UNITS OF THE ZULU WAR 1879
WOODS IRREGULARS
Colonel Wood commander of number 4 column.Colonel Everlyn Wood commanded no.4 column and raised over 1000 men from the south eastern Transvaal. Most were Swazi tribesmen but their ranks later swelled by Zulu defectors. These men took part in the battles of Hlobane some at Khambula and Ulundi. Many irregulars wore full Swazi regalia including very impressive ostrich feathers. Some converted Zulu warriors could do on the table top. Firearms were restricted to one in every hundred and wore a strip of cloth like the NNC to identify them. 50 Irregulars were recruited as scouts and dressed in old Dragoon tunics. Apparently they were the only uniforms that would fit. These scouts were attached t0 the 90th regiment, 6 men to each company and served to the end of the war. The only occasion I can think of when native troops wore red coats along side the line infantry.
Swazi Warrior
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