Description
South Africa General Service Medal 1877-79 to A.B. Nathaniel Gannaway, H.M.S. Boadicea.
Born Nathaniel Edward Gannaway in Southampton 21st August 1859, he entered the Royal Navy at St Vincent as Boy 2nd Class 10th September 1874. He subsequently joined Excellent 29th October 1875, Boscawen 26th January 1876, Duke of Wellington 23rd May 1876, HMS Raleigh 14th June 1876 where he was rated Ordinary Seaman 21st August 1877, Duke of Wellington 1st January 1878 where he was rated Able Seaman 8th November 1878.
Joining HMS Boadicea 24th November 1878, whilst in South Africa he was sentenced to 6 weeks in prison by the civil powers at Simonstown (offence not recorded). Joining HMS Thalia 11th April 1882, Excellent 3rd June 1882, he was discharged invalided from the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar 23rd August 1883. Nathaniel died in Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia 19th November 1889.
HMS Boadicea was a Bacchante-class corvette launched in 1875. She served in the Zulu War between March–June 1879, and landed some of her men to join the naval brigade serving ashore; these took part in the battle of Gingindhlovu and the relief of Eshowe. In 1881, she landed some of her crew to take part in the 1st Boer War or Transvaal War [Naval Brigade].
Battle of Gingindhlovo – An imp of 12,000 Zulu soldiers had been ordered to ambush the relief column before it was able to reach Eshowe. As the morning mist rose the left horn of the Zulus formation was spotted approaching the British camp. The British opened fire with one of their Gatling Guns forcing the Zulus to disappear into the long grass. They re-emerged having formed up with the rest of the Zulu force, which charged the British camp from three sides. The British opened fire at them from 300 to 400 yards, their rifles being supported by additional fire from the Gatling Guns and Hole rockets, which pushed the Zulus back. They made several attempts to get into close combat with the British where they would be able to use the Iklwa spears, but each time they were forced back by British firepower. Only a 10 year old boy actually managed toe reach the British camp, where he was taken prisoner by the men of HMS Boadicea. After 20 minutes of attacks the Zulu formation began to disintegrate, and Lord Chelmsford sent his cavalry to break it up. By 07:30 the imp had been routed leaving 700 dead near the British camp, with 300 more killed during the rout. Only eleven of the British were killed, along with 48 wounded. 
Following his service in the Royal Navy Nathaniel Edward Gannaway emigrated to Australia and was later murdered by his fellow crew member of the steamer Nellie, the ship’s cook Charlie Cheong.
27th November 1889 – Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW)
Stabbing Affray at Wentworth. — Nathaniel Edward Gannaway, who was stabbed by a Chinaman, named Charlie Ah Cheong, on board a river steamer at Wentworth, died on Tuesday night. The evidence showed that deceased had been in the habit of teasing the Chinaman, who was cook on board. At the time of the occurrence the Chinaman had a knife in his hand. Deceased kept rubbing over the Chinaman’s face with his open hand, and Cheong told deceased not to tease as he had the knife and there might be an accident. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against accused and he was committed for trial on that charge.
Medal – South Africa Medal with 1879 clasp to N. GANNAWAY. A.B. H.M.S. BOADICEA. The medal comes with the slide on Masonic clasp “W.M. 1889”.
Whilst not significant or overly relevant – Gannaway’s niece Beatrice later married George Francis ‘Paddy’ McGough, worthy of a story in his own right, who later in life became a survivor of the Titanic as a crew member.
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