| As noted on the printed captions pasted to the lower part of the two photograph's mounts. No. 4479 Private Alfred Richardson drowned at Hyderabad while attempting to save the life of No. 4533 Arthur Ponder who had somehow become distressed in the same canal. While I have been unable to locate the service records - in many cases service records for men who died while in service no longer exist - for either of these two soldiers but I did obtain certified copies of both of their death certificates which established to which regiment - 2/Suffolk - they both belonged, the exact location where the accident occurred - the Fallelie Canal as well as their ages - both 23 8/12 years old. How the tragedy unfolded is lost to history but had Richardson been successful he would no doubt have been awarded a life saving medal such as those issued for such actions by the Royal Humane Society. Had his action been successful and had it taken place while on active duty in the face of the enemy he may have been recommended for the Victoria Cross as Private Samuel Wassall of the 80th Regiment was in the aftermath of the disaster at Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. While it is possible that an account of this event made still be found in a regimental history these two photographs may well be the only reminders of this long ago and all but forgotten episode of tragedy and courage. While lack of solid information has prevented me from establishing definite family connections for either of these soldiers Arthur Ponder may have been the son of William and Charlotte Ponder of Little Wigborough, Essex. |
| Private No. 4533 Arthur Ponder of the 2nd Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment who drowned at the Fallelie Canal in Hyderabad on 20 June, 1902. Cabinet Photograph Unkown Photographer Hyderabad, India c. 1902 |
| No. 4479 Private Alfred Richardson of the 2/Suffolk Regiment who died while attempting to save the life of Private Arthur Ponder. Cabinet Photograph Unkown Photographer Hyderabad, India c. 1902 |
