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THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879.
The Battle of Gingindhlovu was fought on 2nd April 1879 between a British relief column sent to break the siege at Eshowe, and a Zulu impi of king Cetshwayo.
The British soldier would refer to it as the Battle of “GIN GIN I LOVE YOU”.
Charles Pearson had led No.1 column of the British invasion force across the Tugela River to establish an advanced base at Eshowe. Having set up a base at a deserted Norwegian mission station, the British found themselves besieged.
A relief column was organized by Lord Chelmsford and departed Fort Tenedos on 29th March to relieve the garrison.
Chelmsford’s relief force comprised 3,390 Europeans, and 2,280 Africans.
Lord Chelmsford ensured his men spent much time laagering and entrenching their camp at the end of each day, and kept ammunition boxes open and at the ready.
Although this was slow progress, Pearson’s observers at Eshowe were able to see the relief column entrenched on the south bank of the Neyzane, on the evening of the 1st April.
BRITISH LAAGER/ENTRENCHED DEFENCES
GG-106
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
BRITISH LAAGER/ENTRENCHED DEFENCES,
OX WAGON
PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE ALTOGETHER 5 DIFFERENT WAGONS. THE LAST VERSION WILL BE RELEASED NEXT MONTH.
The Zulu impi was composed of 12,000 warriors, some of whom were Isandlwana veterans drawn from regiments in the main Zulu army, while the remainder were warriors who lived in the vicinity of Eshowe.
Many of the Zulu commanders wanted to attack the relief column that night, but Prince Dabulamanzi KaMpande, who was half brother to king Cetshwayo and commander of the impi’s right wing, convinced them to wait until morning.
At dawn on 2 April 1879, the morning sun revealed muddy ground and a heavy mist. Chelmsford had decided after hearing Dunn's report to not continue on toward Eshowe early the next morning. Instead, he would deploy units of the Natal Native Contingent to feel for the Zulus. As the NNC were preparing to advance shots were heard from the night pickets still on duty. The impi was advancing; the main force split into two columns before crossing the Ineyzane and assuming the "chest and horns" formation. The left horn sharply curved to the right to assault the laager's north-east corner, while the "chest" gently curved toward the north face of the laager.
Another force passed Misi Hill and approached the laager, forming the impi’s right horn.
The buffalo formation came in at a run on the three sides of the laager as Chelmsford had wanted; at a range of 300–400 yd (270–370 m) the British infantry opened fire, supported by the Gatling guns and rockets.
Zulu marksmen caused a few casualties within the laager, but the defenders kept the Zulus at bay.
Although the Zulu regiments made persistent rushes to get within stabbing range, their charges lacked the drive and spirit that had pushed them forward at Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.
The only zulu to reach the laager was a ten year old boy, who was immediately taken prisoner by members of the naval brigade and later served as a kind of mascot on their ship, Boadicea.
Around 7am, the main impi attack had been halted. Chelmsford ordered his mounted troops to attack, followed by the NNC.
Many zulu were killed as they withdrew.
Chelmsford had begun to avenge the Imperial dead of Isandlwana, but for the present he was content to relieve Pearson and return to Natal.
THE 91st (PRINCESS LOUISE’S ARGYLLSHIRE) HIGHLANDERS
The 91st Highlanders were stationed at Aldershot when they received an order, on 12th February 1879 to proceed on active service to Natal. The regiment formed the advance guard on the Eshowe relief column.
During the Battle of Gingindlovu the 91st held the (Southern) rear face of the lager and bore the brunt of the second attack.
After the relief of Eschowe the regiment was employed on convoy duty until it was attached to the 2nd Brigade of Crealock’s 1st Division for the second invasion of Zululand.
The 91st was the only Highland regiment involved in the 1879 Zulu War, and photographs taken at the time show the regiment wearing greatcoats/blankets in bandolier-fashion (en banderole) over the left shoulder, and tartan trousers, with only the pipers in kilts.
