Interest In AZW

Hello All,
I am curious to know what sparked the Forum member's interest in the AZW?
As for myself it was being taken by my Father to see Zulu at the cinema as a seven year old.
Then subsequently learning that an ancestor was KIA at Isandlwana years later.



Regards

MH
There is a survey on the forum done some time ago for the question you asked, seems most forum members agree with you. I can reveal that I was asked to look into a few issues regarding a new film about Rorkes Drift, the forum survey was part of that investigation. The concept has been shelved for the time being.

Cheers

Ok happy with that...there's so much on the forum now, working through it is a long,slow, process.

Hi MH,

It seems that the film Zulu is responsible for getting a lot of people interested in the AZW, the film certainly got me interested plus the fact that I only live a few miles away from the grave of John Chard. I often visit his grave and pay my respects. I enjoy reading about the AZW but it is such a massive and complex subject that I'm probably going to be reading about it for the next twenty years. The issue that I have got is trying to balance my interest in the AZW with my other interest, the Napoleonic War. I find that learning/researching the Napoleonic era is so much easier for some reason, its probably down to the fact that a lot of information on the AZW is down to speculation and conjecture (lots of missing pieces) and the Battle of Waterloo for example is so very well documented. In all honesty I think that in order to speculate on the AZW you first need to have all the basics in place, I'm still working on the basics. Perhaps its the fact that the AZW is not an easy subject to learn that drives most people on.

Yes it is certainly not an easy topic. I am interested also in the American Civil War - or is it " the War of Northern aggression?" Which is far more straightforward to study. I must admit to being partial to the conferadcy as they were such fine soldiers ( slavery issue aside).

Hi MH,

The ACW has had more books, films and documentaries made about it than any other war, there is plenty of evidence not to mention the vast amount of photographic evidence. Again, the ACW is interesting but complex it all depends on what your interests are. If you do study the ACW you will be presented with everything from Secession and Politics, Naval war, weapons and uniforms and hundreds of different battles and skirmishes. With the ACW, I found it easier to choose one area of interest and focus on that, I studied ACW Naval Battles (Those sneaky Brits were running blockades) fascinating stuff.

I have had plenty of messages from Re-enactors in the good old US and they are really struggling with the whole Confederate flag issue at the moment, I hope you don't mind but I have included a link to a Black Confederate supporter, he sees himself as Southern and a Confederate.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Dear Waterloo,
Many thanks - yes there was a lot of gun-running from the West of Scotland. A naval historian friend of mine has dived down to shipwrecks only a few miles of the Clyde coast sunk by US Navy ships.

Regards

Mr Allewell, you mentioned a new film about Rorke's Drift, are you in a position to shed any light on that? I would be very interested to know.


Regards

I have watched a few of Mr Allewells vids on Youtube, 6 in total, very useful for those of us who haven't been to Isandlwana yet, the vids include some good shots e.g  'Isandlwana Fugitives Trail 01'. Are there any plans to make more vids?

Waterloo

Hi Guys
I met a South African film maker a few years ago and spoke at length about 'Zulu'. He was a guest of my son and so I loaned him the film to watch. He enjoyed the movie and must have done some research because last year he asked me to meet with some of his 'people' and discuss a way forward. That included doing some research into the repetition of the movie on Tvs around the world and in a minor way a number of surveys, this forum being one of them.
The concept has at present been shelved but could very well be brought out at a later point. One of the points raised against a re make is the iconic status of the original and a number of other such movies with re makes was brought up to emphasize how fraught it is with difficulty to get it accepted.
It was a fun exercise for a while and maybe just maybe ............ depends if we can get enough Welsh men to fill all the major rolls ( what do you reckon Martin? )

Waterloo
I will be going up to Natal later in the year when it heats up a little, this time I will take a go pro and record the whole trail, a solid couple of hours just to bore the hell out of everybody. 90th has just got back from doing the trail, Ive asked him to post some more pics of it so hopefully when he has dried his eyes ( shame about the Aussie ashes bid ) he may do so.

