Bits and Pieces of the Battlefields

A few images that you wouldn't normally see of a trip to the Battlefields.

The monument at Gingindhlovu.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
I blundered into a field of these little buggers, the bites hurt !
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The grave yard opposite Rorkes Drift on the Zulu side.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
St Vincents Church in the village at Isandlwana
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The Prince Imperials grave this last weekend, squatting near the entrance is my good wife with her bandaged ankle.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Resting before the exertions of eating Dinner and having to drink gallons of wine with Charles the Hotel owner. That's the Mzinyathi river by the way. I call this shot ' De feet of Springbok'
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Interesting aside, I went for a beer to the Isandlwana Lodge and met the manager, I mentioned Id been swimming in the Mzinyathi and he corrected me and told me it was the Buffalo. Only when the barman told him Mzinyathi was Zulu for Buffalo that he backed down. Moral of the story, learn your history before arguing with guests.

Half way down the Fugitives Trail heading for the Manzimyana
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Theres a lot of erosion taking place at present, two cairns are in danger of collapse
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The raging rapids at Fugitives drift. Around here that Coghill and Melvill came ashore.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
One of the old abandoned buildings at Helpmakaar
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
The beginning of the pass from Helpmakaar to RD
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
One of the locals
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

And another
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Lots of rain in the area so roads tend to get a bit wet at the streams
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
One of the zulu graves at RD, its tucked away from normal areas and is very seldom seen.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Cheers

Who are the chaps in the cemetery, above are they from the Boarwar or Zulu ?

The erosion and collapsing cairns - are there remains underneath these cairns?
If so, the erosion is of greater concern.

I'm sure the authorities are aware. Springbok next time your now that neck of the woods, can you try and find out what happened to the remains that we're found back in 2009   

https://www.1879zuluwar.com/t356-soldier-s-bones-found-at-isandlwana-battlefield?highlight=Remains

impi
The small graveyard is a bit of a mystery, its been put forward that they were troops that died during the occupation of RD. Also that they were troops that died when Fort Melvill was occupied. Personally I believe that they came from Fort Northampton after the Zulu War. Certainly the other graves, civilian, date from 1895. There was a hotel/hostelry built some where close to the grave area but I haven't been able to source any data on it.
I met a charming ( read Rogue/conman) last week who professed to have names etc of all the internments plus a map etc. What he came up with was something entirely different though. This was the individual who proffesed to have proof that John Williams was buried there and not at RD.
impi again.
Theres no one in the area that would know that sort of thing. John Young is probably the best bet, he was involved earlier.
Kopie
The last cairn collapse was analised very carefully and the ground sifted to see if any artifacts where there. As I recall all they came up with was some very small bone fragments.
The awareness of the wash aways is very aparent. In those particular two dongas barriers have been put in to restrict water run of as well as some planting. So yes attempts are being made to fight of natures damage. There are some huge areas that have had the topsoil washed away exposing bedrock.

Cheers

great pictures sir. thanks for posting.