Size and Target

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

What was the size of Cetewayo’s army? Before there were any engagements with the British.

When the British invasion began was the intended target for all the columns to meet Ulundi.

If my observations are correct, I would like to throw in a what if. Just to get other members opinions. But it all depends on the answers to the two questions above.

Subject: size and target Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:25 pm

hi Dave .
Going by memory the army was in the size of 20 - 30,000. At the start of the invasion it was the intended plan for
Columns 1 , 3 and 4 to converge on Ulundi at some point .
cheers 90th.

Posts : 1605 Join date : 2009-09-21

Thanks 90th. For some reason i thought there were more.

What if the Zulu's had never engaged the British until they had actually arrived at Ulundi? Would the British have won an all out victory?

Subject: size and target Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:12 pm

hi Dave.
There were 2 other columns that were supposed to play a defensive roll . No 2 Column commanded by A. Durnford
was to be stationed at Middle Drift but was called up to help support Glyn's number 3 Column . Column number 5 commanded
by H. Rowlands VC , was stationed on the Transvaal Border . The result of the war was always going to be a british victory , one
way or the other . Impossible to speculate what may or may not have taken place in regard to tactics used by the zulu army .
cheers 90th Idea