Trafford

Born during the September quarter 1857 in the Chorlton upon Medlock R.D. -
ref: 8c/498, the second son of James & Frances Black (nee Hague).   
Baptised on the 10th September 1857 at All Saint's P.C., Chorlton upon
Medlock, Manchester.

1861 Census - No Trace.

1871  Census - Cranbrook Villa, Lymm.     Son - aged: 13 - Scholar - born:
Manchester.    Head of household - James Black - Married - aged: 43 - occ:
Calico Printer - born: Scotland.    Also -  Frances Black - Wife - aged: 43
- born: Cranbrook, Kent.   Plus 3 siblings and 4  domestic servants and 1
visitor.

Gazetted on the 11th May 1875.   Norman David Black, Gent., to be
Sub-lieutenant in the 33rd Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Corps w.e.f. the 12th
May 1875.   This was also reported on in the Manchester Evening News dated
the 19th October 1876.   He later transferred to the 2nd Manchester
Volunteer Rifles and then once in South Africa, was recruited into the
Natal Native Contingent.

Death reported in the 15th July 1879 edition of the Manchester Evening
News.   The reports stated that he was killed in battle at Isandula
(iSandlewana actually).  He was serving in Captain Stafford's Company,
under Colonel Durnford, when they were overwhelmed by the Zulus.   His
horse was shot from under him, but continuing the engagement on foot, he
received a bullet in the head serving alongside Colonel Durnford, who was
also killed in this battle.

The Graphic Magazine dated the 19th April 1879 features an engraving of him
based on a photograph taken by photographer - Charles Du Val based in
Manchester.  The report accompanying this portrait image carries the
following report about him:    Original spelling and punctuation retained:
‘LIEUTENANT NORMAN DAVID BLACK, Natal Native Contingent, who was only
twenty-two years of age, was formerly a member of the 2nd Manchester
Volunteers. He went out to South Africa about two years ago, and has since
held an appointment in the Colonial Engineers Office. On the outbreak of
the war he obtained a commission in the Native Contingent, and at once
proceeded to the front, and fell at Isandlwhana on the 22nd January.’
Black was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, Natal Native
Contingent on 11th December, 1878. His unit formed part of Brevet Colonel
Anthony William Durnford’s No. 2 Column.

The Maidstone & Kent County Standard dated the 5th April 1879 reporting on
his death and as being the grandson of John Hague of Cranbrook, Kent states
that his father - James Black was a resident of Timperley.

At the time of the 1881 Census, his widower father was residing with his
brother at 6, Sunny Side, Railway Road, Urmston, where he was listed as a
Retired Calico Printer, aged: 55.

Probate granted to Charles Michel Solomonson (Solicitor) at London on the
14th April 1894.  The record states that Norman was a Farmer and that his
Estate was valued at £1,071.

The Natal Native Contingent was a large force of auxiliary soldiers in
British South Africa, forming a substantial portion of the defence forces
of the British colony of Natal. The Contingent saw action during the 1879
Anglo-Zulu War. The Natal Mounted Police was created in 1873 to bolster the
defences of Natal. It enlisted European officers, NCOs and natives. The
infantry was created in 1878. Most enlisted troops were drawn from the
Basuto and Mpondo tribes, which had had long experience fighting the
Zulus.

The Natal legislature established the Natal Mounted Police in 1873 and
appointed Major J. G. Dartnell as commander. However, they were slow to
appropriate funds for the organization. The first trooper enrolled in March
1874.  The first headquarters were at Fort Napier in Pietermaritzburg where
their Colonel Durnford is buried.

The infantry was created in 1878 under Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony William
Durnford as part of the Zululand expeditionary force.

The structure of the NNC followed the pattern of regular British infantry
units at the time.  Each regiment consisted of two to three battalions,
divided into ten companies of 100 black soldiers each, with six European
NCOs and three European officers per company. Units received rudimentary
training at best.