Isandlwana solving the enigma

Just had an e-mail from Aulette:-

Hi Kate,
Apologies for the delay and inconvenience.
The parcel was sent from our warehouse to the post office on 10th February 2022 to be sent by international airmail. Please note the response from our postal services.

"All items will unfortunately be delayed by up to six weeks due to backlogs and limited flights leaving and entering the country of destination. At the moment there is no scan of your items in the country of destination as yet."

Regards,
Aulette

Ordered on the 1st February, looks like they haven't even got to the UK yet

In answer to your question Kate, yes it was the Royal Mail. Arrived Thursday 17th when no-one was in obviously, so picked it up on the Friday. No idea why mine arrived so quickly.

Not sure of the costs to companies for using Fed Ex but I ordered a book from Chapter 1 in Johannesburg on the 11th February paid on the 16th sent on the 17th and arrived 24th Postage £13.50

Thanks Bill

The latest communication from my order received this morning: We are sorry for this unexpected delay. The publisher has not provided an updated publication date and there appears to be some issue with the supply of this item in the UK.

Unfortunately, this means we are currently unable to let you know a revised dispatch date or to guarantee that we will be able to source the item. Please reply to let us know if you would like us to cancel your pre-order for you in the light of this information?

Anyone else got any ideas on UK supplies?

Tim I was told by Aulette that the books were in the Uk, Sorry Mate its all I can add, if it was up to me I would be giving them away for free.
Frank

Anyone have info on the most affordable distribution to the US? I suspect the UK distributor?

Weekend Warrior
From what I can ascertain the UK distributor is having a nightmare with distribution , you may as well wait until you get
to SA .
90th

It will be alot cheaper from UK Mike. Post from SA is horrendous.

Gary
Just got the news on Shane Warne's passing, really sorry about that mate, one of the greatest and part of probably the best Aussie team that ever played.
Frank
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Hi Frank
Bloody hard to digest , and a day after Rod Marsh ..... truly UNBELIEVABLE !
90th

Ive just received this from a forum member.
As promised, please find the link below for ordering the book. It is being delivered to our warehouse today so should be available for delivery soon.

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Frank
Just ordered mine following an e-mailed notification!

Yes, same here. I've just received an e mail notification from Aulette.

The latest from my order received today: Hello there,

Thank you for your reply.

We'll leave this order open for you and will notify you of dispatch via an automated email.

Our apologies again for the delay. Do let us know if we can be of any further assistance to you.

A rather nice comment received today.


Dear Mr Allewell.

I have just finished, ( or should that be poring over repeatedly?) your absolutely intriguing book, of which I received copy number 20. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed its fresh take on many of the issues that have perplexed me over the years, relating to this battle. As a very amateur military history enthusiast, I have tried to read as widely as possible, but so many works simply trot out the established line even when that line just doesn’t seem to make sense. I will be making another trip up to that neck of the woods as soon as I can, with your book firmly in tow, so as to place matters on the ground.

My sincere congratulations to you on your achievement and thanks for challenging the status quo. Do you intend writing any further works along these lines?

Thanks for hours of enjoyment and challenge.

Very best wishes.

Well-deserved, I'm sure. Still waiting for mine to arrive!

For those still waiting here in Blighty for the hardback. Mine arrived yesterday afternoon so, along with Bill's above, they do seem to be trickling through.
First impressions are really good and I'm glad I waited for the hardback.
There are some beautiful photographs (which just make you want to get back out there), rare maps and I like the colourful lay out. The complete survivors narratives in the back, some of which have not been seen before, will be really useful for research purposes.
Well done Frank.    I look forward to a quiet evening in the parlour by the fire to give the book the attention it deserves.
Kate

Great news, I am looking forward in getting my one in the mail.

Enjoy Kate

INKY

Like Diana Ross “I’m Still Waiting”…

JY

I have been e-mailed that mine will be here on Friday...

Just received my e mail from the distributor - on its way via Royal Mail today with a tracking number so here's hoping!

I enquired today and found it was posted similarly ten days ago and still hasn't arrived. Helpfully, if it's not here within 2 days, they'll send out a replacement!

Julian Whybra wrote:

I enquired today and found it was posted similarly ten days ago and still hasn't arrived.  Helpfully, if it's not here within 2 days, they'll send out a replacement!

Got to love it lets see what happens then - it's a journey for sure!

My copy turned up yesterday via a book depository order from e bay - cheaper than the authorised distributor and with free postage - hopefully can do some delving over the weekend -- we get there in the end

My Copy arrived yesterday as well

Want to add my name to the long list of those congratulating Frank.  Ordered my copy just today so won't be getting it for about two weeks, I fear, but it's definitely something to look forward to with great excitement and anticipation... (Said it was the last copy they had in stock, btw. World of Books)

Update from INKY

I contacted Aulette to find out where my book is and after much time we found out 

That it took 6 week to get to their Wearhouse to the Jo berg airport so it this rate I may get it in the next month or two

Inky its a long way for the bloke with the forked stick to run hey.

I am pleased to say that my order was delivered this morning (April Fools' Day!!!) It is beautifully produced. I look forward to reading it.

