The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-23 00:00:00

rifF SrMTTIMPTIVIT OBSERM

BURIAL OF THE DEAD AT
ISANDHLWANA.

Under date Itorke's Drift, Jane 24, the Daily Telegraph of
Monday publishes a letter from a correspondent describing
the burial of the dead at Isandhlwana, from which we make
the following extracts :

On the morning of the 20th a tolerably large party
left Rorke's Drift for the purpose of burying their
comrades who were killed on Jan. 22 at Isandhlwana.
It consisted of thirty mounted dragoons under
(leptain Willau, K.D.G., and Lieutenant Taffe,
16th Lancers; fifty dismounted Dragoons under
Deutenent Burney, Ist Royal Dragoons; sixty of
Major Dartnell's Natal Mounted Police; 140 men
of the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment, under Captain
Williams; 100 of Tetalaka'a Mounted Natives, and
about 1,000 of the native levies, the whole under
the command of Colonel Black, 2 24th Regiment.
Two mule waggons accompanied the force, carrying
picks, shovels, and reserve ammunition, but, owing
to the morning being very wet and the roads
slippery, they broke down in the Bashee Valley,
and caused considerable delay; the picks and shovels
had to he unpacked and carried hy the natives, so
that it was not until ten o'clock that Isaedhlvvana
was reached. Arrangements were at once taken for
the protection of the burying parties, and the pre-
vention of surprise. Tatelaka'a men, who had
marched by S'irayoes kraal so as to observe our left
flank, took up their position as scouts on the Ingutu
range, from whence they could scan the country for
many miles to the left flank and left front. Patrols
were also sent out several miles to the front and right
flanks, and native scouts were placed all along the
ridge leading to the Fugitives' Drift. At about 10.30
the men commenced to work, beginning at the
neck and keeping firstly to the right of the road.
They soon came on the remains of many of
their gallant comrades who had fallen on the fatal
day. Owing to the long grass, which in many places
far overtopped the men's heads, it was difficult to see
the bodies till quite close to them. It was evident a
great stand had been made just in the rear of the 1-24th
camp. In one place over fifty bodies, including those
of three officers, were found close together; and not
far from these was another group, consisted of from
sixty to seventy. Both of these groups consisting of
24th men, many of whom were identified by the names
or numbers on their clothing. Considering the five
months they had been lying exposed to all kinds of
weather, it is wonderful in whatgood preservation many
of the bodies were. Amongst the officers identified
were Ceptain Wardell, 1-24th ; Lieutenant Anstey,
1-24th; Lieutenant Dyer, 2 24th ; and Major White,
Paymaster of the 1-24th Regiment. A little to the
left of the groups above mentioned, but to the right of
the road, was a group of Natal Carabineers, nearly all
of whom were recognised, and close to them was
Colonel Durnford's body, which had been covered by
stones on May 21. Lieutenant Scott, of the Natal
Carabineers, was here buried by his brother, who had
obtained permission to accompany the party for that
purpose. Not very far from the Carabineers on the
left of the road, were found over twenty men of
the Natal Mounted Pollee. These men were nearly
all identified, and were buried by their own comrades.
In the 2-24th Camp there were also many bodies, but
on this occasion there was found to be more than
enough work to be done on the right of the road. The
men laboured very hard till about one o'clock, when the
assembly sounded, and they were marched to the
stream that runs about a mile in rear of the camp,
where they halted for about half an hour to dine, and
then marched home, where they arrived at dusk.
About 200 bodies were buried on this day. The greater
part were found lying on their backs with their arms
stretched out. This is easily accounted for, as the
Zulus invariably disembowel their dead enemies.
On June 22 a second visit was made to Isandhlwana,
for the purpose of continuing the task of burying.
The same force, with the exception of Dartnell's police
and Knight's natives, started at five a.m., and
reached the camp about eight, where they at once
commenced working. On the right of the Isandhla
wane itself, some distance up, was found a large
group of bodies, one of which was an officer.
This was evidently a company which had taken
up a position here and held it till they
were surrounded and killed. This body of men
had not been discovered by any of the parties
that had previously visited the ground. Some
Zulu bodies were found here too, amongst them
a chief, whom they had evidently endeavoured to
bury, as he was covered by shields, canvas, and some
stones. A great number of bodies were buried down
the fugitives' path, where they were principally in
small groups. Round one large tree, nearly a mile
from the camp, many bodies were found, and a deter-
mined stand seems to have been made here, Nine
bodies close to this tree were discovered round a horse
wagon, the horses lying assegaied in the traces. Many
were identified, amongst others, Sergeant Giles,
mess-sergeant of the 1-24th, on whom was a watch;
Bandmaster Ballard, 2-24th Regiment —in his
pocket a watch, two rings, and his will, dated
January 18, 1879, were found. Several of the regi-
mental police, servants, and bandsmen were identified
along the path, showing that many of those who
dropped alorg the road to the fugitives' drift were men
who would not have to fall in with their companies.
Altogether a very hard day's work was done, no less
than 320 bodies having been buried, making, in the
two days, a total of over 500. The party left the camp
about one p.m., and reached Rort:e's Drift at 4.30.
One day more will be required to finish the work in
the camp itself, and probably another to work lower
down the fugitives' path, to find out and bury any
remains that may be found there.
Jane 28.

