Durnford left the Donga at the hight of the battle??

Hi Barry

Thanks for the info, will do


Cheers

Hi Pascal,

Yes Pascal, the whole fiasco was brought about because of poor planning, not reacting to intelligence reports and of course undersetimating this powerful enemy.
For one, if you knew that you would potentially be facing 30,000 enemy would you only issue 70 rds to each rifleman. By contrast, at Rorkes Drift, large quantities on ammunition were broken out prior to the Zulu attack and placed at points near each frontline rifleman. The outcome there was of course very different.

regards

barry

Yes Barry after Isandhlwana, more foresight in every battle ...

But the battle of Nyezane, what were the provisions and previsions for ammunition ...?

It's a good battle in line, as dreamed by Chelmsford after the tactics resolution of 1877 ...

Unfortunately, it does not interest anyone ...

Cheers

Pascal

Hi Pascal.
No mention Of Pearson opening ammunition boxes before the Inyezane Battle . The troops had come to a stop and were in the process of having a rest . Some were swimming in the River !.
cheers 90th. :study:

My question would have to be: How did the figure of 200 000 rounds captured by the enemy come into being. That assumes that the amount of ammo on the battlefield would be known, likely,less the amount expended, completly unknown.
Or
Somebody saw that quantity taken away.

That figure cannt be substantiated.

And yes, in answer to the question 70 rounds would be the amount carried. Even going into battle. It was standard operating proceedure there is no need to doubt it.

Regards

The case of ammunition recovered, is still the tales and legends of Isandhlwana ...

To Nyezane battle as a victory, there should be number for the expenditure of ammunition for each unit...

springbok9 wrote:

DB14 Re: Harry Davis

Yeah his statement about Durnford and his batman being at the front line is weird. Some how doesnt fit the time and space equation for Durnfords movements.

Should be questioned.

Regards

Managed to find the letter written by Davies to his farther.

I never saw Colonel Durnford or George Shepstone after we left the gully or water wash,and i did not see
Henderson until i met him the next day at Helpmakaar.


Cheers

Hi all

Durnford was forced to abandon the Donga and then he could go in the camp ...



Pascal

Bonsoir,
Source: "Selected writings of the late William Moorsom Laurence, Major Commanding left wing Kimberley Horse and Editor of the Diamond News" (1882)

Pietermaritzburg, 15th March, 1879 (p.21)
About the fight at Isandhlwana;
"At any rate this much is certain that he [Durnford]only arrived some time after the fight had commenced, and whether it was he or poor Pulleine who was responsible for the 1-24th being scatterd all over the field, will never be really known. it is known that he made an attempt with all the mounted men he could get together to break the left horn of the Zulu army; and men who are experienced in Zulu warfare say this was the very best thing that could have been done Under the circumstances, the Zulus usually taking flight ig one of the horns is at all cut up, while they will stand the loss of any number of men from their centre".

I.E: Laurence (Transport) was not at Isandhlwana the 22 January.

Cheers

Frédéric

About Laurence:
According to the "Diamond News, March, 22nd, 1881" (p.4): "When the Zulu War broke out (...) He [Laurence] was one of the first officers sent out, and he was horoubly mentioned in the newspaper press at the time for the zeal and skill wich he displayed in organizing the transport service. Had it not been for an accident which confined him to quarters at Maritburg, he would probaly have been on the field of Isandhlwana or among the heroic defenders of Rorke's drift". fter an fifference with some of the local military authorities, he determined to resign his commission, and proceed with the advancing column as a special correspondant.

"Local General orders relating to the AZW of 1879" by Keith I. SMITH
n°79 dated 8th April 1879, Times of Natal, 11th April 1879:
"Assistant Commissary Laurence, Commissariat and Transport department having applied for permission to resign his commission , leave of absence is granted to that officer to proceed to England, pending retirement".