| Captain (Acting Major) William Degacher of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot. Captain William Degacher was born on 4 April 1841.2 He was the son of Walter Henry Degacher. He was killed in action on 22 January 1879 at age 37 in Zululand at the Battle of Isandlwana. Captain William Degacher was educated at Saint-Omer, France. He was educated at Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire, England. He was commissioned on 31 May 1859 with the rank of Ensign, in the service of the 24th Regiment. He was educated at Imperial College, London, England. He gained the rank of Lieutenant on 19 August 1862.2 He gained the rank of Captain on 2 December 1868 in the service of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot. AT the time of the Anglo-Zulu War Degacher was Acting Major in the 1st Battalion. His older brother Henry, was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2nd Battalion of the 24th. It is an interesting genealogical side note that Decacher was actor David Niven's maternal grandfather. Carte de Visite sized mounted Photograph Unknown Photographer Original Photograph c. 1877. Copied c. 1880-90 |
