Zulu 'flag' at Khambula

Subject: Zulu 'flag' at Khambula Fri May 26, 2017 6:47 am

Hi,

A while ago, I read (I believe in Zulu Vanquished by Lock & Quantrill), that the Zulus waved a 'red flag' (presumably a cloth on a stick) during the battle and that a number where shot carrying out this task.

Has anyone any ideas what this could signify?

Cheers

Simon

Subject: Re: Zulu 'flag' at Khambula Fri May 26, 2017 7:56 am

"As the battle reached its crisis point, Wood spotted large numbers of uMbonambi gathering in the ravine to the south of the main laager, their leaders trying to encourage them to charge. To pre-empt the attack he ordered two companies of the 90th to ‘double over the slope down to the ravine with fixed bayonets, and to fall back at once when they had driven the Zulus below the crest’. He could see, as he waited for his orders to be carried out, a Zulu chief waving a red flag in an attempt to induce his men out of the ravine"

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