The force at Rorke's Drift, under Colonel Black.
2-24th Ragiment, completed the burial of the slain at
Isandhlwana on the 26th. On the two previous days
that they had worked there—on the 21st and 22nd—
they had buried over 500, and succeeded in identify-
ing many of the bodies by the names on their clothing,
or by articles found in the pockets; but in the
greater number of cases it was impossible to obtain
the slightest clue, for the remains had been lying
out exposed to all kinds of weather for five
months. The burying party censisted, as on the
last occasion, of thirty mounted K.D.G., fifty dis-
mounted K.D.G., 140 men of the 2-24th Regiment,
and about 100 of Taialaka's mounted natives. 300 of
the native levies left Rorke's Drift at 5 a.m., and
reached Isaudhlwana, a distance of eleven miles, by
eight a.m.—very good marching, considering that a
great part of the distance is uphill. The force was at
once divided into four different burying parties, and
was sent under Second Lieutenant Armitage to the
1 24th camp, to finish the interment of the large
numbers that had been found there on the
first day. Another party, under Lieutenant
Lloyd, proceeded to Isandhlwana hill to continue
burying the brave men who had made their stand under
the mountain; a third party of dragoons, under Lieu-
tenant Burney, let Royals, were sent to search right
round the mountain; and the main body, under Cap-
tain Williams, 2-24th Regiment, thoroughly axe-
amined the camps of the Mounted Infantry, Artillery,
2 24th, and native contingent. On the hill a mach
greater number of bodies were found than was
expected. Captain Younghusband and three
other officers (unidentified) were buried there,
and more than one company must have made a
final stand here. There were many evidences of
fierce hand-to-hand struggles. To give instances :
One 24th man, with a Zulu in front of him,
had a Zulu knife buried to the haft in the small of his
back. He had evidently been attacked in rear while
engaged with the man he killed. Close by was a
catabineer lying on the top of a Zulu. He was also
stabbed in the back, and there were many other signs
of terrible struggles; but nearly all the Zulu dead
had been removed. The party under Captain
Williams buried all the bodies found in the
camps they searched, and altogether they did
not find more than thirty or forty, most of
whom seemed to have been killed converging on
the places where the stands had been made. A
portion of this party proceeded as far as the Ingtitu
Mountains, and discovered traces of large numbers of
Zulus, many of them partially buried in the dongas.
The Zulus themselves say that they lost as many men
at Isandhlwana as they did at Kambula and Ginghi-
lovo together. Those who lost relatives on the 22nd
will be glad to know that at length they have received
a soldier's burial. . . • Great credit must be given to
the men who had this duty to perform; it is no light
task to have to march twenty-two miles—backwards
and forwards—three times in one week, in addition
to having to work hard in digging graves for fallen
comrades in very rough ground. The Dragoons and
2 24th men who have accomplished so well their sor-
rowful task did it well and willingly.