The baptismal records of St. Mildred's Church at Canterbury show that Robert Bambrick was christened there on the 14th of October 1798 (the same date as shown for his birth [PB: Where shown?]), the son of Valentine Bambrick, Sergeant Major in the 17th Light Dragoons [11th?], and Frances, his wife.
The "Record of Officers' Services" for the 11th Dragoons dated the 31st of December 1829 shows the birth of Robert Bambrick in Canterbury, Kent, on the 14th of November 1798.
[PB Notice the small discrepancy in dates above.]
Robert Bambrick briefly attended the Royal Military Asylum (also known as The Duke of York's School) at Chelsea. He started on the 2nd of November 1804 at the age of 5 years 6 months and was "Discharged by the Board of Commissioners at the request of the parents" five months later, on the 27th of March 1805.
[PB: Any further information to be gleaned from the DoY School records?]
The muster roll of the 11th Dragoons for November of 1813 shows him as having enlisted at Hounslow Barracks for "Unlimited service", and a bounty of £3/3/- was paid to him. He was then 15 years of age and his height of 5' 1" was the only physical detail shown.
He was made Corporal on the 25th of November 1818, and Sergeant on the 25th of November 1819
CommissionHe was commissioned as a Cornet (without purchase) on the 14th of December 1820.
He was promoted to Lieutenant (again without purchase) on the 12th of October 1825 he then served as Riding-Master for a period of ten years (1833-1845) until being transferred (as a Captain) to the 7th Dragoon Guards on the 25th of October 1843. He went with them to the Cape, taking part in the first Zulu War, known as the "Battle of the Axe" and where he was killed in action on the 16th of April 1846.
Two accounts exist of the manner of his death:
"The camp at Burnshill had been strongly attacked during the day and a number of draught and slaughter cattle captured by the enemy. - A squadron of the cavalry, under the fine old Waterloo officer, Captain Bambrick of the 7th Dragoon Guards, was sent to endeavour to retake the cattle. This party had followed the Kaffirs into the bush, but they were attacked in such force that they had to retire, but not however, before the gallant captain had fallen a victim."
"Captain Robert Bambrick had been sent with his troop to avenge the death of a young soldier whom the Kaffirs had killed in an attack upon the baggage wagons. Pushing on at the head of his troop, Bambrick fell victim to a Kaffir ambush. His body was hacked to pieces, his rider-less horse galloping past the troop, its trappings and saddle covered in blood, whilst the savages bore off the body of their victim, brandishing the unfortunate officer's sword as they retreated."
PB: In 2102, the website "britishempire.co.uk" carried this account:
The Death of Captain Bambrick, 16th April 1846
War was declared on the Xhosa on 21st March 1846. Two columns were organised under Lieut-Col Richardson and Colonel Henry Somerset, the CO of the Cape Mounted Rifles, consisting of the 7thDG, CMR, 91st Foot and artillery. They headed for Sandile's laager at Burns Hill but when they arrived the tribe had moved on towards the Amotola Hills. A detachment was left at Burns Hill with the baggage wagons, while the two columns carried on. This detachment was commanded by Major Gibsone and included Captain Bambrick's Troop of 7thDG.
Bambrick was a veteran who had served 31 years in the army. He had been in the 11th Light Dragoons and was at the siege of Bhurtpore in 1826. Bambrick's Troop were sent off to the Keikama River to investigate the sound of shots. When he got there he found some stolen cattle but no tribesmen. He led his men into some dense scrub that enclosed the banks of the river but fell into an ambush. The Xhosa were armed with muskets and Bambrick was shot. He shouted to the NCOs to withdraw, which they did with great difficulty as the thorns tore at the horses and riders.
Major Gibsone arrived with men of the 91st and two RA guns which dispersed the tribesmen and they ran off with the head of Captain Bambrick as a trophy to show Chief Sandile.
Aged 46 years at the time of his death, no trace can be found of his ever having been married.
There is an illustration in the 11th Hussar file taken from the "History of the 7th Dragoon Guards" purporting to show the manner in which Captain Robert Bambrick met his death.
The muster rolls of the 7th Dragoon Guards shows the following regarding the death of Robert Bambrick: "Killed in action on the evening of the 16th of April 1846."
