Captain Stuart Smith

Stuart Smith was born on 6 Oct 1844 in County Cavan, Ireland. He was the son of Rev Stuart Smith and Henrietta Graham. He was a brevet major in command of two guns of N Battery, 5th Brigade RA, during the Zulu War of 1879. On 22 Jan 1879 he was part of the doomed British force camped at Isandhlwana. His section consisted of two 7-pounder guns which, at the start of the battle were positioned 600 yards east of the camp of the Natal Native Contingent along with A and H Company of the 1/24th Regiment. One gun was brought within range when the Zulus reached the Conical Hill but was brought back in line after dispersing the enemy with case shot. When the outlying companies were forced to withdraw to the camp, the Zulus rushed forward and reached the battery before they could limber up. There was some hand-to-hand fighting and Captain Smith managed to get the guns away but in the fight at the camp they lost many gunners. One gun was overturned and the other was halted by a ravine. Captain Stuart Smith was one of the casualties killed in the battle.

Regimental Details | Soldiers