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Date	Original Topic
23rd October 2002	Pte Hook's age By Bryn Holloway I see that Henry Hook is described here as having been born in 1850 and joined the Army at the age of 26. However, the 1901 census list him as then aged 47, ie born in about 1854. Lying about one's age was common when joining the forces, for example if otherwise too young. I cannot think, though, why Pte Hook would want to add four years to his age when joining up at age 22. Can anybody explain this?
Date	Replies
23rd October 2002	John Young Bryn, Can't assist you exactly as to why it was so, but I checked some books which contained information and found some discrepancies with his birth date. James Bancroft in 'Zulu War V.C.'s' & Norman Holme in 'The Noble 24th' have the date as 6th August 1850. However, in his earlier work 'The Silver Wreath' Norman Holme has May 1850 - yet no day, this same approximate date also appears in W.M. Lummis' work 'Padre George Smith of Rorke's Drift', and this is also trotted out by Adrian Greaves in his 'Rorke's Drift'. This is confused further by the entry in 'The Register of the Victoria Cross', published by 'This England' where the date for his birth is recorded as 29th July 1853 - now depending on when the census was conducted may well have given him an of 47 years at the time. Hope this goes some way to providing an answer. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
23rd October 2002	Lee Stevenson Born 6th August 1850, Churcham, according to his birth certificate. Named as "Alfred Hook" only 1881 Census: age 27 years, (date of birth therefore c. 1854) Marriage certificate 1897 age 43 years (date of birth therefore c. 1854) Death certificate 1905, age 53 years (date of birth therefore c. 1852) Headstone died 1905 age 54 (date of birth therefore c. 1851) Not to be confused with "Henry Alfred Hook", born in 1850 who lived in London......
25th October 2002	Ron Lock HENRY HOOK/CAPTAIN HOOK News of another Anglo Zulu personality by the name of Hook. Capt. Hook, in fact. This is a bit of a tease and a challenge to the rorkesdriftvc.com Brains Trust! Who was Capt. Hook? You could find a clue in Mackinnon & Shadbolt's "The South African Campaign of 1879" If no one has come up with the answer, his identity will be revealed this time next week. Elementary, my dear Watson. A free copy of the 'Red Book; is offered as a prize to the first sleuth to provide the correct answer. Ron Lock.
25th October 2002	John Young Ron, I've already got a copy of 'The Red Book', and 'Zulu Victory', so what else is on offer? John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
25th October 2002	John S Radburn Ron I've also got a copy of 'The Red Book' The answer is Captain Hook helped with Major Leet and Lieutenant Williams to lead Wood’s Irregulars in the Intombi Valley. From Mackinnon & Shadbolt (p 209) Regards John
26th October 2002	Ron Lock John Y. and John R. It is difficult to find a prize for those who seem to have everything. Should either of you win, I'm afraid the prize remains a copy of the RED BOOK. You could give the spare copy to a favourite friend for Christmas! John R. is, of course, the closest so far, but the question was "WHO was Capt. Hook?" and I'm afraid your reply does not quite provide the answer. TWO new clues: 1. Mackinnon and Shadbolt - start at the beginning. 2. Capt. Hook and Major General Newdigate had something in common and were, in a way, quite close. Ron.
29th October 2002	The Keynsham Light Horse - On Tour Just logging in from our latest tour - Ireland again - and we thought it was the guy eaten by a crocodile crossing the Tugela - just like Captain Hook??? Tim, Rai and Ian.
29th October 2002	John S Radburn Ron I have the strange feeling that you are going to say that Captain Hook was not a person, but a 'horse', because you do state that they were quite close. Regards John R
31st October 2002	Ron Right! Time’s up and time to reveal the identity of Captain Hook. No, he was not eaten by crocs nor was he a horse. Good tries all the same. Answer to the riddle: Clue: Start at the beginning of Mac and Shad. Answer: Right at the beginning of the book there is a fold-out map of Zululand; just to the west of Ibabanago in the centre-fold you will find, in very small print, Captain Hook’s Trading Stan. Clue: Captain Hook and Major General Newdigate had something in common. Answer: They both had property named after them in Zululand: Captain Hook a trading station, and Newdigate a fort which were close to one another. Admirable clues I think you will agree. Further information: Portion of a report written by Lieutenant-Colonel Redvers Buller and addressed to Brigadier-General Wood, reads: In accordance with instructions I left Wolf Hill Camp at 7 a.m. on the 18th inst. [June 1879] Having been already twice in the same direction I thought the Zulus might be prepared and therefore took and extra strong patrol – in all 320 men. We found an excellent wagon road from the camp to a point about six miles NNW of the Babanango Hill where we struck and old trading road from the Intabamkulu to Rorkes Drift. I was accompanied on this patrol by Captain Hook of the 2nd Battn Wood’s Irregulars, whose knowledge of Zululand and the Zulu language was most valuable. Captain Hook as it appears, for years had a trading establishment at the very spot where we struck the road alluded to above. He assures me that from this point we have an easy road to Ulundi. I therefore went no further. Fascinating to contemplate what Hook’s life must have been like living deep within Zululand for so many years prior to 1879. A character fit for fiction. Worthy of further research. Thanks to those who guessed or tried to find the answer, but I am afraid our stock of Red Books remains intact – unless Alan and John have sold them all.
31st October 2002	John S Radburn Ron Considering the map that you speak of is at the back of my book and I am a slow reader I havent reached the end yet, but I have seen the map and I do capitulate, well done. Regards John R
31st October 2002	John Young Ron, I'm sorry I like my answer, that was outside the forum, much better. JY
1st November 2002	John S Radburn John So why not share it with the rest of us and dont be a spoil sport. Regards John R
1st November 2002	John Young John, Here's some names which occur in Mac' & Shad': Moriarty (Holmes' arch-enemy); Baskerville-Mynors (as in 'Hound of the ...); Napoleon (One of Holmes' cases.) There's got to be more! Names from the pen of Arthur Conan-Doyle or names from Mac' & Shad'? Here's my link - J.M. Barrie, the author of 'Peter Pan', with the character Captain James Hook, wrote a spoof on Sherlock Holmes. But Ron didn't know that! Back to the drawing room! JY.