Frank I finally got my copy in the mail today 

Inky I hope the wait was worth it. Look forward to hearing your opinion.

Frank

Frank

Give me till after Easter and I will give you my thoughts.

I began reading Frank's book this evening only to find that the book is damaged inside with some pages 'glued' and crimped together at the spine. Opening it caused pages to tear or be damaged. Pages will eventually fall out.
I've decided to send it back and get a replacement. I'll let you know what transpires but do check your own copy especially if you're giving it as a gift and have not inspected it yet.
Ho hum!

Ongoing saga: one of you has e-mailed me to say that my replacement book has arrived at his address (in the USA) with my invoice attached.   Oh, what tangled a web we weave...

Haven't received mine yet, Julian, and I know that we both ordered on the same day! Central books informed me over a week ago that it's in the post. I can see that I need to get back onto them and enquire if they know in which country. Lol.

Following a phone call this morning Central Books will now try to send me a replacement copy at the third attempt.

At last, the book has arrived and in one piece!

After all the trials and tribulations I hope it doesn't dissapoint.

Frank
I'm sure it will not. I'll certainly post a review here.
INCREDIBLY, another copy of your book has just been delivered here.
so far that's one damaged copy, one gone to the U.S., a copy here yesterday, and today another one.
If your first edition has sold out, the reason is that that they are ALL here!!!
Julian

Julian,

You obviously failed to notice that the publication is sponsored by London Buses!  

JY

JY

Looking at the maps and with all the walking you have done over there Frank it makes you the ideal routemaster.
At least the book will get a fare review.

I would be quite content to prove:
'NIHIL NOVUM SUB SOLE'
wrong.

I’ve had a brief look at the content of Frank's book – in fact, I’ve skim-read it all, but looked at only some paragraphs in depth that particularly interest me.
My initial impression is the layout is excellent – I’m quite jealous in fact.  Whoever did that, did an excellent job.
The content is very good indeed.  I can’t wait to read the whole thing through in depth - the rest of my life is on hold.  What I have looked for and found, are justifications, with provenance provided, for any controversial positions taken and where there is still doubt, the nature of the uncertainty was made clear.  No-one will be able to accuse Frank of being ahistorical (except those who have little idea of historicity and its importance). I won't reveal any of the content here. That would not be fair. The book is worth buying; I'll leave it at that.
There are a large number of typographical spelling errors and typesetting errors - for example, sources have been misplaced (like for Taylor’s letter), have been confused (like Davies’s account), a map caption transposed, and photos evidently excised.  Editing and proof-reading are difficult and infuriating things to manage and are not necessarily within an author's control – I KNOW this from my own experience.  Frank must feel annoyed by these.
These minor criticisms are merely cosmetic and do not distract from the narrative.  Neither do they impinge on the work's historical analysis and research which cannot be faulted.  It would be brave, foolhardy even, to attempt to do so.  So well done to you Frank!

Costly, I have a hardback edition of the book coming from South Africa. Looking forward to reading this book. Mainly checking on the position of the rocket battery, so many have it in so many different positions when it was overrun.

I do think this book will be worth the cost.

Tellgryn have attempted to show the route the RB took and their points of deviation and the area they were attacked. I hope the maps and photos help to solve the mystery for you.

Regards

Frank

Hi Frank,
My question is when they dug the battlefield, did they find anything related to the rocket battery? It is a huge area people said the battery was in from one side of hill to the other. Were there any battlefield finds that could help place the Battery?

Tellgryn
As far as I'm aware there has never been an Authorised ' Dig ' regarding the rocket battery , as you said there are two places where the record has it being situated and overrun , 1 / The area known as the Notch ...many people nowadays believe this was never the true position , the newer accepted position is in the general area of where Frank has put it . There's only ever been one Official dig at Isandlwana and that was back in 2000 , it was also a Minor ' Dig ' only several small areas from within the camp area , and an area from where the firing line was situated , the other area was where the Artillery came to grief on the Fugitives Trail .
90th

Hi Tellgrn
There are a couple of old news paper reports that help with the placing and a number of old maps.
A few years ago I was involved in a metal detector search over the plateau and down the area I believe the RB action took place.
Its outside the battlefield protected area but stii no digging was done.
Four areas of 'pings' were found on the plateau around 250 metres apart and a high concentration in an area slightly to the west of the suspected RB demise area.
Two extremely strong signals were recorded along the actual ridge line above the suspect area.
Again no digging took place

In the early 1900's unexploded rockets were discovered in the Donga area

“Mr. Parr, however, the owner of the store where we
slept gave me a number of cartridge cases and the
head of one of Durnford’s rockets. He has another
rocket dug out of the bank of a donga near the store,
which is still unexploded.”
Regards
Frank

Frank,

You neglected to mention (here, not in the book) the recipient of the rocket remains. That being one (sir) Rider Haggard. I think you have forever made your name as an AZW historian with the original work you've done on the rocket battery. BTW, in a book filled with subtleties the standout virtue of the book is the quality of your maps. As they say in the Royal Navy, "Bravo Zulu"!