Regiment took part in the advance on Zululand and the major actions which followed.           Born in Bury, Lancaster in 1859, a Card Room Hand by trade, he enlisted without bounty for 12 years on 30^th March 1878 with regimental number 1000. His enlistment was for the 17^th Brigade Depot. He voluntarily transferred to the 91^st  Regiment on 17^th February the following year, his regimental number changing to 2377. He departed for South Africa 2 days later. One can only surmise that by joining a regiment preparing to sail for Africa, that  he decided that he fancied a taste of adventure. He was to remain in South Africa for nearly seven years. While there, on 30^th June 1881 the 91^st became the 1^st battalion the newly formed Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders on their amalgamation with the 93^rd regiment. While in South Africa he spent 3 months on the Zulu campaign, with the 91^st taking part in the action at Gingindlovu, relief of Eshowe, and the Zulu impi’s final defeat at Ulundi.  (See medal to Mullen for details on Gingindlovu battle)

Booth then returned in Cape Town until in March 1884, he returned to Zululand for six months. Next he was based in Natal until he left for home, finally arriving on Christmas Eve 1885. he served a further four years at home before being discharged on 31^st March 1890. at the end of his period of enlistment. He subsequently lived at 12 Hercules Green, West Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire. 

A bricklayer from Kilkenny, he enlisted in the 90^th on 28^th Sept. 1875 for a bounty of £1 and 6 shillings.  he deserted in Dublin on 1^st March 1876, however he was quickly apprehended and spent 18 days in a military prison. This seems to have reformed him, as by Sept. 1879 he was in receipt of Good Conduct Pay. On release from prison, he remained in Ireland until March 1877, then at Aldershot until Sept. 1878 when he sailed for the Cape of Good Hope to bolster the local forces as the Kaffir War had erupted on the frontier. Several companies were sent to the Transvaal to bolster forces keeping an eye on the Zulu nation. Following the defeat at Isandhlwana, the regiment joined the offensive against the Zulu. They took part in the repulse of the Zulu attack on the British laager at Khambula, and the final defeat of Cetshewayo at the battle of Ulundi. The regiment served in Zululand from Oct. 1878 to Oct. 1879, when it sailed for Calcutta, where it remained until June 1881. Cousins returned home and transferred to the Army Hospital Corps stationed in Liverpool.   

Regiment took part in the advance on Zululand and the major actions which followed.

The British square at *GINGINDLOVU. (Extract from: The forgotten battlefields of the Zulu War, 1879 by Ken Gillings.) The South African Military History Society  Military History Journal - Vol 4 No 4.

North (front) face- 60th Rifles, Right flank face - 57th Foot. Left flank face - 99th Foot and 2/3^rd Foot 'the Buffs' , Rear face - 91st Foot.

Each corner of the square was manned by the Naval Brigade sailors and marines from HMS. The Gatling from Boadicea was mounted in the North-eastern corner and the two rocket tubes under Lt Kerr were positioned on the North-west corner, whereas the two 9-pr guns under Lt Kingscote covered the South-west. The second Gatling and two more rocket tubes covered the South-eastern approach and these were under Commander Brackenbury.

The Zulu Impi was first observed as the mist began to lift. Even before the impi crossed the Inyezane River, it had begun to split up into the traditional Zulu horn-formation, with the two horns running ahead of the chest or loins. As the impi drew opposite the laager, it entered the water and splashed across, the right wing and loins split up again and trotted over the Umisa Hill to the west. Having split up, it became clear that the column was facing no less than six Zulu Regiments, as well as a reserve, the former totalling over 10 000 and the reserve in excess of 2000. Most were warriors who had fought at Isandhlwana, the regiments being the Uve, in Gobamakhosi, umCijo, umHlanga, uMbonambi, and the head-ringed uThulwana. The Gatling from HMS Boadicea rattled off the first shots at a range of 1000 metres, and the Zulus dropped into the long grass and reappeared some 300 metres from the shelter trench, at which range fire was brought to bear on them in volleys. This checked their advance to some extent, and prompted Lord Chelmsford to order Maj Barrow to make a somewhat premature charge with his mounted infantry, in an attempt to check the advance of the Zulu left horn. The Zulus were quick to realize that Barrow was uncomfortably far from the laager and threatened to cut him off in the rear. Chelmsford ordered him back to the safety of the laager but the men had to fight their way in.

