"Did the runner bring orders?" |
Michael Boyle
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Hi Barbara
Although I can't for the life of me remember which thread it was in (relatively recently I think) but there was some discussion on the different aspects of job descriptions. However, the short answer is yes, a 'runner' carried messages and could be either mounted or on foot although they were, in the A-ZW, predominantly mounted. As far as RD is concerned there are some accounts that Capt. Gardiner had sent 'orders' that the post be defended although I would think that a bit cheeky as the post was normally under the command of a major and sub-alterns generally avoid ordering about those of higher rank! Best Michael |
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Barbara Grant
Guest
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Thank you, Michael; I suspected that 'runner' had to be a generic term.
Best, Barbara |
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Paul Bryant-Quinn
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A note which Julian Whybra and I collaborated on for his invaluable England's Sons may be of use here, although it doesn't address the specific question about orders to defend the post:
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_________________ |
Confusion ? |
Sapper Mason
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,
Dear Barbara , Further to your query can i add the words , SAPPER & DRIVER ROYAL ENGINEERS into the mix ? , back in 1879 there were two distinct , " jobs " for the men in the Engineers , in the main there were Sappers ( privates if you will ) and some known as Driver RE , Charles Robson RE was one of these and batman to Chard , not to Bromhead as we see in a certain film and whose character was never seen but mentioned briefly ( " I`ll get my man to clean your kit " old boy " ) . A Driver RE got a little more pay than a Sapper and fate decided that Robson was with Chard when the order came to send all the Sappers back to the camp at Isandlwana , had this occured then both Chard and Robson would have been on the casulaty list alongside Cpl Gamble RE and his few Sappers , I am not sure where these Sappers met their fate on that day at Isandlwana though Barbara. In the course of time the rank of Driver and Sapper merged and today , ALL Engineers are known as , " SAPPER " . There is a lot of argument / debate about the man indicated as the mounted Infantry soldier at Rorke's Drift , some indeed were of the 24 th , others not , the name EVANS is prominent in this discussion and i wonder if when the roll call was put together did it include the mounted infantryman who rode into the camp with the news OR was he already there Barbara ? , i am not sure to be honest . It is a pity that the Chief Clerk ( MABIN ) , later known as , " The Fighting Clerk " ( not for his actions at Rorke's Drift ) was not asked to compile a roll call , if Chard or indeed Bourne HAD of asked Mabin to have put this list together we might know just how many there were there that day , such is the intrigue that still grips us today . I would also like to say , i hope people like Col Snook will not leave this forum ( nor indeed others ) as their input is vital and keeps us fledgeling " keenies " on the right path . Where would we be if they left us Barbara ? All the best , " Sapper " |
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"Did the runner bring orders?" |
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