Colonel Richard Thomas Glyn CB CMG

Colonel Glyn of the 24th Regiment commanded the no.3 Column also called the Centre Column. Lord Chelmsford and his staff attached themselves to this divison so that Glyn was subordinated. When the camp at Isandhlwana was set up both Glyn and Chelmsford set off to a location 10 southeast to deal with a sighting of the Zulu army and establish a more permanent camp. Glyn was described as short and irascible according to one source but regarded by Sir Bartle Frere as 'an excellent, steady and sensible commander'. When camp was set up at Isandhlwana it was Glyn who proposed that a laager of wagons should enclose the camp as per Chelmsford's instructions. But he was sadly over-ruled by Chelmsford himself. Glyn was actually the commanding officer of the 1st/24th from Feb 1867 to May 1880 but had handed over command of the battalion to Brevet Lieut-Colonel Pulleine when Glyn was appointed commander of the column. In the second invasion of Zululand Glyn was in command of 2nd brigade in Lord Chelmsford's Ulundi Column. This was made up of his own 1st Battalion of the 24th, the 94th, and one battalion Natal Native Contingent. Lieut-col Glyn is seated in the middle of a group of officers of the 1st Battalion 24th in 1872. A caricature of Colonel Glyn in 1879 by Lieut-Col John North Crealock can be seen here. Richard Glyn attained the rank of Lieutenant General and was Colonel of the South Wales Borderers from 29th May 1898 to 21st Nov 1900. Picture courtesy of the John Young Collection