Forts Of the Zulu War

Posts : 6 Join date : 2023-07-17

Hi All, thanks for the add. I am currently doing my Doctorate on the Defensible Architecture of KwaZulu Natal 1838-1914 which obviously covers the Anglo-Zulu war. If anyone has Photos, Plans or any other information you think might be of interest I would be very grateful for the assistance. One of my mentors is well known Prof. John Laband and I obviously have all his publications. Bill

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Tue Jul 18, 2023 10:08 am

Vonwil
You should look at Field guide to the War in Zululand and the Defence of Natal 1879 by John Laband and Paul Thompson (Univ. of Natal, PMB, 1983). It is a veritable 'dictionary' of plans, fortifications, statistics, sketches and maps and information, all by sector.

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Tue Jul 18, 2023 11:40 am

Vonwil,

Lieutenant Reginald Da Costa Porter, Royal Engineers, produced a professional paper on the fortifications and laagers of the Zulu War, which was produced in 1880 by the Royal Engineers Institute, that might be worth consulting.

I have a number of contemporary photographs of some of the well-known fortifications from 1879, many of which have been reproduced in various modern works. I don’t know if they would help?

The Narrative of Field Operations… obviously contains a number of diagrams.

JY

Posts : 6 Join date : 2023-07-17

Hi Julian, thanks - I have this as my Professor is John Laband :-)

Hi John - Thanks for that lead - I will definitely follow up on Lt. Porter's paper. Your photographs would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Tue Jul 18, 2023 2:40 pm

Vonwil
There are also five chapters in Kingdom and Colony at War (Laband and Thompson) on defence arrangements for particular towns/areas - I suspect you may have this too.
May I ask where you are studying for your doctorate?

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Tue Jul 18, 2023 3:36 pm

vonwil
A last thought - there are three or four contemporary 'chapters' in The Zulu War and the Colony of Natal ed. by Chadwick and Hobson (Mandini, 1979) which might be of interest.

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Tue Jul 18, 2023 5:22 pm

Vonwil,

Here’s a start:
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Fort Pearson, from the upper cemetery.
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Fort Pearson, with a Line Infantry band.
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Fortified position, Helpmekaar.
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Fort Jones, Dundee, often confused with Helpmekaar, due to the reuse of the sheds.
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Rorke’s Drift, fortified.
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The loopholed & fortified storehouse, Rorke’s Drift.
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Fort Melvill, also known as Fort Revenge, Mzinyathi River, Rorke’s Drift.
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Part of the military laager, Newcastle.

All photographs above are part of the John Young Collection.

I hope they are of some use?

JY

Posts : 3473 Join date : 2021-01-04

Ian Knights 2005 Osprey book
British Fortifications in Zululand ISBN 1841768294 is good

There is also a lot of information about the coastal forts in Royal Engineer Major Warren Wynne's diary
'A Widow-Making War' edited by Howard Whithouse. ISBN 0952148803

Kate Very Happy

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Wed Jul 19, 2023 1:41 pm

Historic Natal and Zululand, H. C. Lugg, also has many snippets of information regarding the defence and fortifications of Natal that you can't find anywhere else.

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Wed Jul 19, 2023 2:38 pm

Vonwil,

Some more examples:
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Fort Pearson, photographed from the Zulu bank.
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Fort Pearson, from the D’Urban Road.
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Fort Tenedos.
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Fort Chelmsford.
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Fort Chelmsford.
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Thring’s Post.
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The barricade at D’Urban harbour.

Again all photographs from the John Young Collection.

JY

Posts : 6 Join date : 2023-07-17

Julian Whybra wrote:: Vonwil
There are also five chapters in Kingdom and Colony at War (Laband and Thompson) on defence arrangements for particular towns/areas - I suspect you may have this too.
May I ask where you are studying for your doctorate?

I am in Kwazulu Natal and am doing it through UKZN.

Posts : 6 Join date : 2023-07-17

Thanks so much guys (Sorry - I'm a Facebook addict, this form of communication is strange to me.) I am going up to Hluhluwe on Wednesday - hope to visit severals forts on the way :-)

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Mon Aug 07, 2023 6:22 pm

Have a good trip!

Subject: Forts of the ZW Fri Aug 18, 2023 4:49 am

Hi JY
I wish the Forts looked like they were in 1879 ! , some of them are damned near impossible to make out !! .
90th Sad

Subject: Re: Forts Of the Zulu War Fri Aug 18, 2023 8:09 am

gardner1879 wrote:: Ian Knights 2005 Osprey book
British Fortifications in Zululand ISBN 1841768294 is good

There is also a lot of information about the coastal forts in Royal Engineer Major Warren Wynne's diary
'A Widow-Making War' edited by Howard Whithouse. ISBN 0952148803

Kate

Thanks Kate I just ordered both of them

Subject: Forts of the ZW Fri Aug 18, 2023 3:52 pm

Hi Aussie Inkosi
I can't believe you didn't have those 2 books !? Very Happy

90th

Posts : 6 Join date : 2023-07-17

Hi Aussie, I have Ian Knights one - exactly the sort of thing I will be doing! But thanks for reminding me about Warren Wynne's one. My fort hunting with a grumpy wife in tow was a disaster - I need mates who don't mind roughing it a bit - next time :-)

Subject: Forts of the ZW Mon Aug 21, 2023 1:24 pm

Hi Vonwil ( Bill )
Whereabouts do you live in SA ? , a mate of mine who's also a guide knows the locations of many of the Forts we've been to from the Zulu War .
Cheers 90th Salute

Posts : 6 Join date : 2023-07-17

Hi 90th - I live in Kloof outside Durban. Thanks - any help will be welcome! Bill

Subject: Forts of the ZW Thu Aug 24, 2023 12:18 pm

Hi Vonwil ( Bill )
Have sent you a pm ( private message )
90th

» British Forts Zulu war
» GPS Coordinates for Zululand Forts or II Division/Flying Column camps?
» OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE ZULU WAR. NARRATIVE OF THE FIELD OPERATIONS CONNECTED WITH THE ZULU WAR OF 1879