The Battle of Kambula and its defences

Posts : 1857 Join date : 2009-03-25

10.000 Zulus attacked a British position at the Battle of Kambula. Does anyone know how the Kambula’s defences were laid out.

Posts : 527 Join date : 2009-02-28

The fortification used Kambula consisted of a hexagonal laager formed with tightly locked wagons, and a separate kraal for the livestock, assembled on the southern face of the ridge. Trenches and earth parapets bordered both sections, and a stonework redoubt had been built on a climb just north of the kraal. A palisade blocked up the hundred yards between the kraal and redoubt, while four 7-pounders were situated between the redoubt and the laager to cover the northern advances. Two more guns in the redoubt covered the north-east.

Two companies were positioned in the redoubt; another company in the kraal and the outstanding infantry manned the laager. The gunners had been advised that if the Zulus got in close they were to leave their guns and make for the laager. Altogether, Wood’s force mustered 121 Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, 1,238 infantry and 638 mounted men. With command centre staff, it totalled 2,000 men, of which 88 were sick in hospital.

S.D

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 58 Location : UK

24th Here’s a layout of the fortification, also showing the Zulu advance.

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Posts : 629 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 43

Regiments that took part in the defence of Kambula.

1st Battalion of the 13th Light Infantry: .
Royal Artillery, 11th Battery, 7th Brigade.
90th Perthshire Light Infantry:
Frontier Light Horse under Lieutenant Colonel Buller
Boer Commando
Mounted Infantry
Native Contingent of Swazis

1,200 men of the 1st/13th Light Infantry and the 90th Regiment with 800 other irregular troops. Ammunition reserves were located along the rear of the lines.

Artillery encompass 4 seven pounder guns, 2 mule borne guns and several rocket troughs. The mule guns took residency in the redoubt while the seven pounders stood in the open ground sandwiched between the two main fortifications.

Casualties Wood’s force suffered 83 casualties. It is believed that 3,000 Zulus were either killed in the battle or died of wounds.

sas1