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John Young
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Graham,
Raaff's unit was not formed until April of 1879, so I'm not sure how you have details of casualties they sustained on 22nd January 1879. The Transvaal Rangers served initially with Wood's Column, and subsequently with Baker Russell's Column. Their medal roll dates from 1882, two names are strickened from the that roll one of them being Raaff himself, due to financial irregularities. I can't find any 'Lt Henderson' amongst the eight lieutenants of the unit. Are you sure that you have the right unit? John Y. |
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Sapper Mason
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Dear John ,
Many thanks for your correct comment re Transvaal Rangers ( Raaf`s Horse ) . The person i was looking for was a Lt Donovan not Henderson not at Isandlwana of course . Was Donovan a British officer / Irish ? and did he indeed get a South African Campaign medal ? . Was there ever a roll call / list of this unit at all ? . According to his book ( I T Lavender 1985 ) the following were casualties of this unit , unless indicated at HLOBANE . Capt Rice - Hamilton , Troop Sgt Major Martin , Sgt Major ( s ) Brophy , Cumming , Troopers : Banks , Martin , Tonkien . Other casualties indicated : Trooper Deiring 22/ 6/ 1878 , Trooper Foley 22/ 6 / 1878 , Trooper Hood 11/8/1878, Trooper Oliver 27/ 5/ 1878 All indicated on Page 18 of the Lavender book. In your book you have also indicated as casualties , C/ Sgt Stanley , Sgt Berley , Trooper Beukes . Some differences as you can see , can we be certain in 2006 that all have been accounted for ? . Thank you again , Graham . |
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John Young
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Dear Graham,
One thing some books don't actually tell the truth! I looked at my answer again, and realised that I'd written not formed until April 1879. I then re-checked my reference 'The Narrative of Field operations...', and that is what is recorded there, strange as Raaff's men were engaged at Hlobane & Khambula in March 1879, pre-dating their formation. 'Berley' & 'Beukes' are recorded, or should I say mis-recorded in a number of contemporary publications, and in the Casualty List of the Zulu & Afghan Wars held at the National Archives. I have subsequently concluded that they are mis-spellings of Banks & Brophy, and I my own copy of my book have deleted them. 'Tonkien' I have recorded a A. Tourkien, who was severely wounded. Thomas Rice Hamilton, note no hyphen as in Tavender's work! As you see I don't agree with Tavender there either. Raaff's men appear to have taking part in the operations of Rowland's column prior to being transferred to Wood's. Does Donovan appear in the Medal Roll? John Y. |
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JustinYoung
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Graham
I have Lt Donovan's of Transvaal Rangers 1878-9 bar medal (and Lt McK Paterson's) and have recently been given some help by a Canadian researcher who has come up with: Thomas Henry Selwyn Donovan Date of birth: 10 July 1842 place of birth: Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope. Was 17 years old when he entered the army. joined Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment Lieutenant Tho.H. S. Donovan May 12 1863 Ensign: 30 jun 1859 Lieutenant: 12 May 1863 Captain half-pay: 28 May 1870 (left Army same day as promotion) Although its still not 100% that its the same guy, the same initials and the connection to South Africa, especially Graham's Town makes it very likely its the same guy. The Medal roll gives O'Donovan but this is a mistake, the medal is to T.H.S Donovan. Infact the who roll held in the PRO has been transcribed at a later date and has ommissions and mistakes. I've not yet found any muster rolls and I doubt any will be found unfortunately. I've never read anything that gives Donovan's name and my guess is that he was with the unit prior to April 1879. Raaff didn't get the medal himself but I recently found a number of papers in the PRO giving the reasons why Justin |
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Sapper Mason
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Dear Justin ,
Many thanks for this fascinating piece of information regarding Lt Donovan . can i take it he was of Irish extraction? I have found also a Thomas Donovan being born in GRAHAMSTOWN in 1816 ! , could this Lt Donovan`s father or a relative Justin ? . I had not realised that this regiment ( Royal Canadian Rifle regt) was a British unit ! . i hope the lady who contacted me with this query will find her answers now , in gratitude , Graham . |
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JustinYoung
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Hi Graham
I think this might well be the father of Lt Donovan, my researcher is found this also and is checking this other Thomas Dovovan out. Looking at the medal roll their are quite a few Officers called Donovan and I have in the past wondered how many are related. I guess they were originally Irish but I'm not looking that far back. I also hadn't realised that the Royal Canadian Rifle regt were British. They actually disbanded the Regiment in 1870. Some of the serving men were transferred to the 1st Battalion of the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps Justin |
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Sapper Mason
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Dear Justin ,
If indeed the Thomas Donovan bc 1816 in Grahamstown is the father of Lt THS Donovan i would imagine immigration records for that part of the world would give some answers ( ? ) . On my next trip to Kew i will just out of curiosity try and locate his papers to see if any further clues come up . Do we for instance know the final chapters in Lt Donovans life ? , are there descendants in the Cape to this day ect . Could it be argued that Lt Donovan will considered South African when it comes to the final reckoning ? , if so then there will be details on his estate assuming he had one of course . To change the subject entirely now , " rumour control " states there are service papers for James Langley Dalton VC held at Kew , i have looked but perhaps in the wrong section ( s ) , any ideas and do you by any chance know the reference for the award of the South African Campaign medal for our friend Lt Donovan ( Raafs Horse ) ? . Thanks again , Graham . |
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Martin Everett
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The Colonial Corps Medal Rolls are in:
WO 100/48 WO 100/49 WO 100/50 - Medal Rolls, Returned Lists, Colonial Corps |
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_________________ Martin Everett Brecon, Powys |
JustinYoung
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Hi Graham
My researcher is checking out the Grahamstown parrish register for the 19th century as he thinks this might bring up some info but if you can find anything immigration wise I'd be interested to hear. As far as knowing anything of Lt Donovan's later life (and thats assuming its the same guy that was in Canada) - no we don't have anything yet. All we have is that a Lt Donovan received the SA 1877-9 medal but no details of enlistment in this unit or anything else after the SA Campaigns. Martin has given the locations of the medal rolls, I have copies of the units that served with Wood's column but TR's doesn't give any extra info unfortunately. Justin |
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Peter Ewart
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Graham/Justin
Depending on how much biographical detail you are after, you might consider - given his birthplace, age and eventual rank - whether he may have been an old boy of St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, or even of St. George's Grammar School there, the amalgamation with which school got the College going in 1855. St George's had been founded in 1848 and by the time of the amalgamation was catering for around 60 boys, "some of them very small indeed." I have checked my copy of the published history of the College (by RF Currey, Oxford 1955) without seeing Donovan's name in the index, although it may not be impossible that he appears somewhere in the early archives of the College if he ever was an Andrean. I'm sure the College will help you if it can. If the earlier Donovan, born about 1816, is indeed the father, then you're dealing with a pretty early family, pre-dating even the "1820 Settlers." Peter |
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