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Date	Original Topic
18th July 2002	Role of Acting Major William Degacher 1/24th By paul tocher As a acting Major within a battalion he would have a large role in the battle of isandlwan,but i cant find anywhere any mention of his role or where he may of been killed?
Date	Replies
18th July 2002	John Young Paul, J.P. MacKinnon & S.H. Shadbolt in their 1880 work, 'The South African Campaign of 1879' record the following: '...Captain Degacher subsequently advanced with the column to Isandlhlwana, and, in the disastrous encounter with the enemy which ensued on the 22nd, was in command of the battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine being in command of the troops. No authentic record of his death exists - a fact from which it, would seem probable that he fell shortly after the three companies were driven in, in the last despairing rally which took place before the retreat towards Fugitives' Drift became defined. Of one thing his countrymen may rest assured - that he fell fighting gallantly to the last.' Best I can find I'm afraid, I'll check some other accounts, but I believe you're right he doesn't seem to feature at all. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
18th July 2002	paul tocher Thank you so much for your quick reply,it was very well written Mr Degacher must have been a brave man.