Zulu War Diary

[exilesjjb]

I post this on all forums I join, but I own a diary of a relative who fought in the Zulu war one Gunner John Carroll RMA. I spent a few years typing it up on my computer and love the share with anyone who is interested.
If you fancy a good read please feel free to download a free copy
http://www.4shared.com/document/ZEZyb1so/Complete_John_Carroll_Diary.html
picture found in diary we think from a previous campaign

we think he is far left top row.

[YPU]

Great work of you to actually share it!

[exilesjjb]

not a problem anyone who reads it would have to agree that John wrote this to be read not just put away to gather dust

[Gluteus Maximus]

Fascinating stuff. He was obviously a very literate man and we are fortunate that he took the time to write it and you took the time to make it available. I love reading first-hand accounts of colonial campaigns, so I'm looking forward to giving it a proper read, rather than the initial skim.

Thanks very much! 

As for the picture, it looks to date rather later than the Zulu Wars. The cut and colour of the uniforms, especially the helmets suggest that it was taken in the early 20thC - perhaps the end of the 2nd Boer War or possibly on the North West Frontier. I'm not to familiar with the RM and RMA uniform history, so hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge (Plynkes?) will be abvle to give you a better answer.

[exilesjjb]

the only information we could find about him after his ship (HMS Active) returned home after the Zulu war was a foot note on the medal roll saying his medals were returned to the qfficer comanding "man deserted"
My Dad and i have a few ideas
1. His love of all thing nature lead him to jump ship some where abroad
2. Being from Queens county Ireland, and the troubles starting around that time did he return to fight for ireland
3. We found loads of John Carrolls on ships over to the USA

I managed to trace him from birth to the Zulu war and followed the diary after that till my Dad gave it to me in the 90's

[jazbo]

Very interesting stuff.  The photo seems to be early 20tn Century, the sun helmets point to that.  Perhaps India in the period 1905-14?

[Galloping Major]

I just love first hand accounts of any campaign, thanks for sharing this one James. 


www.gallopingmajorwargames.com

[Plynkes]

I agree with the other comments about the photo. It's hard to see how that image could be from a previous campaign, as it is almost certainly 20th Century. So either he deserted about 25 years after the Zulu War, or that isn't him in the photo. Something doesn't add up anyway.


Thanks for posting the diary. 

[exilesjjb]

the diary came to me from his sisters line but he had a lot younger siblings who fought in other war, I guess the photo could be from one of them. thanks for the feedback good to know these things.
Other that the photo all other info has been fully verified

[HPFlashman]

Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to give it a full read. 

[exilesjjb]

I found a couple of scans of the diary I did a few years ago thought you guys might like to see them

[Gluteus Maximus]

I hope that's not a blood-stain on the bottom right corner 

The whole thing scanned and PDF'd would be lovely, but obviously a long, time-consuming job so thanks for showing us these pages 

[Cadet13]

Thank you for making this available. As a military history major, I know that first hand sources such as these are indespensible insights into the events of the day (and downright helpful when it comes time for end of term papers ). Thank you for not letting this history be forgotten!