Originally Posted by Pling

When I was Chief Clerk of 23 Sqn (95 - 9 the then SSM (N**l F****s) got some of the NCOs to produce a History of Rorke's Drift and Lt Chard while we were the RES in the Maze. A lot was made of his involvement with 23 Sqn.

As an ex-Infanteer I wouldn't have a clue anyway so I just took it as read.

You may be confusing him with Lt Digby-Jones VC Wagon Hill. NF was always rather confused

Originally Posted by Pling

With 31 Sqn, 5 Sqn and 23 Sqn all laying claim to Lt Chard being their's does anyone actually know the right answer?

Yes. Dirty 30

















ducks, runs, scampers back to the block

As far as I remember, dirty 30 were sent as reinforcements after news got to the uk of the battles in the Natal. 23 field company went to Natal in 1899 for the Anglo-Boer wars 11 years later.

Get 'em down you Zulu Warrior!!


Sent from my iPhone using the ARRSE application. No excuse for fat fingers. Learn to spell.

http://www.sappers.co.uk/squadrons/5-squadron

Originally Posted by joey_deacons_lad

It was actually the 24th foot and an English regiment, they went Welsh after the Childers reforms of 1881.

I believe they were B Coy 24th regiment of foot "The Warwickshires" who recruited from the South Wales borders area, thus the large number of Jones, Williams etc.

We used to have a great Rorkes Drift weekend when I was in 5 Sqn and I hope they still do.
It used to start on the Friday afternoon with a full orders brief on the upcoming Op complete with a full background on the Zulu Impi's even which of Chief Chetcheweos (spellin) wifes was the best fk ?
Friday night was a mental piss up,
Saturday morning was the Zulu dawn run of a lot of kms mostly uphill with an easy to follow route, just follow the kit checks enroute.
Saturday night was a bit more formal with sketches and entertainment we always had a few bods from the RRW as well.
Sunday was a church parade followed by curried lunch.
When Jabba the Hut turned up the weekend got even more intense as he came from the area in Sth Af.
He also got the 5 Sqn Emblem changed from a Bike wheel to the Chard family eagle with one talon stood on a Zulu shield with the other talon breaking an Ikla in two.
The Chard Family motto was also adopted by 5 Sqn "Nil Desperandum" Never give up.

fyi:- An Assegia is a throwing spear, and Ikla is a short stabbing spear and used with the shield when fighting up close, "Ikla" is the noise is makes when you stab and then withdraw the weapon from a body, Go on say it out loud....

Originally Posted by The_Featherman

Mr. sirbhp... be quiet now will you, there's a good gentleman, you'll upset the lads.

brill !

Originally Posted by Swamped

Why 31 when Chard was from 5 field squadron (now 5AES)?

chard went on to command 31 searchlight sqn in Ceylon I believe . That's why 31 has the yogi as its emblem . We were told this when 31 was given its emblem back in early 1970's .

I do not know this for a fact but there was some story that 31 had a small mutiny under chard. Must do some research .

Originally Posted by MacSapper

We used to have a great Rorkes Drift weekend when I was in 5 Sqn and I hope they still do.
It used to start on the Friday afternoon with a full orders brief on the upcoming Op complete with a full background on the Zulu Impi's even which of Chief Chetcheweos (spellin) wifes was the best fk ?
Friday night was a mental piss up,
Saturday morning was the Zulu dawn run of a lot of kms mostly uphill with an easy to follow route, just follow the kit checks enroute.
Saturday night was a bit more formal with sketches and entertainment we always had a few bods from the RRW as well.
Sunday was a church parade followed by curried lunch.
When Jabba the Hut turned up the weekend got even more intense as he came from the area in Sth Af.
He also got the 5 Sqn Emblem changed from a Bike wheel to the Chard family eagle with one talon stood on a Zulu shield with the other talon breaking an Ikla in two.
The Chard Family motto was also adopted by 5 Sqn "Nil Desperandum" Never give up.

fyi:- An Assegia is a throwing spear, and Ikla is a short stabbing spear and used with the shield when fighting up close, "Ikla" is the noise is makes when you stab and then withdraw the weapon from a body, Go on say it out loud....

MacSapper

Do we know one another?

Originally Posted by sirbhp

chard went on to command 31 searchlight sqn in Ceylon I believe . That's why 31 has the yogi as its emblem . We were told this when 31 was given its emblem back in early 1970's .

I do not know this for a fact but there was some story that 31 had a small mutiny under chard. Must do some research .

I thought 31 was a fortress company when Chard commanded, They I didn't think they became searchlights until the second world war.

It has been a very long time since I was in 31 so age may have tken its toll on my memory.
If there are any still serving in 31sqn can you please take a look at the "Old OC" board that hangs up in the SHQ.