Zulu messenger: I bring greetings from your friends the British and from the great Lord Chelmsford.
Ceteseyo: And what do your masters say?
Zulu messenger: They are angry and send these demands. They say that you rule in old ways that are wrong; that you kill your people without trial. The Great White Queen herself cannot kill her lowliest subject, though she rules forty lands, each greater than all of Zululand.
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[on the death of his young assistant from friendly fire]
Corporal Storey: Oh no! Come all this bloody way to get shot by a bullet from Birmingham? Shoot straight you bastards!
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Lt. Melville: You didn't really have to choose between your country and the Zulu, did you?
Lt. William Vereker: Um, and a damn close thing it was too.
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[Durnford is questioning Lt Vereker on scouting reports around the camp]
Lt. Col. Pulleine: His Lordship is of the cetain opinion that it's far too difficult an approach to be chosen by the Zulu command.
Col. Durnford: Yes well... difficulty never deterred a Zulu commander.
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[a newspaperman is commenting on Chelmsford's decision to divide his forces]
Norris-Newman: Crealock, old fella. I'm doing notes for my dispatch and I need to clear up a few military points... I don't want to bother His Lordship. Had it drummed into my thick skull that a good commander never willingly splits his force, especially in an enemy's country, before knowing their dispositions.
Col. Crealock: Ah yes, if we were facing a European enemy armed with guns I think your point would hold, Noggs. Further may I remind you, I do not make the strategies you wish to comment on. I am only His Lordship's secretary.
Norris-Newman: I wouldn't take overly comfort from that, Crealock old fella, because if he sinks, then you sink with him.
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General Lord Chelmsford: After lunch, Brown, I want you to return to Isandhlwana and instruct Col. Pulleine to join us here immediately.
Col. Hamilton-Brown: If you'll excuse me, My Lord.
General Lord Chelmsford: No appetite, Colonel?
Col. Hamilton-Brown: My men haven't eaten since yesterday and there won't be any supplies until I get them back to Isandhlwana.
General Lord Chelmsford: Then they can start off now and you can join them when you've eaten.
Col. Hamilton-Brown: Kind of you, My Lord, but I don't think it would be proper for me to sit at your table, they with their bellies stuck to their backbones.
[Exits]
Lt. Harford: [rising to follow Hamilton-Brown] Excuse me, Sir.
General Lord Chelmsford: [to Lt. Harford] Learn nothing from that Irishman, Harford, except how not to behave.
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Corporal Storey: [to the soldier next to him, referring to the ammunition] Soft 'eaded buggers these. Flatten out against the bone. Smash 'em out.
Storey's mate: But bullets run out... and those bloody spears don 't.
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C.S.M. Williams: [Catches Pvt. Williams looking around and not paying any attention]
C.S.M. Williams: You moved! You moved! Go and tell the NCO at that black shambles that you love him more than you love me! NOW!
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General Lord Chelmsford: For a savage, as for a child, chastisement is sometimes a kindness.
Sir Henry Bartle Frere: Let us hope, General, that this will be the final solution to the Zulu problem.
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Lt. Melville: [bellowing a reply to the Zulu challenge] We come here by the orders of the Great Queen Victoria, Queen of all Africa.
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Lt. Col. Pulleine: [to Melvill and Coghill] Well fought, Gentlemen. It's time to save the Colours. Get to Rorke's Drift. You must warn them.
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[last lines]
Col. Crealock: [to Lord Chelmsford] Your orders My Lord? Do we move to the Drift?
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