The Natal Native Contingent on the front line at Isandlwana

Been doing some reading guys from one of my favorite books For God Queen and Colony by Terry Sole
On page 295 The Native Contingent in front of the Zulu found themselves totally exposed after the companies of the 24th had aligned
themselves with the colonials when they retreated to consolidate their position. At the same time a shell with a faulty fuse fired by the artillary, inadvertently
exploded above the Native Coningent. panicking them and causing them to flee to the camp.

This brings an interesting angle of what might have happend the 2 main views of what caused the collapse of the forward companies
are 1/ Durnford falling back to the camp which gave Pulleine no choice but to recall his troops
2/ The unlickly issue of the troops ran out of ammunition

Is there any eyewitnesses in seeing this happen with this faulty fuse because if so this would off caused a lot of the confussion which followed

I know for a fact air burst shells where used at Isandlwana and i would say as the Zulu were closing in then the fuses needed to be shortened
seeing the time of flight of the shells being shorter could a mistake by those off the artillary be made has anyone have any understending of firing air burst
shells comments please

Aussie
That statement came from Brickhill, published in the Natal Magazine. His is the only mention, Curling makes no note of it at all. Brickhill doesn't seem to attach the incident to the retreat though and mentions that "one gun in particular was firing low". The only friendly fire casualties were Roberts troop on the ridge.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

» Natal Native Contingent
» Lt. Thompson, Natal Native Contingent
» Natal Native Contingent at Gingindlovu .