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Date	Original Topic
12th May 2001	Robert Head By George Morris� book, at the end of his chapter on Rorke�s Drift, has a letter written by defender Robert Head to his brother, then living in Capetown. A very brief, but touching, account of the battle from the private soldier�s perspective costing its author a lamented shilling for the paper to write upon. Morris explains that Head had chosen to enlist under an assumed name. No one, at that time, knew who he was because he signed his few letters with his real name. Apparently, there is no link with his regimental roll. Pity. The final words in the letter as per �Washing of the Spears�; ��.I am ready and willing to lose my life to win back for our sister battalion 1-/24 renown so kindest love to all I am jolly only short of a [pipe] and bacca your loving brother Bob Head� A man of those words should be known. Is there/has there been any progress in finding out what name this person answered to in the roll call? Best, G.
Date	Replies
30th October 2001	peter collins purely idle speculation on my part, but Chard's batman is occasionally mentioned as Edward Robson (otherwise Charles Robson). How about a simple transposition of first name and surname: Robert Head becomes Ed Robson? It's as good a guess as any..