1902 December Quarter death-

Name: Degacher, Henry J.---Age: 67

District: Canterbury [Volume & Page: 2a & 534]

Major General Degacher spent his life in exemplary military service on behalf of Britain. In 1879 he honourably served in Africa during the Anglo-Zulu War, a war fought between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.

*Lieutenant-Colonel Henry James Degacher, 24th Regiment, C. B., Commanded 2/24th Regiment throughout campaign of 1879 (Zulu War); he commanded No. 3 Column during the Battle of Isandlwana which saw the British defeated. He then commanded and fortified Rorke's Drift post and later built Fort Melvill nearby; the hard-fought Defence of Rorke's Drift was a success, with 11 British soldiers being awarded the Victoria Cross for their gallant actions.

*In April 1879 moved with half the 2/24th to Dundee, where he remained in command while the battalion was scattered at posts along the border to protect the lines of communication and the Dundee District during the advance of the 2nd Division.

*Named Hitchcock until 1874, at which time he changed his name to Degacher, as did his brother, Captain William DEGACHER, who was killed at Isandhlwana.

*Ensign (as Hitchcock), 46th Foot 22nd February 1855; to 16th Foot 21st September 1855,

--Lieutenant 21st September 1855; to 24th Foot 16th April 1858,

--Captain 21st October 1859,

--Major 2nd December 1868,

--Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 9th June 1877,

--Lieutenant Colonel 11th November 1878,

--Colonel 1st July 1881; Half Pay 9th June 1882,

--Major General 8th July 1891,

•Lieutenant Degacher was named Adjutant for the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot 16th July 1858 - 21st October 1859.

•Commandant, Eastern Frontier, Cape of Good Hope 1st January 1876 - 13th March 1876. (was awarded CB on 11 Sept 1878).

•Commanded 2nd Battalion 24th Foot 9th September 1878.

•Commanded 2nd Battalion 24th Foot 9th June 1877 - 9th June 1882.

•Commanded Regimental District, Canterbury, Kent.

• Colonel of the South Wales Borderers 2nd November 1900 - 26th November 1902. (CMG).

• Married 8 Jul 1880, Eleanor Maud, daughter of the Reverend Gardner Harter of Cronfield Court, Bedfordshire at Knightsbridge, London. They resided at Canterbury.

• Served as a JP for Kent.

• Major General Degaucher is commemorated on memorial tablets in Canterbury and in Brecon Cathedrals.

• He served in the Crimea 28 Feb 1856 - 20 May 1856.

• He served in South Africa 2 Feb 1878 - 12 Dec 1879 (WO76/233), including during the Kaffir War 1877-78, in operations against the Galekas; he was present at the attack at Intaba-ka-N'Doda, and in the Zulu War of 1879.

Awards and Honours: Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette, 17 May, 11 and 18 June 1878. Medal with Clasp, C. B.; CMG; CB; South Africa Medal with Clasp 1877-8-9.

Major General Degacher retired 3rd May 1893. Died 26th November 1902.

Son of Walter Henry Hitchcock (later DEGACHER) and Mathilde Degacher (1811-1878); husband of Eleanor Maud Degacher; brother of Mathilde Alice Hastings (1838-1916), Charles Thomas Hitchcock, Walter Gustave Frank Degacher and William Henry Degacher.