Stevens
Alun’s great-grandfather, Richard Walford Stevens, served as a trumpeter in the Natal Mounted Police at the battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879. The banner shows the battlefield from Isandlwana Lodge which is just below the Inyoni Heights where the Zulu Indunas (generals) stood during the battle. Richard escaped the battle because he had a horse and fled to Helmekaar which is on the ridge on the horizon behind Isandlwana mountain. The countryside would have been much the same as shown as the photograph was taken in early March 2005 and it was a wet summer as it had been in 1879.
Stevens Stories
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A short introduction to Witham, Essex, UK and photographs and information about Batsford, 100 Newland Street, Witham where the Stevens family lived for much of the 19th century. |
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The first overseas sports tour by Australians was the 1868 indigenous cricket tour to England. One of the 47 games was played in Witham. Richard Walford’s brother, Charles, helped organise the match and played in it. |
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Alun’s grandfather’s name was Arthur Partridge Stevens and his great-grandfather’s name was Richard Walford Stevens. Why Partridge and Walford? |
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The exploration of my great-grandmother’s ancestors has yielded links to the earliest settlers in South Africa, a number of whom are also Megan’s ancestors. We are related. |
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The relationship is deep and the story colourful with slaves, criminals, murder, foul language, adultery, divorce and uplifting stories of hard work and achievement. |
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Why were many of my Liddell ancestors in Concentration Camps during the Anglo Boer War where a number died? Why did they not tell their descendants? |
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Richard Walford wrote to his family about the terrible battle and his miraculous escape. There was more to the battle and more to his life. |
©Alun Stevens 2020