GG91-16
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
91st REGIMENT (PRINCESS LOUISE’S ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS)
2 HIGHLANDERS, AMMUNITION BOX AND PRIVATE
GG-110
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
AMMUNITION BOXES
THE NAVAL BRIGADE
Naval Brigade landing parties were a feature of Victorian campaigns and the Zulu War was no exception.
In the aftermath of Isandlwana HMS Shah was diverted from a homeward journey and landed most of its ship’s complement at Durban, a total of 378 men.
GGNV-02
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
BRITISH NAVAL BRIGADE,
H.M.S. SHAH
GGNV-02N
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
BRITISH NAVAL BRIGADE,
H.M.S. SHAH
On 20th March HMS Boadicea also landed a brigade of 10 officers and 218 men.
About 100 Royal Marines were also included.
Two Brigades were formed for the relief column for Eshowe. The artillery for this force came entirely from the Naval Brigades. The allocation was as follows
1st Brigade, included two 9pdrs, two 24pdr Rocket Tubes, and one Gatling gun.
2nd Brigade, included two 24pdr Rocket Tubes and one Gatling Gun.
The 9pdrs, Rockets and Gatlings were positioned at the corners of the British enclosure. The Gatling Guns opened fire at 1,000m, and as the Zulus approached they were engaged by all the artillery weapons.
Naval attachments brought with them their own artillery, including Gatlings which were both used to good effect at Gingindhlovu.
The Naval Brigade Gatlings were apparently mounted on different carriages to their army counterparts, these being narrower and minus the axle-tree boxes.
There were also a number of Hale’s rockets. These were the heavy 24pdrs, fired from tubes rather than the army’s troughs. These tubes were originally designed to be bracketed onto the side of a ship, but by 1879 a modified version replaced the bracket with a tripod for land service, and it was this “Fisher” tube which was the type used in Zululand.
The navy also landed some of its field guns. At Gingindhlovu the naval Brigade had two 9-pounder guns.
A drawing of the relief column, shows the Naval Brigade with a 9pdr which does not appear to be of the standard Army pattern. At this time there was a great deal of experiments carried out on artillery pieces, and it is possible that the Navy were given some of these “experimental” guns for their landing parties. It was a time of change in Britain’s artillery.
Since no plans or other drawings exist of these experimental guns, I have decided to produce the standard Royal Artillery 9 pdr.
THE ZULU IMPI
The Zulu impi was composed of 12,000 warriors, some of whom were Isandlwana veterans drawn from regiments in the main Zulu army, while the remainder were warriors who lived in the vicinity of Eshowe.
Many of the Zulu commanders wanted to attack the relief column that night, but Prince Dabulamanzi KaMpande, who was half brother to king Cetshwayo and commander of the impi’s right wing, convinced them to wait until morning.
At dawn on 2 April 1879, the morning sun revealed muddy ground and a heavy mist. Chelmsford had decided after hearing Dunn's report to not continue on toward Eshowe early the next morning. Instead, he would deploy units of the Natal Native Contingent to feel for the Zulus. As the NNC were preparing to advance shots were heard from the night pickets still on duty. The impi was advancing; the main force split into two columns before crossing the Ineyzane and assuming the "chest and horns" formation. The left horn sharply curved to the right to assault the laager's north-east corner, while the "chest" gently curved toward the north face of the laager.
The robust and vigorous Zulu clansman was the result of his upbringing, his entire boyhood being spent on the veldt tending cattle. This outdoor existence not only toughened his body and gave him great endurance but also gave him extensive knowledge of the terrain of his homeland.
By 1879 the Zulu army consisted of 33 regiments.
These regiments were more than just military units, they were an integral part of the Zulu social system and once formed could only be broken by death, for there was no retirement or buying out in the Zulu army and men in their 60’s and 70’s as long as they were physically able to take the field, answered the King’s call to arms.
uTHULWANA REGIMENT
Zulu regiments were known as “amabutho”, and the uThulwana regiment was formed in 1854, and was named after a Basuto chief.
It was also known as ”Dust Raisers” or “Cover with Dust”
Formed around the 18th Century AD (as one of King Shaka's ''original Lions''), they occupied the all-important position of ''Chest'' in The Zulu Attack Formation called ''The Beasts Horns''.
