Category: Zulu War

George Charles Mozley and the 32nd (Cornwall) Light Infantry

A short while ago I mentioned a plaque inserted above the houses on Rodbourne Road inscribed Lucknow Terrace. The naming of this terrace was to commemorate the Siege of Lucknow and published here is the obituary of George Mozley who served in India during the defence of Lucknow.

George Mozley/Mosley was born in Bristol in about 1831 and enlisted with the 32nd (Cornwall) Light Infantry in 1846 serving in India from about 1848 to 1858.

At the time of his death The Swindon Advertiser was given details of his military career which was published along with an account of his funeral in the Saturday, January 22, 1887 edition.

Following his discharge from the army George married Amelia Ann Dann in Plymouth in 1862. By 1870 George and his young family had arrived in Swindon where they lived in Quarry Cottages at the time of the 1871 census. By 1881 they had settled in No 3 Stanley Terrace, Rodbourne where George was working as a Watchman in the GWR Works.

He died at his home 11 Linslade Street, Rodbourne in 1887. After serving his country during a long military career, George was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery in a public grave plot B1314, which he shares with four others.

Military Funeral – An old pensioner, named George Charles Mosley, having died at his residence, Linslade-street, Rodbourne Road, orders were issued to the members of the F and G Co’s (New Swindon) Rifle Volunteers to attend the funeral, which took place on Saturday, at the Cemetery. The volunteers assembled at the Drill Hall at 2.15 and in addition to the two companies mentioned, there were also present a number of the K and M Co’s (Old Swindon). The band of the Battalion under Bandmaster J.H. Lay, were in attendance. The men, under the charge of Sergt. Instr. Holman, having been marched to the late residence of the deceased, the funeral cortege – the mourners being the widow and family – proceeded to St. Mark’s Church, where the first part of the burial service was conducted. The Rev. H.D. Butler (curate) officiated, and he also concluded the service at the cemetery. During the journey from the deceased’s late residence to the church the band played Beethoven’s ‘German Dead March.’ Whilst from the church to the cemetery the ‘Dead March,’ in ‘Saul’ was played. The thoroughfares through which the procession passed were lined with spectators, and hundreds of persons witnessed the interment. The usual three volleys were fired over the grave, the firing party of twelve men being in charge of Sergt. Daniels and Corpl. Bull.

The deceased, who had been a pensioner for many years, and was late of the 32nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, had had a remarkable career. He enlisted on Feb 29th, 1846 in the 32nd Regiment Light Infantry under the command of Col. Carmichael. He was present with the Mooltan Field Force, under the command of Major General White, C.B., in the first siege operations in September 1848; at the action at Soori Roond, Nov. 7th, 1848; at the taking of the suburb of Mooltan on 27th December, 1848, the storming of the city, January 2nd, and the surrender of the fortress on January 22nd, 1849. He was present at the surrender of the fort and garrison of Chenote, February 9th, 1849; joined the army of the Punjaub, under the command of General Lord Gough, commander in chief, February 20th, 1849; was present at the battle of Goojerat, February 21st 1849; served against the Othman Kheil tribes in the Ranzee Valley, under Brigadier General Sir Colin Campbell, C.B., in the months of March, April, May and June 1852; and was present at the action of Chinhut, June 30th, 1857. He was at the defence of Lucknow from July 1st to November 22nd; at the battle of Cawnpore on the 6th December; and at the capture of Forts Deigham and Tyrhoole in July, and Dondpore in October, 1858.

He was discharged after 24 years service, with a pension of 1s 2½d per day, having received three war medals, one medal for good conduct and long service, and a gratuity of £5. For 18 years since his discharge deceased had been employed in the GWR Works at Swindon.

We are asked to state that the relatives of deceased desire to return thanks to Major Dean for sanctioning the funeral under military honours, and also to the volunteers for their attendance.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, January 22, 1887.

This image of Linslade Street is published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

George’s wife Amelia died in 1919 and is buried in grave plot C3516 with her son George Henry, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Violet.

James Ferris – Zulu War Veteran

At our recent guided walk, cemetery volunteer and military historian Kevin told us about an amazing discovery made recently.

