Isandlwana

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D

Doug

Grumpy Old Man
Nothing to do with motorcycles,although it was a different type of triumph...........
Today is the 130th anniversary of the battle of Isandlwana,22nd Jan 1879. Up untill then,it was the greatest ass-kicking the British army had ever had.(exept maybe Hastings,1066) The British invasion force under Lord Chelmsford(Titled idiot) was simply out-manouvered and led on a wild goose chase by decoys whilst the main Zulu army wiped out the camp. In fairness,the 1400 or so men of the British army who died put up a heroic fight,earning a lasting respect handed down in Zulu oral history but were doomed by incompetent commanders.
History portrays this as a British defeat,but perhaps it should be seen as a Zulu victory,not without parrallels to Custers debacle at Little Big Horn.
Interesting co-incedence,there was an eclipse that day,and we're due for one this week..............
 
There is a very interesting programme called "Battlefield Detectives" which visited the site, examined all the military artefact's and where they were found and came up with some interesting facts. Apart from the poor leadership or should we say lack of it. The British Lines of fire were spread over too large an area leaving gaps in their arcs of fire, alot of the cartridge cases examined were found to be of an inferior quality (nothing new there then) which would produce rounds fired exiting the muzzle of the rifle at only half its intended velocity or misfires.
Poor Tommy Atkins with poor leaders who grossly underestimated the fighting prowess of their enemies coupled with inferior equipment never really had a chance.

No Rorke's Drift , that's a different story :y115:
 
Juluka and Jonny Clegg (SA band and musician) song entitled "IMPI" tells a little story. If you go to Youtube and search Juluka, you'll find this song. The chorus is done in Zulu and in true Zulu tradition right down to the cowhide drums.

One of the best story tellers of the history of the British & Zulus in the Natal mid-lands was David Rattray. Unfortunately he was murdered by some of his farm workers a couple of years ago but if you're able to get hold of one of his dvd's, books or cassette tapes, it's more than worth it. When he tells the story, you're right there in the heat of the battle!

Chorus:
Impi! wo 'nans' impi iyeza
Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?

(Warrior! Come gather you warriors. Who can touch the great lions?)

All along the river Chelmsford's army lay asleep
Come to crush the Children of Mageba
Come to exact the Realm's price for peace
And in the morning as they saddled up to ride
Their eyes shone with the fire and the steel
The General told them of the task that lay ahead
To bring the People of the Sky to heel

Mud and sweat on polished leather
Warm rain seeping to the bone
They rode through the season's wet weather
Straining for a glimpse of the foe
Hopeless battalion destined to die
Broken by the Benders of Kings
Vainglorious General and Victorian pride
Would cost him and eight hundred men their lives

They came to the side of the mountain
Scouts rode out to spy the land
Even as the Realm's soldiers lay resting
Mageba's forces were at hand
And by the evening the vultures were wheeling
Above the ruins where the fallen lay
An ancient song as old as the ashes
Echoed as Mageba's warriors marched away
 
I,ve watched a documentary by David Rattay, they were very interesting and he came to a similar conclusion to the "Battlefield Detectives" . Due to the Lord Chelmsfords incompetence, the siting of his camp in a large open plain and the positioning of his lines of defence, the British Forces were a perfect target for the Zulu famous Buffalo Horns tactics.
 
I was lucky enough to meet Daid Rattray some years ago,amazing man with a passion for and an incredible knowledge and understanding of Zulu history. One of his most fascinating anecdotes goes back many years when a very old Zulu induna agreed to show him a cave where a lot of "English things" had lain since"his fathers time". After the battle,the remains of the camp were,of course,looted by the winners. The booty would have included stuff like the regimental silver and personal effects,medals etc. of the men,none of which has ever been found.
David was held in high regard and respect by the local people and this was obviously a great honour.
At the appointed time,early the next morning,the induna arrived,but David had made the cardinal mistake of bringing a journalist friend along.The old man took one look at him and with a look of regret at this percieved breach of trust,turned and walked away into the morning mist.
All further enquiries into the matter were met with the classic African defence,the blank stare.
The most insiteful work on the subject is David Rattray's set of C.D.'s "The Day of the Dark Moon" narrated by himself. A visit to the battlefield is a must for history fans,do it soon before it gets too touristified. If your budget runs to it,stay at the Rattray family's Fugitives Drift Lodge and take thier guided tours to both battlefields.
 
The most insiteful work on the subject is David Rattray's set of C.D.'s "The Day of the Dark Moon" narrated by himself. A visit to the battlefield is a must for history fans,do it soon before it gets too touristified. If your budget runs to it,stay at the Rattray family's Fugitives Drift Lodge and take thier guided tours to both battlefields. Absolutely Doug!

When he describes the British coming to the edge of the gorge and looking down to what must have been a horrifying sight to them. Thousands upon thousands of Zulu regiments, in perfect military precision, sitting down there, quiet as the morning mist, cowhide shields and spears in hand. And for all the months it took to gather the regiments, no-one knew they were there. But only David can tell that story. Makes the hair stand on end. :y115: Rourkes Drift Lodge is where David was murdered but his sons have taken it over and I hear they're doing an excellent job. Taking lessons from the last of the Induna's who were so close to David. I was born in "Zululand" so the Zulu history is very close to me. First song I ever learnt before I started school was a Zulu lullaby and a few other Zulu songs my mother wasn't too pleased about.

It was quite difficult to get the CD's for a while but I believe the sons have had another consignment made. Proceeds now go to the David Rattray Trust.
 

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