Dr David Grey Rattray

David Rattray (1958 - 2007)

Brief overview:

The South African historian David Rattray, who has been murdered at his home aged 48, did much to memorialise the single greatest feat of arms by the Zulus in the colonial war against the British - the wiping out of Lord Chelmsford's column at Isandlwana, in KwaZulu-Natal, in 1879 and the events that followed. A lawyer's son, born in Johannesburg, Rattray studied to become an entomologist at the then University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, taking a BSc in the subject. But his passion was for the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, an interest born of hikes with his father near the family holiday home at Fugitive's Drift, on the edge of the Buffalo river. After a stint as a ranger at the Mala Mala game reserve, he settled with his wife Nicky at the holiday home, building a lodge on the site in 1989 as well as a guest house.

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
  • David leaves his mother, Gillian Rattray, his wife Nicky and three sons Andrew, Douglas and Peter
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction
  • Two of the men who the historian dr. killed David Rattray, were jailed for life in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on 17/03/2008 for their role in the "senseless murder" of him.
  • Judge Kate Pillay also sentenced Simphiwe Ndlovu (25), and Sibonele Xolani Mpanza (28), to 10 years in prison for attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances.
  • In her sentencing, Pillay said she took into account the "enormity" of the culprits' actions as well as the murder's negative repercussions for the country.
  • Three other members of the robbery gang were earlier sentenced to 25 years in prison each. Pillay said unlike in the case of Mpanza and Ndlovu, the other three did show remorse for their actions.

Additional Biographical Information:

A raconteur par excellence, Rattray quickly became famous for the guided tours he gave to guests, leading them along the paths where the extraordinary events of 1879 took place on "the day of the dead moon", or solar eclipse. That year the fiercely independent AmaZulu people had refused to accept British rule, and on January 22 Chelmsford's force of 1,700 soldiers was attacked at Isandlwana; only 400 survived. Hours later, a 4,000-strong Zulu force launched an attack on the nearby supply base at Rorke's Drift. The successful British defence was immortalised in the 1964 film Zulu, with Michael Caine, Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins (and the future South African minister Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi as the Zulu king Cetshwayo kaMpande.)

Rattray's tours took in the scene of the Zulu ambush at Isandlwana itself - with Cetshwayo's impis "as thick as grass and humming like bees", as they came around the mountainside; the gallant attempts by Lieutenants Teignmouth Melvill and Nevill Coghill of the 24th Regiment of Foot (later the South Wales Borderers) to save the colour, for which they both got the VC posthumously; and the later defence of Rorke's Drift, for which 11 VCs were awarded. The place where Melvill and Coghill died was less than 500 yards from where Rattray's body was found.

Rattray's lectures, researches, guide books and audio tapes stimulated fresh interest in the battlefields. His guests at Fugitive's Drift included Prince Charles and Prince Harry in 1998. His popularity on the international lecture circuit was such that he spent only six months a year at home. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, he received its prestigious Ness award in 1999 for popularising a wider understanding of the world, and won a number of awards in the fields of both history and tourism.

The walls of the lodge were crowded with Rattray's collection of memorabilia from the Anglo-Zulu war, including Martini-Henry rifles, assegais, old photographs and period prints. At the time of his death, he was in the process of publishing his book, A Soldier Artist in Zululand, based on watercolours painted during the campaign by Lieutenant William Lloyd, of the 24th Regiment of Foot, the defenders of Rorke's Drift. The paintings were rediscovered a couple of years ago, and Rattray had identified and photographed the perspective from which each had beeen made. The Prince of Wales had written an introduction to the book.

Rattray was widely respected for the community work he did in the area. He was a trustee of Siyazisiza, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the alleviation of poverty in rural KwaZulu-Natal through food security and small enterprise development.

The editor of the Johannesburg Sunday Times, Mondli Makhanya, observed that Isandlwana was "a favourite fireside story" among Zulus, told to youngsters for more than 120 years. He added: "To listen to David Rattray narrate the story of Isandlwana was akin to watching the best-scripted, best-directed and best-produced movie Hollywood's finest studios could put out. It was goose-bump stuff."

Welsh troops returned to the battle scene 200 miles north of Durban in 1999 and held a commemorative service in the chapel at Rorke's Drift. Several thousand Zulus came down from the hills, bringing the elders who could no longer walk in wheelbarrows. The Zulus, like the Welsh, are renowned for their singing voices. As their voices soared together, Rattray stood at the back of the gathering and wept. He leaves his wife and three sons.

On the 15th April 2008, Dr. Peter Rattray received an honourary Doctorate from the University of KwaZulu Natal on behalf of his son. Dr Rattray said the degree was one of the best tributes to a man “..who loved South Africa unreservedly. David had lived among Zulu people most of his life and was steeped in Zulu history and could speak the language.”

On presenting the honorary degree, vice-chancellor Professor Dasarath Chetty said David Rattray had been a brilliant and extraordinary orator who shared his deep love and passion for the environment, Zulu culture and the country through his work. “The University of KwaZulu Natal is privileged and takes immense pride in honouring this unique individual, whose work symbolised the very essence of African scholarship.”

David’s mother, Gillian Rattray, his wife Nicky and three sons Andrew, Douglas and Peter were also present at the ceremony. Nicky said she was “extremely proud that the university saw fit to honour David in this way.”

• Reference: http://www.fugitivesdrift.com/dr-david-rattray/

Links to Media articles:

• http://archive.fo/6vhSr
• http://archive.fo/HUCtM
• http://archive.fo/v8ChN
• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000190926341822

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• Reference: Biographical Summaries of Notable People
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 6 2017, 9:00:49 UTC