuel George Huskisson

Date of Birth - 24th August 1837
First Appointment - Ensign - 80th Foot - 15th May 1855
Lieutenant - 80th Foot - 1st January 1859
Adjutant - 80th Foot - 27th December 1861 to 9th January 1872
Captain - 80th Foot - 10th January 1872
Brevet Major - 19th July 1876
Half Pay - 17th May 1879
Major - Middlesex Regiment (1st Battalion) - 2nd February 1881
Brigade Major (acting), China - 26th February 1874 to 29th October 1874
Aide-de-Camp, G. O. C., China - 22nd May 1875 to 31st March 1878
Assistant Military Secretary (Acting), China - 3rd June 1878 to 18th April 1879
Assistant Military Secretary, China - 3rd January 1880 to 1st February 1881
Indian Mutiny - 1858-9 - Capture of Simree, and actions at Bera, Dhondiakeira, and Bussingpore. Medal.
Bhootan Expedition - 1864-5 - Medal with Clasp.
Perek Expedition - 1875-6 - action near Blanja, and capture of Kinta. Mentioned in Despatches. Brevet of Major.
South African War - 1879 - Zulu Campaign - Employed in Natal. Medal.
Source ‘1884 Army List’ (p 233, 850 & 1300)

Graves. Thanks. More than expected.
One thing I don't understand, you may know or someone else might. Why is it at times soldiers pay was cut. Like this man May 17th Half pay. Was this some sort of punishment. I see this quite a lot in the history books, but never understood it.

Hi Old H

This is my understanding of Half Pay. If you have a look, Samuel was promoted Brevet Major on 19th July 1876, which means (A commission promoting a military officer in rank without an increase in pay). He was then given the promotion of Half Pay (Half Pay of a Major) on 17th May 1879, then promoted to Full Major and the pay on 2nd February 1881.

With Reference to the Huskisson query, the Huskisson involved in the defence arrangement for D'Urban/Port Natal was John William Huskisson here's their service records, from an unpublished work by the late John Radburn, which he was working and I was assisting at the time of his death:

NAME Huskisson John William

RANK Lieutenant Colonel

REGIMENT 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot

He was appointed, at the commencement of the war, commandant of Durban and A. Q. M. G. at the base, and colonial commandant of Durban and of the adjoining districts of Pinetown and Isipongo. Superintended the disembarkation of the greater portion of the troops sent to Natal, and made arrangements for encamping and equipping them previous to their advance. It was owing to his conduct during that interval of excitement among the inhabitants which followed the disaster at Isandhlwana that the commerce of the only seaport of the colony was not seriously obstructed. Pending the arrival of help, the volunteers of Durban were embodied under Major Huskisson's orders, and it was at his suggestion that a small corps of Indian immigrants was raised for the assisting in the heavy garrison and fatigue duties which had to be performed at the base of operations. Major Huskisson remained at his post until after the termination of the Zulu War. (Mentioned in the Dispatches of Lord Chelmsford and Admiral Sir F Sullivan.)

Source No 1
Major John William Huskisson (1832 - 1906), 56th Regiment. Service in Indian Mutiny, 1858. On Special Service, December 1878 - October 1879, as Commandant of Durban, AQMG at the base and Commandant of Colonial Defensive Sub-District of Durban. Superintended disembarkation of troops at Durban, and responsible for organizing the defence of Durban after Isandhlwana. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel.

Source No 19
If Fort Pine on the border was in no danger from Zulu attack, Durban was even less so. Nevertheless, the townspeople were gripped by panic and clamoured for the town to be entirely encircled by fortification. Such a scheme was both unnecessary and impracticable, and Major J W Huskisson, the Colonial Commandant of Durban Sub-District, held fast to his plan to fortify only certain key buildings. Several local Durbanites did not give up the struggle for bastions and ditches easily, as this report of a meeting held on 22nd February makes plain:

The Defence Meeting held yesterday at the Rink, under the presidency of the Mayor, resulted in the reassertion by an overwhelming majority of the plan of defence by trench and barricade as previously demanded. The intensity of the interest prevailing on the subject may be conjectured when I tell you that between 300 and 400 burgesses found time to attend.

After some little skirmishing. Mr John Millar, and Mr Cato seconded:-
This meeting again records the emphatic opinion of the Burgesses that the only sure defence for the security of life and property is by bank and ditch, or other barrier, outside the Town, and that the Government be requested by the Town Council to construct the necessary redoubts, upon sound principles, leaving the Burgesses to connect them with a bank and ditch at the expense of the borough.

As Government agree to undertake only such works as the Commandant deems necessary - we are under martial law already, it would seem, - we can guess the result. Meanwhile we are asked by government to trust our lives and property to the protection of a men whose schemes of defence are likely to be abandoned, one after the other, as impracticable and inadequate.

