Blowing up the cave.

Can anyone tell me about the incident? Where the British blew up some caves that contained some Zulu’s who refused to come out. The reason I ask is i was wondering if the caves collapsed blocking the entrance. And could they still block, or have they been re-opened since the incident.

hi john.
I have posted this account on the forum , but not sure where it is . :lol!:
cheers 90th.

Maybe under the campaign medal link , as I think one of the soldiers who died
in the skirmish ( there were 2 ) his medal had come up for sale,

John. I believe there were incidents, when the British lit fires in front of caves to smoke the Zulus out. But not sure about blowing them up.

hi john.
The following is from " COMPANION TO THE ANGLO ZULU WAR by I. KNIGHT.
The Ntombe caves saw the last shots of the zulu war , although Mbilini himself was killed in a skirmish
on 5th April , both his followers and Manyanyoba"s had refused to surrender to the british after the battle
of Ulundi on the 4th JULY . On 5th Sept british troops under COL Baker Russell began several days of
concerted attempts to drive the zulus out of the Ntombe strongholds . On the 8th sept two N.C.O "S of
the 4th Regt were killed in skirmishing outside Mbilini"s caves and in retaliation the british decided to
seal up the mouths of the caves with gun -cotton , despite the fact that there were still some 30 people
sheltering inside . One report " The engineers , under Capt Courtney were employed blasting the rocks,
but , I believe their efforts were fruitless , at least as far as the outcasts were concerned, for , despite the
incessant shocks from the concussion of the slabs of dynamite , which were employed on the occassion, we
were totally unsuccessful in driving them from their location.
The Engineers eventually succeeded in sealing the caves , none of the zulus emerged alive , and upon this
rather inglorious note the slaughter of the anglo zulu war ended.

Here are the names of those killed in this skirmish. SGT-MAJOR .E. SMITH 1644 2/ 4TH FOOT
CORP. I. POMFRET 910 2/4TH FOOT. Smith"s medal has been for sale on ebay , I think , on two
occassions . The names are from " CASUALTY ROLL FOR THE ZULU AND BASUTO WARS STH AFRICA
1877-79, by I.T. TAVENDER.
cheers 90th.

hi john.
The following is from " COMPANION TO THE ANGLO ZULU WAR by I. KNIGHT.
The Ntombe caves saw the last shots of the zulu war , although Mbilini himself was killed in a skirmish
on 5th April , both his followers and Manyanyoba"s had refused to surrender to the british after the battle
of Ulundi on the 4th JULY . On 5th Sept british troops under COL Baker Russell began several days of
concerted attempts to drive the zulus out of the Ntombe strongholds . On the 8th sept two N.C.O "S of
the 4th Regt were killed in skirmishing outside Mbilini"s caves and in retaliation the british decided to
seal up the mouths of the caves with gun -cotton , despite the fact that there were still some 30 people
sheltering inside . One report " The engineers , under Capt Courtney were employed blasting the rocks,
but , I believe their efforts were fruitless , at least as far as the outcasts were concerned, for , despite the
incessant shocks from the concussion of the slabs of dynamite , which were employed on the occassion, we
were totally unsuccessful in driving them from their location.
The Engineers eventually succeeded in sealing the caves , none of the zulus emerged alive , and upon this
rather inglorious note the slaughter of the anglo zulu war ended.

Here are the names of those killed in this skirmish. SGT-MAJOR .E. SMITH 1644 2/ 4TH FOOT
CORP. I. POMFRET 910 2/4TH FOOT. Smith"s medal has been for sale on ebay , I think , on two
occassions . The names are from " CASUALTY ROLL FOR THE ZULU AND BASUTO WARS STH AFRICA
1877-79, by I.T. TAVENDER.
cheers 90th.

90th. I don't surppose it mentions if the cave are still sealed up today does it.
Could be some interesting items in side.

hi littlehand.
Yes , the cave is still sealed with boulders blocking the entrance , it would be a treasure trove ( historical )
Skeletons , munitions , weapons and all manner of articles from that year , more than likely guns and
bayonets and many other items taken from the soldiers killed at the Ntombe River Massacre.
cheers 90th.