In The Shadow Of Isandlwana

“Lord Chelmsford is not a bad man. He is industrious and conscientious so far as his lights guide him. But nature has refused to him the qualities of a great captain. He has suffered much and is entitled to certain commiseration.” – Thomas Gibson Bowles, Vanity Fair General Lord Chelmsford’s military career took him around the world; he served in the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and the Abyssinian Expedition, before commanding the British invasion of the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa. In January 1879, disaster struck when Chelmsford divided his forces at Isandlwana in the face of the enemy and the Zulu overwhelmed his camp, killing more than 1,300 of its defenders. Such a defeat was almost unprecedented in a Victorian colonial campaign. Despite Chelmsford's later victories at Gingindlovu and Ulundi, he was humiliatingly relieved of his command. His responsibility for Isandlwana dogged him for the rest of his days, and he would forever be associated with this historic defeat. In this comprehensive new biography, Anglo-Zulu War specialist John Laband, explores the personal character and military career of Lord Chelmsford, providing a well-rounded, well-balanced and well-informed picture of this complex military figure.

“Lord Chelmsford is not a bad man. He is industrious and conscientious so far as his lights guide him. But nature has refused to him the qualities of a great captain. He has suffered much and is entitled to certain commiseration.” – Thomas Gibson Bowles, Vanity Fair General Lord Chelmsford’s military career took him around the world; he served in the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny and the Abyssinian Expedition, before commanding the British invasion of the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa. In January 1879, disaster struck when Chelmsford divided his forces at Isandlwana in the face of the enemy and the Zulu overwhelmed his camp, killing more than 1,300 of its defenders. Such a defeat was almost unprecedented in a Victorian colonial campaign. Despite Chelmsford's later victories at Gingindlovu and Ulundi, he was humiliatingly relieved of his command. His responsibility for Isandlwana dogged him for the rest of his days, and he would forever be associated with this historic defeat. In this comprehensive new biography, Anglo-Zulu War specialist John Laband, explores the personal character and military career of Lord Chelmsford, providing a well-rounded, well-balanced and well-informed picture of this complex military figure.

"The battle of Isandlwana fought on January 22, 1879, was the greatest defeat suffered by the British Army during the Victorian era. A Zulu Army of 24,000 warriors had moved undetected to within striking distance of the British camp in the shadow of Isandlwana Mountain. From the start the 1,700 defenders underestimated the danger descending upon them. They were swept aside with horrifying speed and the final stage of the battle consisted of desperate hand-to-hand fighting amid the British camp. Ian Knight employs new archaeological and historical research to provide a completely new interpretation of the course of the battle."--BOOK JACKET.

It has been 140 years since the Battle of Isandhlwana, on 22nd January 1879, when up to 20,000 Zulu Warriors, attacked Regiments of Queen Victoria's Army, killing them all. A career soldier with the Royal Engineers, Colonel Anthony William Durnford was blamed for the disaster by General Chelmsford. He became the General's scapegoat. Much has been written about him over the years, but little has been written of the events peculiar to his life. It takes family to understand their ancestor's characteristics, strengths, weaknesses, qualities, traits and behaviours. His brother wrote a memoir "A Soldier's Life and work in South Africa" 1872 - 1879, which included research to disprove the General's claims. Edward was to write an update in 1886, but didn't, as he was pressured. Anthony Durnford had two families, his ancestral one, which we share, and his military one. Both had one thing in common, to prove that he did "follow orders". His brother investigated and in, 1882 published his findings. The Royal Engineers also investigated and amassed a huge file of evidence, never before seen by the public. The Royal Engineers Evidence file, comprising over 300 pages of fact, has lain hidden from public view, in the drawers of the Royal Engineers Library since 1932. It rebukes much "confirmation bias" of currently held perceptions. This file has been fully transcribed, placed in logical context, and additional research included from the Royal Archives, the National Army Museum and archives in South Africa. "Durnford 1879" comprises 2 volumes and is an extension of Colonel Edward Durnford's research. It could perhaps be described as a Military Mystery, created as a result of Genealogical research and Military History colliding. A story which would not be told, had it been for a series of "mistakes".

JANUARY 1879 - ZULULAND. Lord Chelmsford, commander of British forces in South Africa, leads an invasion into Zululand. At the head of his main spearhead column, he expects a quick and decisive campaign against a poorly armed, ill-disciplined force of tribesmen. To achieve this aim he has with him the veteran soldiers from the 24th Regiment, 'Old Sweats' as they are referred to, men with years of campaigning behind them. Just days into the invasion Chelmsford's force sets up camp beside a strangely shaped crag, barely a few miles from the safety of the British Colony of Natal. The battle that develops in the shadow of that mountain, with British redcoats fighting hand-to-hand with their Zulu foe, will become the stuff of legend. It is a story punctuated with acts of incredible courage and heroism and moving sacrifice, a human drama that will shock the world. ISANDLWANA!

The battle of Isandlwana was the single most destructive incident in the 150-year history of the British colonization of South Africa. In one bloody day over 800 British troops, 500 of their allies and at least 2,000 Zulus were killed. It was a staggering defeat for the British empire and the consequences of the battle echoed brutally across the following decades as Britain took ruthless revenge on the Zulu people. In 'Zulu Rising' Ian Knight shows that the brutality of the battle was the result of an inevitable clash between two aggressive warrior traditions.

This is an account of one of the most dramatic episodes in 19th century military history, which continues to exert a unique fascination. On 22nd January 1879 the British military camp at Isandlwana, South Africa, was annihilated by about 20,000 Zulu warriors. Some 1200 troops died under the Zulu spears, half of them British regular infantry of the 24th Foot armed with modern breech-loading rifles. This battle was partly redeemed that evening at the tiny hospital and supply post of Rorke's Drift, successfully held in hand-to-hand fighting against thousands of Zulus by some 140 defenders, only 80 of them able-bodied redcoats.

"The Anglo-Zulu War, the most famous of Britain's lte ninetweenth-century campaigns of colonial conquest, was not fought in isolation. Along with the two Anglo-Pedi wars, the Ninth Cape Frontier War and the Northern Border War, it was one in a brutal series of interconnected and overlapping wars which the British waged between 1877-1879 to crush and disarm the remaining independent black states of South Africa. [Fusing] the widely differing African and European perspectives on events, [the author] probes the fateful decisions taken by statesmen and military commandrs, analyses military operations and their destructive impact on combatants and civilians alike, and explores why so many Africans chose to fight as auxiliaries and levies alongside the Bruitish instead of against them. ..."--Jacket.