Brecon, South Wales 24th February 2001

Early in the morning of Saturday, 24th February, my partner Judy and I set out from the South Coast in the direction of South Wales and the famous town of Brecon. which lies in the midst of the Brecon Beacons, where the SAS and other British Army regiments prepared for the Falklands war. We were going to watch the uniformed members of the 1879 Group march through the town together with a detachment of the Powys Army Cadet Force and their Corps of Drums . The parade was to begin at Brecon Cathedral, (which houses the regimental chapel of the 24th) at 3pm and the journey up from the New Forest where we live would take a good three hours. Going home to Wales is always a very special thing for me and I am sure that any expatriate from any nation will understand that increased feeling of patriotism and nationalistic identity that is generated by living somewhere other than with your "own people". We had therefore wanted to arrive at Brecon in plenty of time to meet old friends amongst the members of the 1879 Group and to bask in the warmth that is generated so naturally and abundantly by Welsh people. We arrived just before midday and watched both the Cadet Force and the 1879 Group members practising their drill before the big event.

1879 Group practise their drill before the parade

The parade, is an annual fund raising event, and is organised by the Brecon branch of the Royal Regiment of Wales Comrades Association (the 24th having been amalgamated into the Royal Regt of Wales) to mark the infamous defeat of the regiment at Isandlwana and the heroic defence of Rorke's Drift on 22nd / 23rd January 1879 .It was a huge honour for the members of the 1879 Group to have been invited to march through the streets of the town which is the Regimental home of the famous 24th Foot, and whom they portray as re-enactors. We left the group to their drill and went to visit the Regimental museum which is housed in the oldest building in the Brecon barracks complex . It is a truly wonderful little museum, absolutely crammed with uniforms, arms and accoutrements, letters and paintings detailing the history of the Regiment from 1689 until its amalgamation with the Welch Regiment in 1969, and then onwards as the Royal Regiment of Wales. The Zulu War period is a very popular, perhaps the most popular, period in the entire Victorian almanac and many books and two notable films - Sir Stanley Baker's "Zulu" and the later "Zulu Dawn" have fuelled much interest. Nowadays, visitors come from far and wide to see the great collection of artefacts in the museum's Zulu War Room.
After our visit to the museum it was time to walk to the top end of Brecon town, where we took up position at the bottom of the hill leading up to the cathedral. There we waited with our cameras until the sounds of a military band told us that the march was under way and approaching. The march was led by the cadet Corps of Drums followed by the 1879 Group comprising mostly of 24th re-enactors of various ranks, but also including some members wearing the uniforms of the various South African regiments who also took part in the war. Much energetic backward running in front of the parade produced some of the pictures which accompany this article and I hope they will convey some of the atmosphere of the day.

After their march through the streets of Brecon, the 1879 Group and the cadets assembled in the playing field alongside the canal for a photo session. Duncan MacDonald, a museum committee member and a Colour Sergeant with the Cadet Corps, wanted to try and recreate the famous C.E.Fripp painting of the 24th's last stand at Isandlwana.

1879 members marching through the town where the 24th have marched before

1879 Group re-creation of 24th's last stand

The result of his efforts and a copy of the original painting may be seen below.

A section of C.E.Fripp's painting of 24th 's last stand at Isandlwana

Photos were also taken on the canal bank in front of some of the cottages where one of the casualties of Isandlwana once lived. At the end of the day members of the group went to the museum where they answered questions from interested members of the public.

1879 Group and Powys Army Cadets

A photo shoot on the canal bank

Judy and I travelled on the short distance to Hay, the famous "town of books", where we spent the next day, Sunday, looking for out of print Victorian uniform reference books. I found several that I did not already have, but that's another story...

The Welsh hills above Brecon

The 1879 Group
In 1963 when Maurice Jones was a lad of 11, he used to help his father, who was the projectionist at the Celtic cinema in Aberystwyth, by rewinding the spools of film after they came off the projectors. One night the cinema was showing the film "Zulu" and that particular film had such an effect on the young Mo that, as he says, "ever since that night my life has been taken over by the subject"
Twenty-three years later, in September1996, he realised his dream and went to Kwa Zulu Natal in South Africa and over a period of ten days visited all the battlefields of the Zulu W ar of 1879.A highlight of his visit was his meeting with Prince Buthelezi , (see photograph below)

Mo Jones and Prince Buthelezi in 1996

At Brecon Barracks in May 1998 there was a meeting for any descendants of the eleven men who were awarded the Victoria Cross for their valour at Rorke's Drift .The meeting was also open to anyone interested in the exploits of the 24th Regiment of Foot during the Zulu War. I am proud to say that I was present at that meeting when the 1879 Group was born. It has been almost entirely due to Mo's efforts that the Group now numbers 223 members including upwards of 60 who form the Living History section. Most of the members of this section wear the uniforms of the 24th. but other regiments who took part in the Zulu War are also represented, together with a small group of ladies who wear the costume of the period . Typical campsites are displayed and manned at many events over the season to show the public how the soldiers of 1879 lived whilst on campaign.

The 1879 Group have a unique friendship with the Zulu people through His Excellency Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, great grandson of King Cetshwayo KaMpande, King of the Zulu nation in 1879 (King Cetshwayo was finally captured by an office r of another Welsh regiment - Major R Marter, 1st Kings Dragoon Guards) Prince Buthelezi is the patron of the 1879 Group.

Mr John Roberts - ( President of the 1879 Group and Great Great Grandson of Private 593 William Jones VC.

Chairman of the 1879 Group is John Roberts, pictured above. He is the great great grandson of 593 Private William Jones VC. Another member is Henry Bunting, now in his eighties, who is the grandson of Alfred "Henry" Hook VC. It must be stated that Mr Bunting has always deplored the inaccurate portrayal of his grandfather in the film "Zulu"

A group of Zulu singers and dancers add to the Group's attractions.

Keith Perks Thin Red Line

The 1879 Group would like to recruit more members of African origin who would be willing to research and present their own living history in conjunction with the group.

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in the Zulu War.
A life-membership fee of £10 is payable on joining with an additional £10 per annum for re-enactors.
All enquiries to Founder and Membership Officer:

Maurice Jones
Trewern
Talybont
Cardiganshire
SY24 5EY
UK
Tel. (+44)1970 832378
Email Mo1879@thedrift.swinternet.co.uk
Site: The 1879 Group

Back

Thin Red Line
Thin Red Line, PO Box 65, Seavington, Ilminster, TA19 0WE. UK