Latest topics | » Punch's view of Chelmsford's tactics!Today at 11:37 am by lydenburg » Writing adviceTue Mar 26, 2024 2:26 pm by Julian Whybra » Private John Scott 24th Regiment a fugitive at largeWed Mar 20, 2024 12:53 pm by Dash » Sergeant W E Warren RA - VeteranTue Mar 19, 2024 9:32 pm by Matthew Turl » Your favourite line from Zulu or Zulu DawnTue Mar 19, 2024 4:52 pm by Julian Whybra » 100,000 posts!Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:20 pm by Julian Whybra » Zulu Dawn/Zulu - New Immortals Film The Way Forward ?Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:34 pm by jgregory » Badge on 2/60th and 3/60th foreign service helmets Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:05 am by John Young » Corporal James Frowen Williams F Company. Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:08 am by Julian Whybra » British rations and moraleMon Mar 11, 2024 11:05 pm by Julian Whybra » Blue Plaque to James Egan, alias Private HaganMon Mar 11, 2024 9:16 pm by ADMIN» A few questions regarding Rorke's Drift and IsandlwanaWed Mar 06, 2024 9:16 pm by Julian Whybra » William J Hoare 24th Regiment??Sun Mar 03, 2024 7:08 pm by Dash » Swinburn Carbine issue in AZWThu Feb 29, 2024 12:53 pm by Rob D » Australians who went to Zululand and fought in the 1879 war.Thu Feb 29, 2024 8:39 am by John Young » Philip Price Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:55 am by Julian Whybra » Alfred Fairlie Henderson Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:47 am by RoryReynolds » August Hammar Letter Dated 6th Jan 1879Thu Feb 22, 2024 8:34 pm by Stefaan » Bearing The Cross by Ken Blakeson | BBC RADIO DRAMA: Ken Blakeson's play tells the story of the Battle of Rorke's Drift and the effect it had on three of the soldiers who fought in it.Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:57 am by Julian Whybra » Letter of officer during Zulu wars.Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:47 am by Julian Whybra » About the second invasionTue Feb 20, 2024 9:14 pm by 90th » Zulu Festival Brecon July 2024Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:35 pm by John Young » Watford band boys killed at iSandlwanaFri Feb 16, 2024 8:26 am by Julian Whybra » Private J. McCrudden 1/13 Foot Sun Feb 11, 2024 3:10 am by 90th » Death of Michael Jayson (Zulu Dawn)Thu Feb 08, 2024 9:55 pm by ADMIN» The anniversary of 22nd January in 2024Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:51 pm by luke1997 » What was the distance?Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:46 am by Stefaan » Mrs Henry HookTue Feb 06, 2024 3:14 pm by Kenny » "With 6 good riflemen"Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:30 pm by Mr M. Cooper » What was G company supposed to do?Sun Feb 04, 2024 9:31 pm by Julian Whybra » Private 1445 Charles Meates 17th Lancers and his brother William WylieFri Feb 02, 2024 10:07 pm by John Young » South Africa Medal With Clasp To Pvt J. Salter 3/60thFri Feb 02, 2024 3:12 pm by Foody » Weatherleys Border Horse FlagThu Feb 01, 2024 9:40 pm by Herbie » Edward Plantagenet Kemeys-TynteTue Jan 23, 2024 10:06 pm by Edjg » How many started?Tue Jan 23, 2024 10:10 am by Julian Whybra |
March 2024 | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
---|
| | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | Calendar |
|
Top posting users this month | |
Zero tolerance to harassment and bullying. |
Due to recent events on this forum, we have now imposed a zero tolerance to harassment and bullying. All reports will be treated seriously, and will lead to a permanent ban of both membership and IP address.
Any member blatantly corresponding in a deliberate and provoking manner will be removed from the forum as quickly as possible after the event.
If any members are being harassed behind the scenes PM facility by any member/s here at 1879zuluwar.com please do not hesitate to forward the offending text.
We are all here to communicate and enjoy the various discussions and information on the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. Opinions will vary, you will agree and disagree with one another, we will have debates, and so it goes.
There is no excuse for harassment or bullying of anyone by another person on this site.
The above applies to the main frame areas of the forum.
The ring which is the last section on the forum, is available to those members who wish to partake in slagging matches. That section cannot be viewed by guests and only viewed by members that wish to do so. |
Fair Use Notice | Fair use notice.
This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorised by the copyright owner.
We are making such material and images are available in our efforts to advance the understanding of the “Anglo Zulu War of 1879. For educational & recreational purposes.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material, as provided for in UK copyright law. The information is purely for educational and research purposes only. No profit is made from any part of this website.
