UNITS OF THE ZULU WAR 1879
The Natal Carbineers had been operating in the African colony since 1855 making it the oldest auxiliary unit to take part in the Zulu War. There were three officers and 57 troopers in this unit at the beginning of the war. They were mainly attached to the third column of troops that invaded Zulu Land and as a mounted unit acted as scouts and mounted infantry. They wore blue jackets and a rather fancy white foreign service helmet with a spike. The horse and the rest of the equipment would be paid for by the trooper themselves.
I’m going to enjoy following this project. My BoW name and my middle name is Redvers after General Sir Redvers Buller, who commanded the mounted infantry of the northern British column under Sir Evelyn Wood. Later, he was given command of the British forces for the 2nd Boer War. But that’s about as far as my knowledge extends! So I’m hoping to learn something here 🙂
Buller was known for drinking a bottle of champagne a day during the Boer War and of course got the VC back in the Zulu War