PRINCE IMPERIAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 29 September 1928, Page 11

PRINCE IMPERIAL

NT EARLY fiO years have passed since the tragic death of the Prince Imperial at Itelezi Hill. Lieut.-Colonel F. E. AVhit ton, in the Nineteenth Century for June, recounts, the story of the Prince’s death. -It was only' at the ■ most -urgent entreaties of the' Prince that the Empress Eugenic gave her consent, to liis going to South Africa. Before yielding she visited the AVaa; Office, and arranged that if he went he would not be regarded as a British officer, but solely as a spectator attached to General Headquarters. Ho arrived in South Africa without military rank, but he was to act as an extra aide-de-camp to Lord Chelmsford. As he had ■come as a spectator Lord Chelmsford allowed him to take part in some hazardous reconnaissances carried out from Woods ’ column. In. these the Prince displayed a rash bravery which disquieted the responsible leaders. At one time he exposed himself so dangerously that General Buffer reported 'his recklessness, and declined ito’ he further responsible for his safety. Lord Chelmsford realised the danger, and ho attached the Prince to the quarter-master-general ’s branch with instructions that he was to undertake no hazardous work without permission. Lieut.Coloncl Harrison was told off as bearleader to the Prince.

In spite of Lord Chelmsford's orders, Colonel Harrison gave the Prince permission to select a sit© for a camp to be occupied by Newdigate’s column. This meant that lie would have to. advance Over about eight miles of ground which had not been examined, though no Zulus had been seen in the neighbourhood . Lieutenant J. B. Carey, who desired to verify some points in the Ityotyozi Valley, undertook to accompany the Prince. They were ordered to take* with them six white and six Basuto troopers. The Basutos were to scout ahead of the party. The Prince and Carey left camp at a quarter .past 9 o’clock on the Sunday morning.

HOW HE LOST HIS LIFE

Thov were accompanied by the whiito ‘troopers, .but the Basiltos did not put in an appearance. They were accompanied for part- of the way .by Lord Grenfell, who did no-t notice the absence of the Ba-s-utos, .because he ! imagined that t hey were scouting p ahead. There is ample evidence that the Prince “deliberately gave his bearleader Harrison the slip the -moment •liis back was turned,” regarding himself ns .being in command. Carey afterwards stated -that he had been .told by 'Harrison not. to interfero with the Prince. •• » , ', ■ Lord Grenfell -left the party soma seven miles out and returned to camp, after warning the Prince to be careful. half-past 12 o ’clock the party reached the summit of Itelezi Hill, where -they rested for an hour while the Prince made some sketches of -the surrounding country. He then determined to go -to the foot of the hill to some Zulu huts, which were apparently ■empty, 1 so that the escort could get wood and water and cook some food'. Carey demurred, but the Prince assumed an authoritative manner. In face of the doubt of his rank, Carey permitted -himself -to be over-ruled. No sign of a Zulu had -been seen all day. The. little party of eight reached the kraal at 3 o’clock, and the Prince gave the order to off-saddle and knee-haltCr the horses. A lire was lit, and coffee made. Absolutely no precautions wore taken against surprise. About 20 minutes to four the horses were saddled, and the Prince gave the commands-: “Prepare to mount” and “Mount.” It was as the last order was given that a volley crashed from the long grass close by, and sonic 30 or 40 Zulus rushed the kraal. All the horses bolted, with the men half in half out of the .saddles. The tragedy was a matter of a. few seconds only. The Prince’s body was found with 18 wounds, all in front, and after the war those who killed him said that lie fought Tike a lion. :