Cheers

Sorry not to sure if your aware but there is an interactive app and tour of iSandlwana available
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

No I wasn't aware of App but will be downloading it very soon - thanks!

Is really very good.

Hi Frank
I've sent on my photographic offerings to Graves1879 featuring the Younghusband area , once he's able to post those I'll look at sending what I have taken on the Fugitives Trail . The Ashes , what are they ?? .
90th .

Hi 90th
Yep you and me both suffering, the rise of the Northern Hemisphere Im afraid. Weve got NZ v Proteas next week and Im making no predictions at all. Look forward to seeing the photos.
Cheers Mate

Frank,
Like you and 90th, I'm stunned by recent events. I went into the battle with head held high and now have my tail between my legs. Also stunned to see the Wobblies beat the Allblacks, and as 90th said it doesn't really mean a great deal to me. Maybe some pride can be wrenched out of the 5th Test.
Nitro450.

Hi Frank
Are you playing a one off Test or series against the Kiwis , and is it in NZ ? . I'm hoping its a three Test series , I think if it's in NZ they may get away with you ! , you are always tough to beat at home . except when we come over of coarse ! . I'm not sure how many pics I took of the Fugitives Trail , I think I took more last year when it was my first time there . I'll send this Trip's pics once Andy catches up and posts the Younghusband area's photo's . I sent you what I took last year I think from the Fugitives Trail from memory , or was it only the pics from the start of the trail ? . Looking forward to your battle with the Kiwi's .
Yes Nitro , let's hope we can go down 3- 2 and not 4-1 ! , although my mate Martin , and several others will be hoping like hell for another English victory !
90th

Hi 90th
T20 and ODi then the same against India, next test series is November India in SA after that its England in SA. Lots to look forward to locally.

Well, England can afford to try out some fresh players now that the Ashes are safe, so the ozzies might get a win to make it 3-2, however, if Cook wants to try to make it 4-1 and England don't change the team, then it will be a very interesting match at the Kennington Oval, especially if Jimmy plays. I would not play Jimmy, I would give him time to get the injury properly mended before taking chances, but we will see when the time comes.

The ACW is very interesting, Lee and the reb's were getting the best of most of the battles before the tide turned at Gettysburg, thanks to Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine holding Little Round Top. It might have been a different story if Union General Gouverneur Kemble Warren had not noticed a blind spot and had it filled before the reb's got there.

I have a copy of the flag of the 20th Maine, and also a copy of Colonel Chamberlains Kepi with silver '20' inside the gold embroidered bugle horn, I also have a copy of a Union Cavalry guidon and a badge of the crossed sabres of the 7th US Cavalry, as well as a copy of the Union Flag of Fort Sumter, I also have an ACW campaign medal.

A lot of people may not know it, but (the by then) General Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain had his men lined up to attention when he accepted the surrender of the reb's at Appomattox, there was no gloating or insulting allowed, the reb's were given all respect, and Union General Grant was very lenient with Lee and the reb's.

The American Civil War is a very interesting subject, well worth a good read.

Have a look at this link ref Gettysburg very informative.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Mr Cooper and Martini Henry.


You should take a look at the art work of Don Troiani  in his book called (Civil War) every piece of his artwork is historically accurate. I would also recommend a book that was recommended to me by some of my Confederate friends, its written by Jack Coggins and its called 'Arms and Equipment of the Civil War', Coggins is considered one of the leading authorities on Civil War weapons and Equipment.

A good intro in to the ACW is John MacDonald's Great Battles of the Civil War.

Many thanks

Like others the film Zulu and Zulu Dawn sparked my interest. From there I started to read, watch and collect all things related to the Zulu Wars.

I would love to start a collection I utterly lack the knowledge or the money to begin

Martini-Henry wrote:

I would love to start a collection I  utterly lack the knowledge or the money to begin

Start small and build up over time is the best advice I could give you.
I have now converted some space in my garage to an office which has been kitted out to resemble a Victorian office/room with my collection. It lets me have a place to potter and store my bits & bobs.

Have you any links for reputable websites?