Sgt Kambule / Young "boy" /ammunition supply

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Hello,

In "Zulu Victory" Lock and QUANTRILL are written (p.213):
"Sgt-Major [sic] KAMBULE (...), when crossing the nek, came up CHELMSFORD's cart still guarded by a young drummer boy who (...) refused to give Kambule any rounds".
Really, the 2/24th (Bloomfield) wagon's ammunition, not the 1/24th (Pullen)?
Sorry, but topography is not "my cup of tea"!!!!!
Cheers

ymob
Could be one of three: the 1/24th, the regimental reserve or the wagon loaded for Chelmsford.

Cheers

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

springbok9 wrote:: ymob
Could be one of three: the 1/24th, the regimental reserve or the wagon loaded for Chelmsford.

Cheers

Thanks Springbok.
In books on the azw there are undoubtedly often inaccurency on the facts...
Mister Julian Whybra has right when he says: "read the source, only the source"....
Amitiés

frédéric

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

Fredric,

Due to the helpful citation you provided wrt Malindi, (thank-you!) I was rereading ZULU RISING last night. He cites Simeon Nkambule's story of course. Nkanbule mentions cartridges lying on the ground around the wagons -- so we can rule out any tented supply -- and that the Zulu were still busy in the tents -- which to me rules out Bloomfield's wagons. Given that the boy was sitting alone my guess it would have to be the supply for the 1/24th because Pullen would have abandoned it by then to rally the defense. That wagon was sitting alone hard by the trader's path which would have been in line from the donga where Nkambule's troop had been and the nek. -6pdr

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

Then again, it may have been Durnford's supply too I suppose as that was closer to the nek, I guess. But that would have only been true if the boy had been put there for his own safety because it wasn't a source that an Imperial officer or noncom would have held sway over.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Given that the boy was sitting alone my guess it would have to be the supply for the 1/24th because Pullen would have abandoned it by then to rally the defense. That wagon was sitting alone hard by the trader's path which would have been in line from the donga where Nkambule's troop had been and the nek. -6pdr[/quote]

Bonjour 6 pdr,
Thanks for your help.
Just my thoughs (spéculation)!!
Cheers
Frédéric

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

He was a Drummer Boy.

» Durnford left the Donga at the hight of the battle??
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» Official ammunition handbook 1877, including smooth bore and rifled gun projectiles, small arms ammunition and rockets. Details of all artillery ammunition of the period.