The Regiment was one of the largest – numbering around 3,000.
The uThulwana Regiment was a ''Front Line'' Zulu Military Formation of The Zulu Empire.
The basic Zulu military formation, made up of several “amabutho” was known as an “Impi”
It was a white shield regiment in which Cetshwayo once served.
The regiment had a stormy and divided history. It had been involved with a feud against the inGobamakhosi regiement over women.
In 1878 Cetshwayo gave the uThulwana permission to marry the female intanga that had been assigned to them, the inGcugce.
The uThulwana had been kept waiting for a long time for permission to marry, and men were now in their forties, but the girls of the inGcugce had been enrolled at about the same time as the inGobamakhosi, and most of them in their late teens had already formed pre-marriage partnerships with the men of the younger regiment.
When the uThulwana adorned with new headrings appeared to claim their brides, most of the girls had run off into the bush and could not be found.
There was a fight in which the uThulwana set about every man not wearing a headring, and the inGobamakhosi attacked every man with one.
The conflict was never resolved and whenever the two regiments came into contact the quarrel would flare up again.
At Isandlwana both regiments were drawn up well apart from one another.
GGZ-05
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ZULU IMPI.
THE uTHULWANA REGIMENT,
2 ZULU WARRIORS
Part of the regiment rebelled and joined Cetshwayo’s half brother, and some actually joined the NNC in an early action against one of the indunas of the inGobamakhosi.
Most of the regiment was to serve the king loyally, and fought bravely at Isandlwana, and at the attack on Rorke’s Drift. As well as at Gingindhlovu and finally at Ulundi under Dabulamanzi.
The regiment wore a headdress which included a brown crane feather, otter skin head band, monkey skin amabheqe, sakabula feathers and white ostrich feathers.
This ceremonial dress was apparently worn into battle.
GGZ-05N
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ZULU IMPI.
THE uTHULWANA REGIMENT,
4 ZULU WARRIORS
**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER TO PLACE YOUR PRE-ORDERS**
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879.
The Battle of Gingindhlovu was fought on 2nd April 1879 between a British relief column sent to break the siege at Eshowe, and a Zulu impi of king Cetshwayo.
The British soldier would refer to it as the Battle of “GIN GIN I LOVE YOU”.
Charles Pearson had led No.1 column of the British invasion force across the Tugela River to establish an advanced base at Eshowe. Having set up a base at a deserted Norwegian mission station, the British found themselves besieged.
A relief column was organized by Lord Chelmsford and departed Fort Tenedos on 29th March to relieve the garrison.
Chelmsford’s relief force comprised 3,390 Europeans, and 2,280 Africans.
Lord Chelmsford ensured his men spent much time laagering and entrenching their camp at the end of each day, and kept ammunition boxes open and at the ready.
Although this was slow progress, Pearson’s observers at Eshowe were able to see the relief column entrenched on the south bank of the Neyzane, on the evening of the 1st April.
BRITISH LAAGER/ENTRENCHED DEFENCES
GG-106
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
BRITISH LAAGER/ENTRENCHED DEFENCES,
OX WAGON
PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE ALTOGETHER 5 DIFFERENT WAGONS. THE LAST VERSION WILL BE RELEASED NEXT MONTH.
The Zulu impi was composed of 12,000 warriors, some of whom were Isandlwana veterans drawn from regiments in the main Zulu army, while the remainder were warriors who lived in the vicinity of Eshowe.
Many of the Zulu commanders wanted to attack the relief column that night, but Prince Dabulamanzi KaMpande, who was half brother to king Cetshwayo and commander of the impi’s right wing, convinced them to wait until morning.
At dawn on 2 April 1879, the morning sun revealed muddy ground and a heavy mist. Chelmsford had decided after hearing Dunn's report to not continue on toward Eshowe early the next morning. Instead, he would deploy units of the Natal Native Contingent to feel for the Zulus. As the NNC were preparing to advance shots were heard from the night pickets still on duty. The impi was advancing; the main force split into two columns before crossing the Ineyzane and assuming the "chest and horns" formation. The left horn sharply curved to the right to assault the laager's north-east corner, while the "chest" gently curved toward the north face of the laager.
