Dick King (Richard “Dick” Phillip King) is a name that is memorable in South African history. One of 13 children he was born in Chatham England on the 28th November 1813 and together with his parents came to South Africa as part of the 1820 settlers program. The family first settled in Albany in the Cape Colony
When Dick was 15 years old his family resettled in the frontier of Port Natal and gained employment as a wagon driver working for Captain Allen Gardiner. His work led him to traverse the road through Native controlled territory back to Grahamstown which proved of great importance at a later date and during this period of time he met the Zulu chief Dingaan.
In 1838 when the Voortrekker leaderPiet Retief and a delegation of Voortrekkers met with Dingaan at his kraal and were all murdered, American missionaries in the area notified Port Natal about the murders and Dick King, together with a group of friendly natives, set out on foot to warn all those at the Voortrekker camps which were 120 miles inland. They reached their destination four days later after walking day and night but unfortunately did not reach the camp in time, He continued on to try and warn the next camp and arrived as the attack was taking place. Even though some managed to survive the Zulu offensive, more than 600 Boers, including women and children, were murdered.
He had made a valiant effort to save lives and despite not being successful his name became prominent in the area After the British sent troops to Port Natal to establish fortifications at Congella they were besieged by the Boers and it was at this time that Richard “Dick” King achieved an unbelievable feat of endurance. Together with his 16 year old Zulu servant Ndongeni, he undertook to ride to Grahamstown for help from the forces there. On his horse Somerset he completed the journey of 600 miles through extremely hostile country in the miraculous time of 10 days.
Dick delivered his message that the garrison was in imperative need and enabled relief to be sent by ship from Port Elizabeth. The relief troops arrived in time to relieve the garrison. Both King and Ngongeni received farms in acknowledgment of their bravery.
Dick King died at his farm in Isipingo Natal. In 1911 Ndongeni was still living on his farm at Mzimkulu River where in an interview he recorded the details of their ride.
A memorial statue of Dick King on his horse stands on the Victoria Embankment in Durban KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.