VETERAN OF ZULU WAR

Evening Star, Issue 20140, 3 April 1929, Page 13

VETERAN OF ZULU WAR

GREAT SLAUGHTER RECALLED HARD RIDE WITH DESPATCHES. The fiftieth anniversary of the disaster of Isandhhvana in the Zulu War occurred recently, and one of the few living survivors of this sanguinary engagement is Mr Chas. Montague I’itzroy Sparks, a hale and hearty veteran of seventy-five, a Londoner by birth, who is a. familiar figure in Durban. When the Zulu War broke out Mr Sparks was a first-class trooper in tho Natal Mounted Police, and was among tho troops under tho command of Lord Chelmsford at the camp of Isandhlwana. On the morning of January 22, 1879, Lord Chelmsford moved out of camp with a strong force to attack a large body of Zulus who were located twelve miles’ away. In the absence of the main body of British troops, tho enemy swooped down on the camp in overwhelming numbers and sloughtered the defenders. Mr Sparks w*s on outpost duty with a. handful of comrades, and was fortunate in escaping with his life. After the disaster he rode from Helpmakaar to MatiUburg, a distance of about 115 miles, with Lord Chelmsford's official despatches. Ho used throe horses on Ihc journey, one of which died under him as a result of the excessive speed at which he was obliged to travel. When he arrived at. Government House, Maviizburg, his uniform was tattered and torn, and his face and hands ail bloody and grimy from Ihc battlefield, It was with difficulty that ho secured admittance to the presence of the High Commissioner. Sir Battle Frere, to hand over the despatches. Mr Sparks had the honour of relating to the High Commissioner a description of the battle. During tho Great War, when Mr Sparks was sixty-three, ho gave bis ago as thirtyfive, and won!, to France aa a. colour-ser-geant iu tho South African Native Labour Corps ‘Mi. cost me 16s to get my hair dyed and the wrinkles taken from my face," ho stated, “hut it was worth it.”