Kevin had answered a request on the website Fine a Grave to locate the grave of James Ferris in Radnor Street Cemetery and in so doing discovered the remarkable story of a Zulu war veteran.

Served in the Zulu Wars

Swindon Man Recalls a Lucky Escape

Comrades Killed

Hale and as hearty as any man 20 years his junior, James Ferris, who lives at 171 Westcott place, Swindon, is one of the few Swindon survivors of the Zulu wars. If anyone ever had cause to “thank his lucky stars” then surely that person must have been James Ferris. He took part in the Relief of Echowie and had the experience of seeing two men, fighting on either side of him, shot down with bullets through their hearts. Ferris, who served in the 2nd Wilts, then known as the 99th Foot, joined up in November, 1877, and never received a scratch throughout his service.

“We lived on hard biscuits and meat all the time we were out in Africa,” Mr. Ferris told a North Wilts Herald representative, “but soldiering is a fine life. If a man takes care of himself and knows how to behave himself, he will never regret wearing the King’s uniform. I would join up again tomorrow if they would have me.”

Joined Up At 20

Mr Ferris served in Africa from 1877 to 1881, and was then transferred to Bombay, where he remained for two years.

Born at Lyneham, Mr Ferris entered the Great Western Railway works on leaving school, and he was barely 20 years of age when he joined the Army. When he returned to England from foreign service he found employment as a tram driver at Portsmouth, and remained there for four years until the trams were taken over by the Corporation. He then came back to Swindon, where he again found work with the GWR Company. Mr Ferris has a wife and 11 children – five boys and six girls – living. Two of his sons are in Sidney, Australia.

James Ferris, who is in his 75th year, spends most of his time in his little back garden tending to his pets. “This is my dear old Trip,” he said, as a fine wire haired terrier came prancing up the garden path to meet us. “’Trip’ is the best dog in the world and woe betide any rat that dares to show itself when she’s about. She was born on Trip morning; that’s why I called her Trip.”

Never Broody

Mr Ferris also keeps a number of pigeons, a cat, half a dozen pure bred rabbits, and a black hen named Bett. Bett is a great bird. She follows her master about wherever he goes and responds to her name like a dog or a cat and she is a firm favourite with Trip. She is three years old, but she has never been known to go broody. Last year she laid 136 eggs, and up to the present she has produced 83 this year.

James Ferris still takes a keen interest in the sporting events of the town. Despite the wretched weather he attended the juvenile fete in the Park on Saturday, and he was at the Town Garden on Wednesday to listen to the band of his old regiment.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, August 14, 1931.

James and Eliza Ferris and one of their daughters

James Ferris was born in Lyneham in 1857 the son of James and Mary Ferris. In 1883 he married Eliza Jane Austin and the couple went on to have 11 children.

In 1891, following his military service and his marriage, James was working as a car driver and living with Eliza and their five children in Portsea, Hampshire. By 1901 he was back in Swindon, working as a labourer in the gas works and living at 23 John Street with Eliza, 10 children, a granddaughter and a lodger! In 1911 James was working as a Jobbing Gardener and living at 39 Union Street with Eliza and six of their children (and a boarder). Their 18 year old son William is described on the census of that year as ‘soldier on leave.’

James Ferris died in October 1935 aged 78 years. His funeral took place on October 25 when he was buried in grave plot C1347, an unmarked, public grave which he shares with two others.

Since Kevin’s discovery the grave has now been located and is kept cleared, the grass mown.

And there is a post script to James’s story and his indomitable wife Eliza.

A “Darby and Joan”

A Great-Grandmother Weds a Grandfather

A great-grandmother and a grandfather, one a widow and the other a widower, and both of them aged 72, were married yesterday at St. Mark’s Church, Swindon, after a courtship lasting for less than four months.

The bride was Mrs Eliza Ferris, of Westcott Place, Swindon. Her first husband, Mr James Ferris, was a Zulu war veteran, and there are thirteen children living, several of whom attended the wedding. The bridegroom was Mr Sidney Heath, of Tytherton, near Chippenham and some of his children were also present.

Belfast News-Letter, Thursday, September 30, 1937.

After their marriage Eliza and Sidney lived at 43 Rolleston Street. She died in 1949 but is not buried in Radnor Street Cemetery.