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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 5th MAY 2025
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.
Due to the rocky terrain of Zululand and the ponderous progress of ox drawn supply wagons, the British invasion force would be very slow moving. Ordinarily, such serious transport deficiencies would have been a serious handicap, but Chelmsford turned this slow progress to his tactical advantage.
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.
A measured advance towards the Zulu capital of Ulundi permitted both adequate reconnaissance of uncharted Zululand and allowed the progressive destruction of Zulu crops and villages as his invasion force advanced, actions calculated to provoke the Zulus into attacking his prepared squares or entrenched positions.
The standard battle tactic employed by the British in South Africa was a combination of good reconnaissance followed by ruthless skirmishing. In rough country, both the infantry and cavalry would advance to meet the enemy, the infantry breaking up any established groups and the cavalry harassing them in flight. If the Zulus appeared in any number, the British were trained to form a square or entrench their position, thus drawing the Zulus into the range of their overwhelming firepower.
Well aimed rifle volley fire, supported by rockets, artillery and later in the campaign, Gatling guns, would in Chelmsford’s view, ensure the invincibility of the invasion force.
Once a Zulu attack on such a well defended position faltered, the cavalry would leave the protection of the entrenched position to harass and rout the attackers.
MOUNTED INFANTRY
At the beginning of the campaign Chelmsford had no regular cavalry regiments at his disposal, which was a setback given the cavalry traditional role of scouting and pursuit.
He did however have two understrength squadrons of Mounted Infantry, who were distributed throughout the invading columns.
The Mounted Infantry consisted of selected soldiers from infantry regiments mounted on locally acquired horses.
During the Zulu war the men of the mounted infantry, chosen from nearly every infantry battalion, wore their regiment’s tunic, cord breeches and riding boots.
They were armed with Martini-Henry rifles, and instead of the usual infantry equipment carried a bandolier.
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.
THE umCijo ZULU IMPI
This Zulu regiment was formed in 1867, and was known as “The Sharp Pointed”, and as uKhandempemvu “The White Headed”, probably because of the white cow tails in their head dress.
If the Zulu had had regimental colours like their British foes, then this young regiment would have carried one well marked with battle honours.
At Isandlwana the umCijo impi literally spear headed the attack on the camp, occupying the centre and moving forward on their stomachs under a hail of bullets till the defenders’ ammunition began to run out. The units in front of them were Natal Natives who broke and fled when the umCijo rose to their feet and charged. Although badly shot up, the umCijo wiped out the rear ranks of A and F companies.
Two months later, under the leadership of Mnyamana, they fell on the north side of the Kambula laager and suffered many casualties.
The umCijo this time led by Zibhebhu refused to allow the royal cattle to be sent to Chelmsford as a peace offering, and at Ulundi they were the first in the ill fated assault on the British square.
The first of the UThulwana Zulu Impi will be available soon!
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.
Due to the rocky terrain of Zululand and the ponderous progress of ox drawn supply wagons, the British invasion force would be very slow moving. Ordinarily, such serious transport deficiencies would have been a serious handicap, but Chelmsford turned this slow progress to his tactical advantage.
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.
A measured advance towards the Zulu capital of Ulundi permitted both adequate reconnaissance of uncharted Zululand and allowed the progressive destruction of Zulu crops and villages as his invasion force advanced, actions calculated to provoke the Zulus into attacking his prepared squares or entrenched positions.
The standard battle tactic employed by the British in South Africa was a combination of good reconnaissance followed by ruthless skirmishing. In rough country, both the infantry and cavalry would advance to meet the enemy, the infantry breaking up any established groups and the cavalry harassing them in flight. If the Zulus appeared in any number, the British were trained to form a square or entrench their position, thus drawing the Zulus into the range of their overwhelming firepower.
Well aimed rifle volley fire, supported by rockets, artillery and later in the campaign, Gatling guns, would in Chelmsford’s view, ensure the invincibility of the invasion force.
Once a Zulu attack on such a well defended position faltered, the cavalry would leave the protection of the entrenched position to harass and rout the attackers.
MOUNTED INFANTRY
At the beginning of the campaign Chelmsford had no regular cavalry regiments at his disposal, which was a setback given the cavalry traditional role of scouting and pursuit.
He did however have two understrength squadrons of Mounted Infantry, who were distributed throughout the invading columns.
The Mounted Infantry consisted of selected soldiers from infantry regiments mounted on locally acquired horses.
During the Zulu war the men of the mounted infantry, chosen from nearly every infantry battalion, wore their regiment’s tunic, cord breeches and riding boots.
They were armed with Martini-Henry rifles, and instead of the usual infantry equipment carried a bandolier.
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.
THE umCijo ZULU IMPI
This Zulu regiment was formed in 1867, and was known as “The Sharp Pointed”, and as uKhandempemvu “The White Headed”, probably because of the white cow tails in their head dress.
If the Zulu had had regimental colours like their British foes, then this young regiment would have carried one well marked with battle honours.
At Isandlwana the umCijo impi literally spear headed the attack on the camp, occupying the centre and moving forward on their stomachs under a hail of bullets till the defenders’ ammunition began to run out. The units in front of them were Natal Natives who broke and fled when the umCijo rose to their feet and charged. Although badly shot up, the umCijo wiped out the rear ranks of A and F companies.
Two months later, under the leadership of Mnyamana, they fell on the north side of the Kambula laager and suffered many casualties.
The umCijo this time led by Zibhebhu refused to allow the royal cattle to be sent to Chelmsford as a peace offering, and at Ulundi they were the first in the ill fated assault on the British square.
The first of the UThulwana Zulu Impi will be available soon!
Best wishes,
john jenkins
