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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 6th JANUARY 2025
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879.
THE ZULU IMPI
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 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.
An older induna carries a status weapon, an “isizenze” (axe) which denotes his authority
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.
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.
ZULU TACTICS
The main Zulu battle tactic was known as the “Izimpondo Zankomo”, the “Beasts Horns” which had been the favourite tactic since the founding of the kingdom.
The youngest and most agile, eager “ambutho” were deployed on either flank as “horns” who rushed out to surround the enemy, while the older more experienced “amabutho” were deployed in the centre, the “Chest”.
The “Chest” was expected to withstand the casualties that might be expected from making a frontal assault in the open.
A reserve usually composed of older, married “amabutho”, perhaps supported by cadets was kept back ready to be fed forward where necessary.
Positions within these formations were jealously guarded.
As the “amabutho” advanced to attack they extended from a column into loose, open lines, allowing each man plenty of room to move freely, and to minimize the danger of presenting a compact target.
The “amabutho” often broke into chants recalling past glories as they advanced, or called out war cries. The national war cry in 1879 was “uSuthu!”
The “izimpondo zankomo” formation was designed to play to the Zulu army’s strength, which was to bring the maximum number of men into close combat as quickly as possible.
At a range of 10-20 yards the throwing spears were thrown, then once they reached the enemy the stabbing spears were used in a final ferocious attack that was difficult without the protection of barricades to repulse.
The first wave of Zulus should be available this summer.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
THE BATTLE OF GINGINDHLOVU, 2nd APRIL 1879.
THE ZULU IMPI
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 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.
An older induna carries a status weapon, an “isizenze” (axe) which denotes his authority
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.
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.
ZULU TACTICS
The main Zulu battle tactic was known as the “Izimpondo Zankomo”, the “Beasts Horns” which had been the favourite tactic since the founding of the kingdom.
The youngest and most agile, eager “ambutho” were deployed on either flank as “horns” who rushed out to surround the enemy, while the older more experienced “amabutho” were deployed in the centre, the “Chest”.
The “Chest” was expected to withstand the casualties that might be expected from making a frontal assault in the open.
A reserve usually composed of older, married “amabutho”, perhaps supported by cadets was kept back ready to be fed forward where necessary.
Positions within these formations were jealously guarded.
As the “amabutho” advanced to attack they extended from a column into loose, open lines, allowing each man plenty of room to move freely, and to minimize the danger of presenting a compact target.
The “amabutho” often broke into chants recalling past glories as they advanced, or called out war cries. The national war cry in 1879 was “uSuthu!”
The “izimpondo zankomo” formation was designed to play to the Zulu army’s strength, which was to bring the maximum number of men into close combat as quickly as possible.
At a range of 10-20 yards the throwing spears were thrown, then once they reached the enemy the stabbing spears were used in a final ferocious attack that was difficult without the protection of barricades to repulse.
The first wave of Zulus should be available this summer.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
