- Joined
- Feb 2, 2011
- Messages
- 2,118
JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 5TH AUGUST 2024
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.
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 British regiments in the camp had stood to at 4am. A native soldier pointed to the skyline. ‘Impi’ he declared. The British officers stared at the hill top for some time, before realising that what they had taken to be a long smudge of vegetation was the mass of the advancing Zulu ‘chest’.
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.
The first attack was received on the north side of the British entrenchments by the 60th Rifles. One of the newly arrived regiments, the young soldiers of the 60th found the ordeal of the Zulu attack trying in the extreme and it took all the leadership of the battalion’s officers to keep their troops steady and firing. The Gatling guns at the ends of the line provided much needed support.
Under heavy fire from the British line, the Zulu charge faltered and flowed around to the west flank of the square, where the attack was renewed against the 99th Regiment. In the face of the volley firing from the two sides of the square the Zulu ‘chest’ finally went to ground in cover.
The ‘horns’ of the Zulu advance rushed around the British position expecting to find the rear open, as at Isandlwana, only to meet the volley firing of the 91st Highland Regiment and the 57th Regiment. Here too, the Zulus were forced into cover.
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.
In the face of the sustained fire from the 91st and 57th, the attack on the rear of the laager ebbed away and Chelmsford ordered his mounted units out of the square to complete the victory. The mounted attack was premature and it was some time before the Zulu withdrawal took hold.
Soon after 7am, the battle was over and the Zulus in full retreat, pursued by the mounted troops and the native contingent. Large numbers of Zulu warriors were killed in the long pursuit.
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 outcome of the battle was a great relief to Chelmsford, showing him that his army’s confidence was re-established and enabling him to continue his advance to Pearson’s camp and on to defeat the Zulu King, Cetshwayo, at the Battle of Ulundi.
British casualties were 6 officers and 55 men; among the dead was Lieutenant Colonel Northey of the 60th Rifles. Zulu casualties were calculated at over 1,000.
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.
There are at least 6 more poses in development for the 91st Highlanders.
One of the few photographs of the 91st Highlanders in Zululand, 1879. The picture shows pipers in kilts, and the regiment behind wearing greatcoats/blankets in bandolier-fashion, and with black pouches.
More information on this new series, “GIN GIN I LOVE YOU”, will be previewed throughout August.
The first sets of the 91st Highlanders will be available in September 2024.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
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.
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 British regiments in the camp had stood to at 4am. A native soldier pointed to the skyline. ‘Impi’ he declared. The British officers stared at the hill top for some time, before realising that what they had taken to be a long smudge of vegetation was the mass of the advancing Zulu ‘chest’.
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.
The first attack was received on the north side of the British entrenchments by the 60th Rifles. One of the newly arrived regiments, the young soldiers of the 60th found the ordeal of the Zulu attack trying in the extreme and it took all the leadership of the battalion’s officers to keep their troops steady and firing. The Gatling guns at the ends of the line provided much needed support.
Under heavy fire from the British line, the Zulu charge faltered and flowed around to the west flank of the square, where the attack was renewed against the 99th Regiment. In the face of the volley firing from the two sides of the square the Zulu ‘chest’ finally went to ground in cover.
The ‘horns’ of the Zulu advance rushed around the British position expecting to find the rear open, as at Isandlwana, only to meet the volley firing of the 91st Highland Regiment and the 57th Regiment. Here too, the Zulus were forced into cover.
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.
In the face of the sustained fire from the 91st and 57th, the attack on the rear of the laager ebbed away and Chelmsford ordered his mounted units out of the square to complete the victory. The mounted attack was premature and it was some time before the Zulu withdrawal took hold.
Soon after 7am, the battle was over and the Zulus in full retreat, pursued by the mounted troops and the native contingent. Large numbers of Zulu warriors were killed in the long pursuit.
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 outcome of the battle was a great relief to Chelmsford, showing him that his army’s confidence was re-established and enabling him to continue his advance to Pearson’s camp and on to defeat the Zulu King, Cetshwayo, at the Battle of Ulundi.
British casualties were 6 officers and 55 men; among the dead was Lieutenant Colonel Northey of the 60th Rifles. Zulu casualties were calculated at over 1,000.
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.
There are at least 6 more poses in development for the 91st Highlanders.
One of the few photographs of the 91st Highlanders in Zululand, 1879. The picture shows pipers in kilts, and the regiment behind wearing greatcoats/blankets in bandolier-fashion, and with black pouches.
More information on this new series, “GIN GIN I LOVE YOU”, will be previewed throughout August.
The first sets of the 91st Highlanders will be available in September 2024.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
