Early Life :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The Anglo-Zulu War 1879, South Africa.

Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.

Detail :

Military service between 1868-1897. Present at the Defence of Rorke's Drift, Natal during the Anglo-Zulu War.

London Gazette "THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus, as recorded against their names, viz.:—

For their gallant conduct at the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1879.

Royal Engineers Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) J. R. M. Chard
2nd Battalion 24th Regiment Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) G. Bromhead

The Lieutenant-General commanding the troops reports that, had it not been for the fine example and excellent behaviour of these two Officers under the most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke's Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it. The Lieutenant-General adds, that its success must, in a great degree, be attributable to the two young Officers who exercised the Chief Command on the occasion in question."

Died of cancer of the tongue 1st November, 1897 while living with his brother. He is commemorated at his Grave at St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Hatch Beauchamp and by a plaque at Rochester Cathedral.

Masonic :

The record of St. Georges Lodge No. 1152 show that John Chard was a joining member on 22nd April, 1893 and resigned on the 23rd December, 1895. His previous lodge listed as No. 12, but this is meant to read No. 112 - a lodge of the same name. He initially joined when he was resident at Exeter as a Major, in 1877.

See also: Lt. Gonville Bromhead.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley