Anglo Zulu War
The increasing strengthening of the independent Zulu nation by King Cetshwayo was perceived as a growing threat to the Colony of Natal by the British High Commissioner Sir Bartle Frere and in December 1878 the British government represented by Frere issued an ultimatum that was impossible for the Zulu Nation to accept as it would have required them to disband their army and swear allegiance to Queen Victoria.
When these demands were not met, three British columns, under the overall command of Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford, who despite considerable experience in the field nonetheless made the fatal mistake of underestimating the fighting ability of the Zulus, crossed the Thukela and Buffalo rivers on the 12th January 1879 and invaded Zululand.
The Zulus retaliated and on Wednesday 22nd January 1879 the Zulu Army, comprising approximately 20 000 warriors, attacked and overran the British camp at Isandlwana, killing 1357 Imperial troops, colonial volunteers and native levies. Survivors of the route fled along a torturous route now known as the Fugitive’s Trail crossing the swollen Buffalo River at what became known as Fugitives’ Drift. Among these were Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill who had attempted to save the Queen’s Colour and Lieutenant Nevill Coghill who went to his assistance. Both were killed on the Natal bank of the river as they scrambled up the hillside. (They were posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross).
After the Battle an additional force of approximately 4000 warriors led by King Cetshwayo’s half-brother Prince Dabulamanzi went on to attack the British garrison at the Swedish Mission station at Rorke’s Drift, that was being used as a commissariat and hospital. Here the “heroic hundred” repelled the attackers after an 11 hour battle. The British lost 17 men and won 11 Victoria Crosses.
Battlefields and Historical Sites
Fort Pearson and Ultimatum Tree
11 December 1878 On the 11 December 1878 the British Government in South Africa presented an ultimatum to King Cetshwayo’s izinduna (senior representatives). The conditions of the Ultimatum included inter alia the disbandment of the Zulu Army and Cetshwayo having…
Nyezane Battlefield
22 January 1879 The British coastal column moving up the north coast towards Ondini via Eshowe, crossed the Nyezane River and was about to commence its advance up the track towards Eshowe when the Zulu army was observed. The British…
The Siege of Fort KwaMondi
23 January to 3 April 1879 On the 23rd January Col Pearson’s Column reached the abandoned Norwegian Lutheran mission station KwaMondi which they then fortified with earth walls, a surrounding ditch and even wire entanglements and referred to is as…
British Military Cemetery at KwaMondi
Situated on southwest-facing slope about 500m beyond Fort Ekowe. Enquiries Zululand Historical Museum Fort Nongqayi. There is no on site information and the use of a Guide is recommended to enhance the experience of the site, which is maintained by…
Isandlwana Battlefield
22 January 1879 On the 22nd January 1879 the British Camp was attacked and overrun by some 20 000 Zulus, leaving approximately 1357 Imperial soldiers, Colonial Volunteers and Native Levies dead on the slopes of the hillside below this “Sphinx”…
Fugitives’ Drift
22 January 1879 The Fugitives’ Trail is the route taken by survivors of the Battle of Isandlwana who crossed the Buffalo River at Fugitives’ Drift. Lts. Melvill and Coghill (who were killed trying to save the Queen’s Colour) are buried…
Rorke’s Drift Battlefield
22-23 January 1879 After the Battle of Isandlwana the Zulu reserves, along with one regiment of the right horn, about 4000 warriors in total, crossed the Buffalo River and attacked the British Commissariat and Hospital at the Mission station at…
eNtombe Battlefield
12 March1879 At Myer’s Drift on the eNtombe River, in the very early hours in the morning a Zulu force led by Chief Mbelini attacked a military convoy encamped on the banks of the river en route to Lüneburg. The…
Hlobane Battlefield
28 March 1879 In the early hours of 28 March 1879 two British columns mounted an attack on the abaQulusi stronghold on Hlobane Mountain. Their advance was observed by the abaQulusi and their allies who attacked the one section of…
Khambula Battlefield
29 March 1879 On the29 March 1879 some 22 000 Zulu warriors attacked the fortified British position at Khambula (shown on earlier maps as Kambula). The Battle started at 13:30 and ended around 17:30 when Zulus were driven off and…
Gingindlovu Battlefield
2 April 1879 In the early morning the Zulu Army attacked Lt Gen. Lord Chelmsford’s relief column en route to relieve Eshowe. The British position was fortified and the British scouts had picked up the advancing Zulus so the attack…
Prince Imperial Memorial
1 June 1879 Louis Napoleon, the Prince Imperial of France, then exiled in Britain, begged Queen Victoria to allow him to join the British forces in Zululand. On 1 June 1879 he was given permission to join a small British…
La Route du Prince Imperial
La Route du Prince Impérial, Louis Napoléon La Route du Prince Impérial, Louis Napoléon, launched on 1 June 1996 in the precincts of the Prince Imperial monument, Uqweqwe, Zululand, in the presence of Ray Heron, the then Chairperson of the…
Ulundi Battlefield
4 July 1879 On the 4 July 1879 Lt Gen. Lord Chelmsford crossed the White Mfolozi River and advanced across the Mahlabatini plain, where they formed square while on the march. It comprised four riflemen in line on the sides…
The British Military Cemetery
On the outskirts of the town on the way to the dam the town cemetery is on the left and within its perimeter is a unique arrow shaped cemetery pointing north. It contains the British soldiers of Col. Wood’s column…
Petrus Lafras Uys Memorial
Petrus Lafras Uys was one of the original settlers in this area in 1847. He was the first Landdrost (‘magistrate’) appointed by the government of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek after Utrecht was officially incorporated into the Transvaal on November 6,…