Truthhunter

I've read a couple of books about Maiwand, which like Isandhlwana, was a complete rout of British forces, and killing of many of their men. Was ever there a novel which had Watson telling more of his experiences of this event ?

I'm aware that on many cases, it is sometimes necessary for Holmes and/or Watson to be armed with a revolver, yet I can't say I've ever heard mention of a waist or shoulder holster. Did they just keep the firearm in their belt or coat pocket ? It was strange to see Sherlock (Jeremy Brett) armed with an apparent American Colt .45 peacemaker, single-action revolver in an episode on television.

I wondered if anyone has studied Watson in detail, both militarily and in civilian life, especially his medical profession ? I ask, because my attention was drawn to a piece of medical equipment worn by Private Hitch of Rorke's Drift 1879 fame, which is a unique leather arm-sling with buckled straps used to adjust for comfort. I'm unable to post said image, but it does appear on the net. I'm intrigued to find out more about this specific piece of medical equipment - photos, diagrams, makers name, etc. I'm hoping you can aid me in this, as I've been unsuccessful asking other sources.

Thank you. Fortunately, my total belief in such made me wish to do something to draw positive attention to him last year, on the anniversary of Isandhlwana, when, with the huge help of a battlefield tour guide based nearby to it, organised a wreath to be laid on Col. Durnford's grave at Fort Napier cemetery in Pietermaritzburg, by a serving Major in the modern Natal Carbineers, a unit which lost several men who fought and died beside Col. Durnford in his last stand. Several photos were taken of the private ceremony and added to a Zulu War forum. It was historical, in the fact that nothing had been done like this in the whole time since he was first interred. Now that enthusiasts are seeing him in the right light finally, it is all the more timely and apt.

What once was a hugely debated subject going against Col. Durnford, has been reactivated recently on a Zulu War 1879 forum, and has made a complete U-turn in his favour, once members started looking more closely at the facts, even my name made a small appearance in a post, referring to a time I constantly confronted Durnford's biggest critic, and now I appear to be seen as correct. I was once told I was Col. Durnford's (modern day) champion, by a descendant of him, which was incredibly flattering.

Well, the first case involving the ill-advised use of a famous Rorke's Drift painting on the cover of a controversial book, led to contact by a friend to the author to make enquiries. Additionally, to a gallery in Australia, then back to a company in the UK. No satisfactory response as yet, regarding it's cause to be used in such fashion. As for the scapegoating of Col. Durnford after the defeat at Isandhlwana being investigated by Holmes, suggested it as a topic starter in a Zulu War 1879 forum for discussion. Hopefully it is used as such and replied to.

Yes. They team up a writer and artist/illustrator for the titles. I'm hoping, with such an interest in Sherlock Holmes, that Osprey would see it as a good opportunity.

Colour plates, as in detailed images of all the characters in the novels, as individual studies or in well-known scenes. Nothing to do with people dressing-up as them. The artists at Osprey are hugely gifted, if you see some of the plates from their military books. They do cover non-military subjects, including a Steampunk uniforms title released in November that I'll be getting.

Out of interest, I am a member of the Osprey Publishing forum, and added a topic suggesting a new title, consisting of new colour plates of characters/scenes from the Sherlock Holmes novels, pretty much in the same vein as they do their uniforms titles. Waiting for a reply from Osprey.

I've got many books on 19th/20th Century firearms, fully-illustrated, which help me to identify most if not all firearms and specifications in fiction/non-fiction books, or even in films/documentaries. Several illustrated books on plants. A couple on survival techniques. At present I'm in the process of studying Zulu words, by using word recognition in a book written in both Zulu and English, with the help of a Zulu-English translation site, though not full sentences, but words that can be identified throughout the book, adding more and more of them to my knowledge on each occasion. It is a good way of learning, but also connected to my main military history interest. Also, in addition learning the written Zulu language, I got to know morse code, and sign language in the form of knowing the alphabet, as you never know when they might come in handy.

Thanks for that. Historian/researcher got back with info of meeting the descendant at some stage soon, so hopefully photo might be produced and shown to AZW community as a first. I was very pleased when I got Edward's photo a couple of years ago. In connection to other data I found, a topic has been started on another military forum, to bring it to their members attention, in order to get a debate/discussion going on the controversial subject it refers to. So, the game's afoot !

Well, whether it's because I joined this forum, started this topic, or just about finished reading the tome of the Holmes complete stories, I was inspired to seek out a new angle connected to this conspiracy subject, which led to another dark place of investigation, which compounds the already damning illegal act of war, and takes the story into the true horror of conflict. So much so, I was compelled to pass on the info about what I found out, that may or may not reflect badly on a so-called heroic era, to those whom I know in the Anglo-Zulu War 1879 research community. Time will tell what the reaction, if any, is. Additionally, made contact with a historian in contact with the family whose ancestor was the innocent victim to the scapegoating by the powers-that-be in 1879, my hope being to obtain an image I know exists, of two people intimately involved with him, being his wife and daughter, never yet been seen in books, etc. This hopefully would be the second (unseen) image to be made public, the first being a portrait photo of his loyal brother Edward. So, my thanks to this forum, in particular the member so directly involved in this particular discussion with myself, which motivated me to seek other areas of research/data, which Sherlock himself would do.

I seem to recall his feeling towards women, was that they were an inconvenient distraction. I always felt women to him were like kryptonite to superman, in that they would weaken him, making him vulnerable to his enemies. Keeping physical relationships out of his life, allowed him to maintain a somewhat higher sense of awareness, of both people and situations. Any useless thoughts, including those of affection or love, interrupted his precise interpreting of data.

Sherlock is attracted to intelligence, both by men and women, for example Adler and Moriarty, but as for anything sexual, well, I don't think he is interested in that side of things at all. Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory is like a younger version of himself....though funnier !

Moriarty has always been too good a character to have ever been killed off in the first place, as his menace should've remained behind many a crime for all time, being forever Sherlock's opponent !