He was shown as being "Single," as having left no will with the Regiment and that the sum of £45/13/7d. was raised from the auction of his belongings. No details are shown of his next of kin in the 7th D.G. muster rolls, as is usual.
Extract from the "Illustrated London News" for the 18th of July 1846:
"In recording this affair, the correspondent of the I.L.N. observes: It has been remarked here that the 7th D.G. [Dragoon Guards] are amongst the bravest of men, but they are not yet up to the bush-warfare against an unseen foe. They keep together, and are a regular target for the Kaffirs.
It is painful to record that poor Captain Bambrick's skull, his right hand, and skin, were presented by Sandile, chief of the Kaffirs, to Unyeki, a celebrated witch-doctor. 'The War of the Axe', as it is called by the Kaffirs, broke out owing to the fact that it was the theft of an axe which brought to a head matters which were troubling the district."
He had served 14 years and two months abroad, in France from April 1815 - November 1818, India (in Bengal) from May 1819. Served at Quatre Bras, Waterloo, and the capture of Paris under the Duke of Wellington. Served in the siege and capture of Bhurtpore on the 18th of January 1826, under the command of Lord Combermere. During the siege of Bhurtpore, from the 25th of December 1825, Cornet Robert Bambrick was with Lieutenant H.P. Tuckett and a party of dismounted men in the trenches.
[PB: Check. These are some of the same battles - Quatre Bras, Waterloo, Bhurtpore - as TSM John Bambrick. Has there been a mix-up?]
He received the medal for Waterloo and would have been entitled to the Army of India medal with the clasp for "Bhurtpore", had he survived to receive it. He would also have been entitled to the medal for the 1846-47 campaign in South Africa. Only four Troops of the 7th Dragoon Guards took part in this.
A tablet to his memory was erected in Grahamstown Cathedral in South Africa bearing the inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of Captain Robert Bambrick, 7th Dragoon Guards, aged 48 years, who fell in action with the Kaffirs near Burnshill on the 16th of April 1846. Service with the 11th Dragoons - 'Waterloo and Bhurtpore'. This tablet was erected by his brother officers in token of their respect and esteem." (There is a photograph of this in the 11th Hussar file.)
http://secretgeek.net/bambrick/index.asp#john1
__________
PB: In 2007, on the "rootsweb.com" website, a [commentator] Ivy Trott transcribed the Grahamstown tablet and added comments and a query:
Sacred to the memory of/ CAPTAIN ROBERT BAMBRICK/ 7th Dragoon Guards/ Aged 48 years/ who fell in action with the Kaffirs near Burnshill/ 16th of April, 1846/ Services (with llth Light Dragoons) "Waterloo", "Bhurtpore:/ This Tablet has been erected by his brother officers in token of their esteem and regret.
The following account is given of his death by Major General Bisfeet, CB:
"The camp at Burns Hill had also been attacked during the day, and a number of the draught and slaughter cattle captured by the enemy, and a squadron of cavalry was sent out under a fine old Waterloo Officer, Captain Bambrick, 7th Dragoon Guards, to endeavour to retake the cattle. This party... followed the Kaffirs into the bush, when they were attacked in such force that they had to retire, not, however, before the gallant old captain had fallen a victim".
Do note the 'old' - he was 48!
I am trying to establish whether this Captain Robert Bambrick was the brother of Sergeant Valentine Bambrick, whose dates I don't know, of the 11th Hussars.
PB: IN 2012, an attempt was made to contact Ivy Trott, but her email address was no longer recognised.
The name Valentine was frequently used in his wider family, e.g. in Australia.
There was a Sergeant Valentine Bambrick in Captain Creighton's troop of the 11th Light Dragoons at Bhurtpore [DATE? 1826?] Is this the possible ??uncle Valentine
[http://chargeofthelightbrigade.com/allmen/allmenB/allmenB_11H/bambrick_j_1465_11H/bambrick_valentine_uncle.html]
[ PB: what was number "60" mean LHS of his name? Source: WO 100; Piece: 13. {http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/View.aspx?dbid=1686&path=Asia.India+1803-1849.ALL.All+Regiments%2c+Units+and+Staff.7}]