A rare and unpublished four page letter by one of the key players in the later events at Isandlewana and Rorkes Drift.
Dated 15th of Feburary 1878 – 11 months before Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift – and written while Col. Glyn was commanding the 1/24th in the 9th Frontier War against the Xhosa in South Africa. The letter has never been on the market before and comes from the Northey family archives (Owens daughter married Capt. A.C. Northy).
The letter is informal in tone but highly informative about Glyns situation at the time. He discusses campaign tactics and outcomes regarding certain tribes, dead and wounded, some gossip about other officers, and naturally a fair bit of complaining about flies and the weather. Many officers are mentioned by name from both the 24th and the 88th, and he discusses tactical orders given to Ansteys (died Isandlewana) Company.
The letter has been about 80% transcribed and some important details still remain hidden. It would likely require a professional historian or handwriting expert to complete.
Some of the names and places mentioned:
Major Owen
Roberts
Moorehead (poss Lt, Morshead 1/24th)
Grenfull
Kreli (Paramount chief of all the Xhosa)
The Fingoes (Very interesting tribe/ethnic group that fought alongside the British against the Xhosa)
Aycliffe
Gulekas (tribe)
Kirin (place?)
Madox
Carrington (Lt. 1/24th)
Hale
Robinsons Ambulance
Quintata (place?)
Getana (place?)
Ansteys Company (Lt. Anstey died at Fugitves Drift, Isandlewana 1879. One of the most famous casualties).
Bailie
Franks
Grey
Logan (Maj. Logan 1/24th)
Lt. Giles
Haddy
Logan
Capt. Lambert (88th, became Lt. Col. during the Zulu War).
LT. COL RICHARD THOMAS GLYN. 1/24TH was posted to the Cape Colony in 1875 and served in the 9th frontier war in 1887 and 1888. Glyn commanded troops against the Xhosa and after the war was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath.
By the time the 2nd/24th were posted to the Cape in preperation for the 1879 Zulu War, Glyn was the second most senior officer in South Africa, after Lord Chelmsford.
Chelmsford gave Glyn command of the Number 3 Column, the principle invading force, but chose to acompany this column which naturally undermined Glyns authority.
Glyn commanded the action at Sihayos Kraal on the 12th of January 1879.
After Chelmsford infamously spit the column at Isandlwana camp leaving Pulleine in charge , Glyn accompanied him to the Mangeni Falls – thereby leaving the camp to its horrific fate at the hands of Cetshwayos army.
Glyn was present with Chelmsford as they passed through the immediate aftermath at Isandlewana on the way to Rorkes Drift, and witnessed the carnage.
Glyn was left in Command at Rorkes Drift immediatly following the action there, and suffered a nervous breakdown during this time.
Glyns report on the disaster wa the first official record of the actions Mellville and Coghill. The Colour they saved had been recieved by Glyn as a young officer from the Countess of Kimberly.
Glyn ordered a party to retrieve the bodies of Melville and Coghill, and a second to retrieve the Colour. His wife later repaired the damaged Colour and it remained in use untill 1933.
Chelmsford did not call on Glyn as a witness in the Court Of Enquirey.
Provenance: The Northey Family Archives