Another force passed Misi Hill and approached the laager, forming the impi’s right horn.
The buffalo formation came in at a run on the three sides of the laager as Chelmsford had wanted; at a range of 300–400 yd (270–370 m) the British infantry opened fire, supported by the Gatling guns and rockets.
Zulu marksmen caused a few casualties within the laager, but the defenders kept the Zulus at bay.
Although the Zulu regiments made persistent rushes to get within stabbing range, their charges lacked the drive and spirit that had pushed them forward at Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.
The only zulu to reach the laager was a ten year old boy, who was immediately taken prisoner by members of the naval brigade and later served as a kind of mascot on their ship, Boadicea.
Around 7am, the main impi attack had been halted. Chelmsford ordered his mounted troops to attack, followed by the NNC.
Many zulu were killed as they withdrew.
Chelmsford had begun to avenge the Imperial dead of Isandlwana, but for the present he was content to relieve Pearson and return to Natal.
THE 91st (PRINCESS LOUISE’S ARGYLLSHIRE) HIGHLANDERS
The 91st Highlanders were stationed at Aldershot when they received an order, on 12th February 1879 to proceed on active service to Natal. The regiment formed the advance guard on the Eshowe relief column.
During the Battle of Gingindlovu the 91st held the (Southern) rear face of the lager and bore the brunt of the second attack.
After the relief of Eschowe the regiment was employed on convoy duty until it was attached to the 2nd Brigade of Crealock’s 1st Division for the second invasion of Zululand.
The 91st was the only Highland regiment involved in the 1879 Zulu War, and photographs taken at the time show the regiment wearing greatcoats/blankets in bandolier-fashion (en banderole) over the left shoulder, and tartan trousers, with only the pipers in kilts.
GG91-16
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
91st REGIMENT (PRINCESS LOUISE’S ARGYLLSHIRE HIGHLANDERS)
2 HIGHLANDERS, AMMUNITION BOX AND PRIVATE
GG-110
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
AMMUNITION BOXES
THE NAVAL BRIGADE
Naval Brigade landing parties were a feature of Victorian campaigns and the Zulu War was no exception.
In the aftermath of Isandlwana HMS Shah was diverted from a homeward journey and landed most of its ship’s complement at Durban, a total of 378 men.
GGNV-02
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
BRITISH NAVAL BRIGADE,
H.M.S. SHAH
GGNV-02N
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ESHOWE RELIEF COLUMN,
BRITISH NAVAL BRIGADE,
H.M.S. SHAH
On 20th March HMS Boadicea also landed a brigade of 10 officers and 218 men.
About 100 Royal Marines were also included.
Two Brigades were formed for the relief column for Eshowe. The artillery for this force came entirely from the Naval Brigades. The allocation was as follows
1st Brigade, included two 9pdrs, two 24pdr Rocket Tubes, and one Gatling gun.
2nd Brigade, included two 24pdr Rocket Tubes and one Gatling Gun.
The 9pdrs, Rockets and Gatlings were positioned at the corners of the British enclosure. The Gatling Guns opened fire at 1,000m, and as the Zulus approached they were engaged by all the artillery weapons.
Naval attachments brought with them their own artillery, including Gatlings which were both used to good effect at Gingindhlovu.
The Naval Brigade Gatlings were apparently mounted on different carriages to their army counterparts, these being narrower and minus the axle-tree boxes.
There were also a number of Hale’s rockets. These were the heavy 24pdrs, fired from tubes rather than the army’s troughs. These tubes were originally designed to be bracketed onto the side of a ship, but by 1879 a modified version replaced the bracket with a tripod for land service, and it was this “Fisher” tube which was the type used in Zululand.
The navy also landed some of its field guns. At Gingindhlovu the naval Brigade had two 9-pounder guns.
A drawing of the relief column, shows the Naval Brigade with a 9pdr which does not appear to be of the standard Army pattern. At this time there was a great deal of experiments carried out on artillery pieces, and it is possible that the Navy were given some of these “experimental” guns for their landing parties. It was a time of change in Britain’s artillery.