There is really nothing locally transpiring beyond these defence questions, which certainly call forth a great deal of argument and feeling. . .
'Natal Witness', 25th February 1879: Durban correspondent, 22nd February 1879.

Source No 17 (pp 70 - 1)

Date of first Commission 8th November 1850. Date of Substantive Lieutenant-Colonel - 1st July 1881. He retired from the Essex Regiment with the Honorary rank of Colonel on 5th July 1882.

Indian Mutiny - 1858 -With Field Force in pursuit of rebels into North Canara and to the Goa frontier. Medal.

South African War - 1879 - Zulu Campaign - Employed at base of operations at Durban. Mentioned in Dispatches. Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel

Source '1884 Army List' (p 1083 & 1300)



NAME Huskisson Samuel George

RANK Captain & Br Major

REGIMENT 80th Regiment of Foot

Date of Birth - 24th August 1837

First Appointment Ensign - 80th Foot - 15th May 1855

Lieutenant - 80th Foot - 1st January 1859

Adjutant - 80th Foot - 27th December 1861 to 9th January 1872

Captain - 80th Foot - 10th January 1872

Brevet Major - 19th July 1876

Half Pay - 17th May 1879

Major - Middlesex Regiment (1st Battalion) - 2nd February 1881 Brigade Major (acting), China - 26th February 1874 to 29th October 1874 Aide-de-Camp, G. O. C., China - 22nd May 1875 to 31st March 1878

Assistant Military Secretary (Acting), China - 3rd June 1878 to 18th April 1879

Assistant Military Secretary, China - 3rd January 1880 to 1st February 1881

Indian Mutiny - 1858-9 - Capture of Simree, and actions at Bera, Dhondiakeira, and Bussingpore. Medal.

Bhootan Expedition - 1864-5 - Medal with Clasp.

Perek Expedition - 1875-6 - action near Blanja, and capture of Kinta. Mentioned in Despatches. Brevet of Major.

South African War - 1879 - Zulu Campaign - Employed in Natal. Medal.

Source '1884 Army List' (p 233, 850 & 1300)


Information: Provided by a well Known Zulu Historian.

Hi OldH2.

Here"s some more info on Huskisson which isnt in the previous posts.

Born in Ceylon ( sri-lanka) .Age upon entering servive 17yrs 9 mths.
Hythe school of musketry 1st class certificate 1866. No clasp on his zulu war medal.
LT - COL MIDDLESEX REGT 28/6 /1884 , COLONEL MSEX REGT 28/6/88. Retired 4 / 7 / 88. COMMISION by purchase.
Periods of employment- HOME 15/5/55 - 31/7/56 , CAPE OF GOOD HOPE- 1/8/56- 15/9/57, EAST INDIES- 16/9/57-8/4/66.
HOME- 9/4/66- 11/1/72 , STRAITS SETTLEMENTS- 12/1/72 - 27/11/72 , CHINA ( HONG-KONG) 28/11/72 - 18/4/79 ,
SOUTH AFRICA- 19/4/79 - 18/9/79, HOME - 19/9/79- 18/11/79 , HONG-KONG 19/11/79 - 16/5/ 81, HOME 17/5/81- 9/9/84.
EAST INDIES- 10/9/84- 24/9/85 , HOME- 25/9/85 - 3/7/88. BRIGADE MAJOR ( ACTING) CHINA 26/2/74 - 29/10/ 74.
COMMANDED MSEX REGT 8/5/85. REGIMENTAL STAFF SERVICE RECORD acting ADJ 80TH RGT 1/4/61- 26/12/61.
ACTING PAYMASTER MSEX REGT 23/4/83- 2/6/83 and 11/9/83- 11/8/84. personal info - spoke French. Further general
info. CAPT and BRVT MAJOR HUSKISSON served with the 80th regt in the campaign in OUDE 1858 and 1859 including
the capture of SIMREE FORT , BERA and DOORDEAKERIA. Served also with the left attack during the BHOOTAN EXP
in 1865. He married MARY ANN HUMPHRYS 27/5/71 at BELFAST, they had 3 children , ELEANOR EVA born 8/3/72.
baptised at singapore , strait settlements, WILLIAM GORDON born 23/12/77 baptised HONG - KONG CHINA and
MURIEL MARY born 24/2/77, baptised ST.PETERS, FORT GUERNSEY.
Cheers 90th.

hi all.
Forgot to add , these referances from " A STAFFORDSHIRE REGT IN THE ZULU AND SEKUKUNI CAMPAIGNS
1878 - 1879. 8OTH REGT OF FOOT. by Robert Hope.
cheers 90th.