If you hold the copyright on any material on the site, or material refers to you, and you would like it to be removed, please let us know and we will work with you to reach a resolution. |
| | They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. | |
| | Author | Message |
---|
The Aussie
Posts : 18 Join date : 2011-01-06 Location : Fremantle Australia
| Subject: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:06 am | |
| I was surprised to read in a Wikipedia article that there were 300 armed native levies present that day when Lt Chard elected to stand and fight at Rorkes Drift. In the movie, there appears to be only about twenty. Three hundred more rifles in disciplined fire would have been a huge help. A few questions. Did they all run when the Zulus approached? Did the missionary Witt have anything to do with it as depicted?
|
| | | joe
Posts : 600 Join date : 2010-01-07 Location : UK
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:18 am | |
| Hi Aussie, I beleive that the NNC fled when they saw Hendersons Troopers flee for Helpmekaar after running out of ammunition.
Joe
Last edited by joe on Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
| | | Chelmsfordthescapegoat
Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:25 pm | |
| "On Having already seen the slaughter at Isandlwana, they - and Vause - deserted. Upon seeing their comrades flee, Stephenson's NNC contingent leapt as one over the barricades and followed. Outraged that Stephenson and his European NCOs were following their charges, a few British soldiers fired after them, killing Corporal Bill Anderson."
This from Colour Sgt Bourne's account of action at R.D.
"About 4.15 the sound of firing was heard behind the hill on our front; the Officer returned and reported the enemy close upon us. He also reported that his 100 men would not obey his orders and had ridden off. About the same time another detachment of 100 men belonging to the Natal Native Contingent bolted., including their Officer himself. I am glad to say he was brought back some days later, court-martialled and dismissed from the service. The desertion of these detachments of 200 men appeared at first sight to be a great loss, with only a hundred of us left, but the feeling was that we could not have trusted them, and also that our defences were too small to accomodate them anyhow."
|
| | | The Aussie
Posts : 18 Join date : 2011-01-06 Location : Fremantle Australia
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Sat Jan 08, 2011 12:54 pm | |
| And what of Missionary Witt? Was he really sent off his post? Did he actually have a daughter present? |
| | | Chard1879
Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Sat Jan 08, 2011 2:49 pm | |
| Hi Aussie. Witt, Chaplin Smith & Reynolds Had climbed up to the top of Shiyane Hill to try an observe what could be seen of Isandlwana. While they were up there, the alarm was raised "here they come, black as hell an as thick as grass" It was at this point the Rev Witt rapidly made his way down the hill jumped on a horse and rode of to Helpmarker.
Interestly. Witt was another who claimed to have been at the Battle of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift. See link below
http://1879zuluwar.forumotion.com/t1895-our-good-friend-mr-witt-i-was-there-but-not-really?highlight=Witt
He its by all means a very interesting Character.
|
| | | The Aussie
Posts : 18 Join date : 2011-01-06 Location : Fremantle Australia
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:37 pm | |
| I had a look at Helpmekaar on Google Earth and was surprised to find that there isn't a town there even today. What was at Helpmekaar in 1879 to flee to? |
| | | Brett Hendey
Posts : 269 Join date : 2010-12-02 Location : Kloof, KZN
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:36 am | |
| A chapter by Sheila Henderson in the book 'The Zulu War and the Colony of Natal' includes the following statement:
There was no hamlet at Helpmekaar - just two isolated stone houses and about a mile away a small chapel, erected in 1874 by the Vermaaks.
There was a dramatic change early in 1879 and Henderson wrote as follows:
Tiny Helpmekaar was the focus of military activity in the New Year of 1879. Great serpents of wagon trains toiled up the heights through the mud from Umsinga Valley. Three enormous zinc sheds were filled with reserve stocks of ammunition, biscuits, grain and forage; white and green tents dotted the heights and spilled down over the steep slopes towards Rorke's Drift.
Later the army abandoned Helpmekaar when the second invasion was launched east of Dundee.
Regards Brett |
| | | The Aussie
Posts : 18 Join date : 2011-01-06 Location : Fremantle Australia
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:08 am | |
| Oh good one Brett. That explains it. I noted that virtually everyone on the forum eluded to people fleeing to Helpmekaar when they needed too and there didn't even seem like there was a town there then let alone today.. |
| | | Frank Allewell
Posts : 8572 Join date : 2009-09-21 Age : 77 Location : Cape Town South Africa
| Subject: Re: They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:11 am | |
| Sir Stanley Baker did a brilliant PR job in getting people interested in the AZ Wars, he has however perpetrated a lot of myths, probably more than TWOTS. Hook is a glaring example. The Rev left RD as soon as the truth of the situation became known. I believe his family was on a farm not to distant from RD, it was there that he fled to.
Regards |
| | | | They've 'ooked it Sir, all of 'em. | |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |