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From: "Doug & Pat Frykberg" <>
Subject: Re: [Frontier Wars]
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001 21:34:49 +1200


Hi April. I have a book "Southern Africa Irish Studies" Vol 1. 1991.
In an chapter by A.J.Cook, of Rhodes University entitled "Irish settlers in
the Eastern Cape in the Early Nineteenth Century" Irish Regiments mentioned
are 8th and 21st Light Dragoons and the 83rd Foot as well as the 60th Foot
regiment which had numerous Irish soldiers.
In another article by Cook from "The Irish in Southern Africa 1795-1910 "
ed. Donal Mccracken is this and I quote exactly from his article. Bishop
Griffith, first Catholic Bishop "frequently refers to Irish Catholic
soldiers (Irish speaking too,) including an astonishing comment, based on a
local census that 'three fourths' of the troops of the 75th (Stirlingshire
Regiment) stationed in Grahamstown were Irish catholic. In 1851 the records
of the 74th (Highland Light Infantry) refer to 80 Irishmen out of a
regimental complement of 600....." "However the first Irish unit to set
foot in South Africa was the 86th Foot which landed on 22 September
1795........the 86th was known for a brief period as the Leinster Regiment,
are generally titled the 86th County Down"..
Later in the article are these Irish regiments
The 83rd (Nicknamed the Irish Giants) played a part in the Eastern Cape
against the Xosa.
8th King's Royal Irish Dragoons (Later the King's Royal Irish Hussars)
The 27th Inniskilling Fusileers (the Skins) took a leading part in the
Eastern Cape from 1835-1848. They built St Patrick's in Grahamstown between
1839 and 1844.
Just as a footnote, my husband Doug served with the South African Irish WW2
which fought through the then Abyssinia and on to North Africa where the
regiment suffered huge casualties at Sidi Rezegh. I have so far not found
any mention of Rorke.
Pat
>
>I'm looking for information about Irish regiments which fought in the
>Eastern Cape and information about the 7th Cape Frontier War and War of the
>Axe in 1846.
>
>James Rorke would have been in the "Irish regiment that fought in the
>Eastern Cape" This would have been prior to 1859 when he died.
>
>James Alfred Rorke, his son, would have fought in the above wars.
>

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