UNITS OF THE ZULU WAR 1879

Around 2000 members of this regiment were present at Isanlwana. This was an unmarried regiment with black shields some had white spots but not all. All regiments were organised from age from about the kingdom rather than regions to prevent local chiefs getting his local regiment involved in any traitorous take overs.

As fugitives fled Isanlwana Lt. Erskine of the NNC described seeing the Unokenke regiment chasing down fugitives. Erskine himself escaped when someone gave him a horse despite being stabbed in the leg. One Zulu shot at him but missed. “Who the hell do you think your firing at?” He shouted in Zulu at his attacker and ride on leaving the shooter rather astonished staring at him.

• At the battle of Hlobane they chased British mounted units down the mountain. One mounted Induna by the name of Sitshitshili killed seven men. He shot at an eighth who he beckoned to surrender and as the man raised his hat in acknowledgment was shot by another Zulu. Sitshitshili then stabbed the Brit before the other Zulu could claim to he kill. He would later help bury the British dead

The regiment contained many high ranking Zulus including the kings half brother who was trying to defect to the British. At Isandlwana their commander was rather impetuous and broke away from the reserve to attack the camp before moving on to Rorkes Drift. They would continue to fight on though out the war up until Ulundi

The uDhloko regiment was a married unit of men around 41 years if age. They carried what were called red shields which were a brownish shade. 5000 joined the main army waiting near isandlwana to attack the British. They were part of the reserve force sitting in a valley further back so when the fighting started remained in the rear. Most if them circled around the British camp to cut off any retreat. Feeling they had missed out on the battle 2000 of them headed towards Rorkes Drift making up half of the attacking force. They spent most of the battle assaulting the barricades from the gardens they used as cover and broke into the hospital. The regiment got it’s title from the name of a snake.

This irregular cavalry unit of around 150 men was formed by commandant P.Raff. they were made up of all manner of adventures recruited from the Kimberley Diamond Fields. What’s interesting is that they came from all races and what they wore seems rather varied. They had a bad reputation in the press. They were originally nicknamed the Bulldogs and then the Kimberley Riff-Raaff after their leader. One news reporter described them as “mixed Hottentots and scum of the Diamond Fields was never collected together outside a prison wall.” They mostly worked on scouting missions but saw action with Woods coloumn at Hlobane and Khambula

This irregular cavalry unit was initially set up as infantry rifleman. The lack of cavalry changed that. Set up by commandant Schermbrucker from German volunteers.he had served in the Crimean war and during the Zulu war the vanguard was created to protect German settlers near the Zulu border. Most of the recruits came from East London and consisted of just over 100 men only 40 being British. They signed up for 6 months and must have been surprised to become a cavalry unit when they reached Africa and were given horses. They wore black corduroy and hats with with puggarees and carried infantry rifles rather than carbines

Bakers Horse were named after their founder and commanding officer J.F Baker. He had served in the Cape colony in the past and was at home in Britain when he heard about the disaster at Isandlwana. He recruited men from East London and headed to Natal. His irregular cavalry were outfitted in London. Black corduroy had run out so it’s believed they wore the yellowy brown outfit as they were nicknamed the canaries. They saw action at Hlobane which was a disaster but continued to fight until the end of the war.

Lieutenant-colonel weatherley was another individual who raised his own unit for the war. He was Canadian but had a long history of colonial warfare in India and had been at the charge of the the light brigade at Balaclava.  The Border Lancers were recruited in Pretoria but did not carry lancers. The name came from the mercenary term of freelance. They were a small irregular cavalry force attached vto Woods coloumn. They suffered terrible casualties at the battle of Hlobane with 44 out of 53 being killed including Weatherley. He had cut through the Zulu lines but turned back to rescue his 14 year old son. The pair died together after being incircled. There are no photos of the unit but they had white helmets and blue jumpers which may have been replaced with corduroy.

The officers if the Royal Engineers were some of the best trained in the 1870s. Responsible for building fortifications, bridges, roads and railways. As well as demolition, surveying ballooning and photography. In the field they also saw action such as Chard at Rorkes Drift. Two companies were sent to Zululand and arrived just two weeks before the war began. They were under strength band relied on native help as sappers and unlike other native help were given out if date redcoats.

More than one highlander unit was present during the Zulu war but most looked no different from other infantry. The 91st wore the distinctive frock coat and tartan trousers of the Highlands. Pipers wore green and had kilts. They played the pipes as they relieved the besieged camp at Eshowe after a 17 hour march. They had also gone without their kit and spent two weeks without tents in the rain. They had thought in the Cape before against the Xohsa and thought the Zulus at Gingindlovu.

After the disaster of the first invasion of Zululand reinforcements from Britain arrived including the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards. They were at nearly full strength numbering 649 men. The British had relied on locally raised cavalry units and the dragoons brought a bit if glamour to the mounted units. They had Betty flashy uniforms with gold lace and Austrian Knott work on the cuffs but they relied on infantry ammunition by pouches. They also had trouble adapting their British mounts to South Africa. They refused to eat the local grass. They also got some unglamorous duties such as burying the dead who still lay at Isandlwana and recovering the body of the French prince Imperial. They did however capture king cetshwayo after ulundi.

These two irregular units were neighbors from Victoria county and the town of Stanger. The VMR formed in 1862 and by the Zulu war were led by a Yorkshireman, captain Saner. The SMR were formed in 1872 and led by an ex VMR officer. The town if Stanger lay close to the Zululand border and had the choice of staying in the town to defend the border. Ten stayed behind while the rest joined the VMR in helping Pearson’s coastal coloumn. Both units numbered around 50 mounted men. They both wore dark blue uniforms with red and yellow piping. They wore white spiked helmets but when not in action would swap to wearing Kepis.

The first battalion if the 13th light infantry had been on campaign in South Africa for some time before the Zulu war. This was rather clear by the state of their uniforms. They were described as being in rags with patched up uniforms and in some cases no boots. Their helmets were recovered in old shirts and had a dirty appearance. Apart from the grime they dressed vin the usual line infantry uniform apart from their glangerrie hats which were light infantry green rather than blue. They saw action at Khambula holding the cattle krall until forced out by the Zulus and later retaking the position charging the enemy an unusual accurance during the war for the British.

The Boers of the Transvaal had little love for the British but a number living near the Zulu border were keen to join the war. Piet Lafras Uys joined woods coloumn and with him came most if his family friends and neighbors. Like most Boars they were crack shots and excellent riders. During the Zulu attack at Hlobane Piet was killed trying to save his sons. Many of his followers went back home after his death. They stuck to their own civilian clothes and received weapons from the government.