Which was the biggest blunder.

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Regarding Adwa, the book also says ' the most serious defeat ever suffered by a modern European army in Africa'. This was also said about Isandhlwana, but it appears that there always seemed to be another later battle with worse consequences, so inheriting this label.

Subject: Re: Which was the biggest blunder. Wed Nov 30, 2011 6:35 pm

One horrendous blunder concerning iSandlwana, is blighty was not officially at war witht he Zulu nation when it happened. Chelmsford had crossed the Mzinyathi into Zululand, split his forces, lost the camp and hundreds of lives under his command, before the British government had authorised him to invade.
How he didn't get court martialled on his return home still baffles me. He must have certainly known how to charm the Queen - a very, very good friend to have had on his side.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

Mastersstudent wrote:: Hello everyone, this thread has been particularly interesting to me as I am currently creating my dissertation for my Masters degree. The topic is the difference between how The Battle of Isandlwana and the Battle of the Somme are/were perceived in the UK. My personal view is that they where both disasters yet one (Isandlwana) is viewed as tremendously heroic whilst the other (Somme) is viewed as a massive tragedy when both should be viewed as heroic tragedies of equal proportion.

What you have already written had been very helpful but I was wondering if there is any other way you could help, perhaps point out simliarities between the battles or perhaps differences that resulted in one of the battles being seen in popular culture differently?

Help much appreciated, thank you.

Sam

The sadness about the Somme is that it was a great civilina army that was massacared. So it is sort of seen as a great loss of innocence. A whole generation lost because politicians and statesmen stuffed up. the SOuth Warwickshires were professional soldiers who did their duty etc etc. To gte back on my hobby horse for the Zulus Islandwana was probably more akin to the Somme than for the British.

Subject: Re: Which was the biggest blunder. Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:45 pm

In short, the battle of the Somme or similar HAD to happen - it was unavoidable. Sad.
iSandlwana did not have to happen - it was avoidable. Unmitigated disaster.

Posts : 190 Join date : 2011-03-16 Age : 57

Somme

Posts : 63 Join date : 2010-12-06

There's no comparison whatsoever. The Somme.

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

The Somme was the biggest blunder, did they intend to loose 20,000 men in half an hour??

The phrase

"Lions led by Donkeys" comes to mind

Cheers
DB14

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