Despite fearless determination, the Zulus were unable to advance to within more than 20 metres of the laager and this only by launching wave after wave of attacks. Despite the fact that the British were so well entrenched, they suffered some serious casualties. Lt Col Northey being hit in the shoulder, and although the naval surgeon managed to extract the bullet, at the time it was not realized that the slug had severed an artery, putting him out of the fight and resulting in his death some days later. Capt Barrow and Lt Col Crealock were also slightly wounded and Lt Courtenay and Capt Molyneux had their horses shot from under them.

Once the Zulus had realized that the Gatling had checked any further advance from the North, they turned their attention to the West (left face) of the laager and it was during this attack that Lt G.C.J. Johnson of the 99th Regt was killed. At the same time another attack developed from the direction of Umisa Hill, in the rear. Throughout the attack, the Zulus kept up a withering fire from behind the cover of bushes or long grass.

At this stage, Chelmsford ordered Maj Barrow to attack once again with his mounted infantry. They had been engaged in clearing the front face of the laager from the outside and accordingly redirected their attention to the impi's right flank. It was probably this manoeuvre that finally broke the Zulus' determination, coupled with the fact that they realized that they were unable to penetrate the laager from the rear, which they had thought poorly defended. On the appearance of Barrow's men, the Zulus broke and started their retreat, hotly pursued by the Mounted Infantry and the Natal Native Contingent. 

*Gingindlovu - 'The place of he who swallowed the elephant'. The British soldiers, unable to pronounce  the   Zulu language, called it in typical style, “gin, gin, I love you”! 

The column continued its march, Eshowe was relieved, and the Zulu impi’s finally defeated at Ulundi. 

Born Lower Mitcham, Croydon, Surrey, in 1853, A Harness maker by trade, Thomas enlisted in the Royal Artillery on 8^th December 1875 for 12 years. He served at home until 20^th Feb. 1879, the Cape of Good Hope (for Zulu campaign, until 28^th Oct. 1879, then on to India until 8^th December 1888, and back home until his discharge. Served with “M” battery (six 7pdr.guns – Major Sandham)during the Zulu campaign.

At the close of 1873 the regiment was ordered to the Gold Coast, to join Sir

Garnet Wolseley's expedition against the King of Ashanti. For this service, kilts, doublets, and bonnets were given into store, and special clothing of drab cloth, with pith helmets, issued to the men. The regiment arrived on the coast in January 1874, and proceeded with the rest of the troops to Prahsu, 84 miles inland. The column was delayed at Mansu, some 30 miles north of Cape Coast Castle, by the desertion of the native carriers ; whereupon the Royal Highlanders volunteered to act as porters, and actually performed this unusual service for a day or two.  

On the 26th January, the advanced-guard, under Col. M'Leod, 42nd, took Borborassie ; and on the 31st  the Ashantis were defeated at Amoaful. The 42nd took a prominent part in this hard-fought action, and had 8 officers and 104 men wounded. On the ist February, Col. M'Leod captured the village of Becquah, and on the 3rd, Sir Garnet Wolseley pushed on to the river Ordah the Ashantis disputing every mile of his advance, and harassing the flanks of his column. On the 4th, there was a fierce struggle at Ordahshu, which after six hours' hard fighting ended in the defeat of the enemy, who fled along the road to Coomassie. The British followed close upon their heels, and entering Coomassie, formed up in the main street, and gave three cheers for the Queen.  

This clasp was awarded only to those actually present at the bombardment of Alexandria, by the ships under command of Admiral Seymour.  

1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3460 Pte. D. Campbell, 1st R.S. Fus)

Trooper Farr served as Captain (later Major-General, CB, CMG, DSO, MBE) A. A. McHardy’s batman during the Boer War and was reported missing near Petrusburg on 16 July 1901 but later rejoined.