HC Deb 27 May 1879 vol 246 cc1352-3
SIR WILFRID LAWSON

asked the Secretary of State for War, If he is now able to state the total number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men respectively of the Imperial Forces and of the Native Contingent who have died in South Africa from the date of the declaration of war against Cetewayo up to the present time?

COLONEL STANLEY

All I can say, in answer to the Question of the hon. Baronet, is that up to the 20th instant Lord Chelmsford reported the number of killed as 1,186, and the number of deaths by disease as 86. I have not felt quite reconciled to the figures, and I give them for what they are worth. However, these are the figures we have got, and until more detailed Returns have been received I cannot give an accurate statement as to numbers.