Since no plans or other drawings exist of these experimental guns, I have decided to produce the standard Royal Artillery 9 pdr.
THE ZULU IMPI
The Zulu impi was composed of 12,000 warriors, some of whom were Isandlwana veterans drawn from regiments in the main Zulu army, while the remainder were warriors who lived in the vicinity of Eshowe.
Many of the Zulu commanders wanted to attack the relief column that night, but Prince Dabulamanzi KaMpande, who was half brother to king Cetshwayo and commander of the impi’s right wing, convinced them to wait until morning.
At dawn on 2 April 1879, the morning sun revealed muddy ground and a heavy mist. Chelmsford had decided after hearing Dunn's report to not continue on toward Eshowe early the next morning. Instead, he would deploy units of the Natal Native Contingent to feel for the Zulus. As the NNC were preparing to advance shots were heard from the night pickets still on duty. The impi was advancing; the main force split into two columns before crossing the Ineyzane and assuming the "chest and horns" formation. The left horn sharply curved to the right to assault the laager's north-east corner, while the "chest" gently curved toward the north face of the laager.
The robust and vigorous Zulu clansman was the result of his upbringing, his entire boyhood being spent on the veldt tending cattle. This outdoor existence not only toughened his body and gave him great endurance but also gave him extensive knowledge of the terrain of his homeland.
By 1879 the Zulu army consisted of 33 regiments.
These regiments were more than just military units, they were an integral part of the Zulu social system and once formed could only be broken by death, for there was no retirement or buying out in the Zulu army and men in their 60’s and 70’s as long as they were physically able to take the field, answered the King’s call to arms.
uTHULWANA REGIMENT
Zulu regiments were known as “amabutho”, and the uThulwana regiment was formed in 1854, and was named after a Basuto chief.
It was also known as ”Dust Raisers” or “Cover with Dust”
Formed around the 18th Century AD (as one of King Shaka's ''original Lions''), they occupied the all-important position of ''Chest'' in The Zulu Attack Formation called ''The Beasts Horns''.
The Regiment was one of the largest – numbering around 3,000.
The uThulwana Regiment was a ''Front Line'' Zulu Military Formation of The Zulu Empire.
The basic Zulu military formation, made up of several “amabutho” was known as an “Impi”
It was a white shield regiment in which Cetshwayo once served.
The regiment had a stormy and divided history. It had been involved with a feud against the inGobamakhosi regiement over women.
In 1878 Cetshwayo gave the uThulwana permission to marry the female intanga that had been assigned to them, the inGcugce.
The uThulwana had been kept waiting for a long time for permission to marry, and men were now in their forties, but the girls of the inGcugce had been enrolled at about the same time as the inGobamakhosi, and most of them in their late teens had already formed pre-marriage partnerships with the men of the younger regiment.
When the uThulwana adorned with new headrings appeared to claim their brides, most of the girls had run off into the bush and could not be found.
There was a fight in which the uThulwana set about every man not wearing a headring, and the inGobamakhosi attacked every man with one.
The conflict was never resolved and whenever the two regiments came into contact the quarrel would flare up again.
At Isandlwana both regiments were drawn up well apart from one another.
GGZ-05
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ZULU IMPI.
THE uTHULWANA REGIMENT,
2 ZULU WARRIORS
Part of the regiment rebelled and joined Cetshwayo’s half brother, and some actually joined the NNC in an early action against one of the indunas of the inGobamakhosi.
Most of the regiment was to serve the king loyally, and fought bravely at Isandlwana, and at the attack on Rorke’s Drift. As well as at Gingindhlovu and finally at Ulundi under Dabulamanzi.
The regiment wore a headdress which included a brown crane feather, otter skin head band, monkey skin amabheqe, sakabula feathers and white ostrich feathers.
This ceremonial dress was apparently worn into battle.
GGZ-05N
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879,
THE ZULU IMPI.
THE uTHULWANA REGIMENT,
4 ZULU WARRIORS
**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER TO PLACE YOUR PRE-ORDERS**
