Latest topics | » Anstey's body Today at 10:09 am by SRB1965 » Henry Turner Today at 9:48 am by Kenny » Lt Edgar Anstey - Campaign medal given to Brecon Museum 13/11/11 Today at 12:01 am by John Young » Intombi - Booth's retreat. Yesterday at 2:46 pm by SRB1965 » Wanted - Looking For Zulu Items Thu Sep 21, 2023 1:57 pm by ben2000 » Calverley. Thu Sep 21, 2023 10:44 am by t_p_sheahan@yahoo.co.uk » Lieut. Walsh and the Siphezi patrol of the 21st January Tue Sep 19, 2023 2:32 pm by aussie inkosi » Welsh victory. Mon Sep 18, 2023 4:56 pm by Julian Whybra » A Stunning Zulu Victory Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:34 pm by SRB1965 » Natal Native Infantry flags Sat Sep 16, 2023 9:32 pm by SRB1965 » Zulu hairstyles  Fri Sep 15, 2023 5:24 pm by Frank Allewell » Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Wed Sep 13, 2023 9:13 pm by Petty Officer Tom » Advance Notice of a Fundraising Event, Brecon. Wed Sep 13, 2023 3:08 pm by John Young » Lieutenant Charles Sim Brembridge Parsons N Battery 5th Brigade Royal Artillery Wed Sep 13, 2023 6:54 am by 90th » Sergeant Major 765 William Edmund Hogan 2/24th Regiment Wed Sep 13, 2023 6:44 am by 90th » Mr W.C. Burns A 'Unique' career Wed Sep 13, 2023 6:40 am by 90th » Lieut W.F.D. Cochrane's full account of the battle of iSandlwana Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:31 pm by Julian Whybra » Zulu War to Boer war. Those who served in both. Tue Sep 12, 2023 11:04 am by John Young » Private Robert Alexander Smyth Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:02 am by gardner1879 » Bertie Hughes drowned at the Manzimnyama River Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:47 am by gardner1879 » Inspector Hannen. Police inspector committed suicide. Served with Buller Mon Sep 11, 2023 10:40 pm by Eddie » Trooper John William Pleydell NMP killed at iSandlwana death notice Mon Sep 11, 2023 10:32 pm by gardner1879 » The road to Rorke's Drift by Mr A.J. Secretair / Secretan Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:34 pm by gardner1879 » Captain Henry Moore 2/4th (The Kings Own Royal) Regiment Imperial Mounted Infantry Schermbrucker's account at Rabie's Farm Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:25 pm by John Young » An extract from a letter by a 94th Regiment officer from Ilfracombe Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:24 pm by gardner1879 » Brigadier-General Patrick Douglas Jeffreys, C.B., O.B.E. Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:54 pm by ADMIN» Private 25B/293 J H Meredith 1/24th Regiment kia iSandlwana Mon Sep 11, 2023 12:30 pm by sfa » Lord Chelmsford - A Victorian Hero Mon Sep 11, 2023 12:22 pm by gardner1879 » Brevet Major Ronald Bertram Lane Rifle Brigade Mon Sep 11, 2023 12:20 pm by gardner1879 » Sergeant 2340 James Howes 2/24th Regiment Mon Sep 11, 2023 12:10 pm by gardner1879 » T 2393 Private H. Barber A.S. Corps Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:00 am by Australian Guy » Joseph Seal / Seale fought at Ulundi Mon Sep 11, 2023 3:21 am by 90th » Corporal 1088 Frederick George Briggs 94th Regiment Sun Sep 10, 2023 11:58 pm by gardner1879 » Sergeant 2033 Joe Ollerenshaw 1/13th Regiment police officer Sun Sep 10, 2023 11:51 pm by gardner1879 » Mr Lee fought at iSandlwana and Majuba? New Zealand military authorities Sun Sep 10, 2023 11:37 pm by gardner1879 |
Top posting users this month | |
Fair Use Notice | Fair use notice.
This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorised by the copyright owner.
We are making such material and images are available in our efforts to advance the understanding of the “Anglo Zulu War of 1879. For educational & recreational purposes.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material, as provided for in UK copyright law. The information is purely for educational and research purposes only. No profit is made from any part of this website.
If you hold the copyright on any material on the site, or material refers to you, and you would like it to be removed, please let us know and we will work with you to reach a resolution. |
| | British Morale during the Zulu War | |
| | Author | Message |
---|
joe

