Anglo-Zulu War Battlefield Trip Pics!

[Seigfried]

Further to my earlier thread about the South African Military Museum

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=museum

I was also fortunate enough to realise a boyhood dream when I visited the Anglo-Zulu war battlefields in Kwazulu Natal. The guide was fantastic and really set the scene, with direct quotes from the few British survivors and stories passed down the generations from the Zulus. If anyone (esp the Brits amongst us) is going to RSA for any reason I would say that this is a must see - enjoy!

For anyone not aquainted with the story of these wars I will try to give a brief overview!
In 1878 the zulus had a powerful army in their territory - Zululand - which bordered British Territory. This was giving cause for concern so an impossible ultimatum was given to the Zulu Chief - Cetshwayo. He was not having any of it so the British invaded with three columns.
The centre column led by Lord Chelmsford left a small number of men (medics, wounded etc) at Rorkes' Drift before pushing on across the Buffalo River. He halted at Isandlwana and as he wasn't planning on staying there long - did not dig in or prepare defensive positions. He then sent out recce troops leaving 1500 men at Isandlwana. Whilst all these troops were looking for the Zulus, the Zulus happened upon the Brits and massacred them - very few escaped.

The 1st pic is the Buffalo River with Isandlwana in the distance.

[Seigfried]

Hereis the cottage in which I stayed with Isandlwana in the distance!

[Seigfried]

The view from my bed

[Seigfried]

The cairns typically mark the last resting places of small groups of british soldiers

[Seigfried]

Looking across the neck (past the car park) over to the rise where Col Durnford and his men made their last stand.

[Seigfried]

When all was lost, Col Pulleine gave the colours to Lts Melville and Coghill who escaped on horseback only to be killed on the far bank (of the Buffalo River at what came to be known as Fugitives Drift - where the few survivors escaped before making their way back to Rorkes' drift.

Melville and Coghill were both subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross - and here are their graves, still cared for.

[Seigfried]

Melville and Coghill were both subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross - and here are their graves, still cared for.

[Seigfried]

Fugitives Drift - the river was in full swell and was a formidable barrier at the time. Here it is quite low.

[Seigfried]

This stone marks the last stand of Lt Younghusband of 'C' Coy, 1st Bn 24th Foot - this is half way up the mountain.

[Seigfried]

The last British soldier held out for a few hours in a cave with a dwindling supply of ammunition unitl the Zulus finally became fed up with the continuing harassing fire. This is the view that he would have had.

[Seigfried]

A general view of the battlefield - looking south. I am standing on the hill that the zulus swarmed over on the day - crying their battle cry 'Usuthu!'. The R horn went around the back of the mountain to cut off any retreat to the river, the L horn moving left towards Durnfords' position on the small hill to the left of Isandlwana, whilst the head moved directly toward the mountain.

[Seigfried]

Some of the locals - they double up as waiters by night!

[Seigfried]

Rorkes' Drift

This has been razed and rebuilt at least twice on the original spot. The defenders were pinned down by fire from the hill behind the buildings.

[Seigfried]

The memorial at Rorkes' Drift erected by the XXIV (24th) Regiment of Foot with myself looking like a typically sunburned British soldier!

This trip took place at the end of Jan this year so the weather would have been similar in its intensity.

[Chet Sowersby]

John,
Great pictures. I know the story well but this is the first time I've seen pictures (current that is) of this battlefield. Thanks for sharing!

Chet