Zulu Dawn. British soldiers in the hills

Subject: Zulu Dawn. British soldiers in the hills Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:48 pm

Hi. Well Zulu Dawn as just ended. I notice in the film, that there were some British soldiers quite high up in the hills not in any kind of formation, but just sitting down taking shots at the Zulu's which appeared to be to far off to do any damage.
I was hoping someone could tell be which battalion did they belong to. Its the part when the British are falling back on the camp. As I say they, seemed to be individual soldiers high up in the hills. None of the shoulder to shoulder or back to back.

Subject: zulu dawn Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:36 am

hi littlehand .
My guess its supposed to be maybe Cavaye or Mostyn even Younghusband . But not set out as
they would have been at the actual battle, hope this helps.
cheers 90th.

Subject: Re: Zulu Dawn. British soldiers in the hills Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:06 pm

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Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

The positioning of the men in the footage, whilst being totally out of scale would represent the position of Younghusbands C company in the real topography. C company made there way to the spur by being pushed oblique and upwards across the lower slops of Isandlwana. Once they arrived at the spur they would have a grandstand view of everying else going on. To thier immediate right the mountain would have doubled back on itself, the area is very defendable and the boulders are quite large here.

Effectively thier right is the reverse face of Isandlwana, the area defended by Shepstone.

Today the higher scree slopes are dotted with cairns, with the large cairn to C company dominating the spur

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

If more compaines had made their way to this position,I take it the Battle could have been prolonged by some hours,or until reinfocements arrived. Was its Younghusbands decision to make for that particular area, in the hope that other's may follow. In the end it was only down to the fact that Younghusband and the men under him charge down in to the Zulu's. thus killing themselves. That then put pay to the men in this area.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Younghusband has no-where else to go but back along the base of the mountain and upwards as it afforded a clear path of retreat without the nightmare of the standing tents.

De-facto it gave him a closed flank, but then pinned them onto the spur in a very good defensive position, however steep the face of the slope is toward the main fighting on the Nek , the slope (to the left) they ascended is more gentle, Without the potential re-supply of ammunition it was only a matter of time.

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