Posts : 600 Join date : 2010-01-07 Location : UK
 | Subject: British Morale during the Zulu War Wed Jul 21, 2010 2:23 pm | |
| Hello, I dont think this point has been discussed before, What was the average British Soldiers morale like during the battles and throughout the war?
Were the British confident they were going to beat the Zulus?
Were the British Soldiers scared of the Zulus?
Was the Martini Henry rifle liked by the men and did they beleive it was capable of easily beating any foe?
I would presume any confidence they had disintegrated after the outcome of Isandlwana. If any views or points could be added, im sure this could be an interesting discussion.
thanks Joe |
|  | | 90th

Posts : 10799 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 67 Location : Melbourne, Australia
 | Subject: british morale Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:15 pm | |
| hi joe. I'll start the ball rolling , I think Morale would have been very high when the invasion began but soon changed after 22nd Jan !. The british thought they would have little trouble I think against the zulu or the people who didnt know the zulu , those in the ' know ' may have had some misgivings . I dont think they were scared initially more than likely wanting to come to grips with the zulu . After Isandlwana things would have been completely differant . I think the M.H would have been very popular as it would have been an improvement on what they were issued earlier . No doubt they thought they had the weapon to inflict a massive defeat on the zulu people . Nothing would have sapped morale more than the rain and the trying conditions they had to put up with during the 2nd invasion . Many letters reflect this view in many publications . hope this helps. cheers 90th. |
|  | | joe

Posts : 600 Join date : 2010-01-07 Location : UK
 | Subject: Re: British Morale during the Zulu War Wed Jul 21, 2010 3:31 pm | |
| Hi Which weapon were the British Army issued with before the MH, was it the Snider?
I suppose most british soldiers (Privates) wouldnt know much about the Zulu army and would just be told from their commanders that the Zulus were a native tribe with primitive weapons (which actually was the case) they wouldnt know of their tactics.
thanks joe |
|  | | Myer's Drifter
Posts : 9 Join date : 2010-06-14
 | Subject: Re: British Morale during the Zulu War Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:07 pm | |
| Hi Joe Confidence in beating the enemy would undoubtedly have been high until Isandlwana (as has been mentioned). But morale was another matter and would also depend on how long the different regiments had been in the Cape. The 80th Regiment for example were there during the Sekukuni and Zulu campaigns 1877-1879. This quote from an interview with Sergeant Anthony Booth V.C.gives some idea of conditions which would have affected morale: [i]We arrived about five miles from his stronghold in October, marching from 21 to 30 miles a day, crossing rivers by marching through them belted and fully dressed. In fact, remarked the gallant soldier, from the time we left Natal in June, 1878, till I arrived in Cape Town in April, 1880, I did not take off my boots and clothing at nights, but slept in them with the rifle at my side[/i]. This together with a rather monotonous diet and dreadful weather conditions would not have done much for my morale!! DaveB |
|  | | impi

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-03 Age : 43
 | Subject: Re: British Morale during the Zulu War Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:22 pm | |
| I would image that with the new recruits goinginto S.A after the disaster at Isandlwana Morale would have been extremely low. Do you think the seasoned soldiers told stories to the new recruits about what would happen if the Zulu’s caught them? Kind of a wind up. |
|  | | garywilson1

Posts : 374 Join date : 2009-01-22 Age : 61 Location : Timisoara , Romania
 | Subject: Re: British Morale during the Zulu War Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:39 pm | |
| They could have come to belieive they were up against a superhuman enemy , a bit like in WW2 in North Africa before the arrival of Monty when the British were in awe of Rommel or in Burma where the British initially regarded the Japenese with something bordering on contempt at the start but later came to regard the Japanese soldier as invincible. |
|  | | 24th

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25
 | Subject: Re: British Morale during the Zulu War Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:48 pm | |
| What Battle was it where the new recruits? Fled or tried. When they saw the Zulu’s for the first time.
I bet they were told of the horrors that took place at Isandlwana around the camp fires at night. |
|  | | sas1

Posts : 629 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 45
 | Subject: Re: British Morale during the Zulu War Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:09 pm | |
| - Quote :
- I bet they were told of the horrors that took place at Isandlwana around the camp fires at night.
And more! 24th without a doubt. They would have really gone to town with the new recruits. They would have put the fear of god into them. But that's all part of Soldiering. But when it came on top, they would have watched out for them. Morale is always low in the army. Unless your going home :lol!: |
|  | | | British Morale during the Zulu War | |
|
Similar topics |  |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |