The companies on the ridge

Subject: Re: The companies on the ridge Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:17 pm

Hummm, pressed the wrong button. Yes Bill I had permission to see the three manuscrips and to photograph them as the museum wouldn't Photostat due to the condition.
Speak to Richard Davies, top guy.

Cheers

Subject: Re: The companies on the ridge Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:20 pm

Hi Frank,
Ah so the photo was of the re-write. I never knew that, many thanks that's clarified a lot. Guess it's time to email the museum. Much appreciated.

Regards

Posts : 2 Join date : 2017-04-16

Had a look at C Norris Newman book: On campaign with the British Army. In the book a map that he uses (Location 1035 in the Kindle edition) the 1st position of Cavaye/Mostyn/Dyson is nowhere near the Talehane ridge. Or am I interpreting the map wrong?

Subject: Re: The companies on the ridge Mon May 15, 2017 8:34 am

Hi Winter
Have a look at the Gun position he shows. He does say drawn from memory, but he wasn't there at the battle, just that evening and later when the battlefield was revisited. So rather than drawn from memory it should be drawn from information supplied. The most interesting thing about Noggs map, for me, is the note at the bottom, South of the road, 'lots of dead found here'. that he would have personally witnessed, its also east of Durnfords last stand.

Cheers

Posts : 2 Join date : 2017-04-16

Thanks
Agree goes against the 'classical theory' of the troop dispositions.
Yet interested in the Newman map as it is strategically logical ie a troop deployment against a threat from the Zulu right horn - a threat that was already apparent from the early morning. The 'accepted' maps from the battlefield all show an extended firing line - completely ignoring the right horn of the zulus and also leaving the camp unprotected.
Puzzling ......
Equally puzzling is the automatic assumption that 'the ridge' refers to the Tahelane ridge. The battlefield is full of 'ridges'. Quoting from one of Black's burial reports: ' Arrived on the now well-known and oft- described ridge, a horrible scene of desolation was spread before them ...'
This definitely does not refer to the Tahelane ridge. So companies 'send to the ridge' may have ended up at any of the numerous ridges on the battlefield.
Puzzled but fascinated .....

Subject: Re: The companies on the ridge Sat May 20, 2017 4:28 am

I mentioned a few posts back that we tend to base everything around Essex statement. Penn Symonds didn't believe him! I'm also very skeptical, take a look at his map.