The Somerset Light Infantry - The Zulu War, 1878 - 1879
Background to the Conflict
With hindsight, the Zulu war was caused by British aggression. Within a few years of the emergence of the Zulu nation, British adventurers were attracted to it in search of trade and treasure. By 1840 Natal, a British colony, had sprung up on the southern borders of Zululand. By the 1870s the British had begun to conduct a policy of inclusion: they hoped to incorporate the British colonies, the Boer republics and the African regions under a common British rule, in order to aid trade and economic development. However, it was believed that a strong Zulu nation was a threat to his ideal. Therefore, in December 1878 the British High Commissioner in South Africa, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, picked an argument with King Cetewayo, believing that the Zulu's armed with spears and shields would soon fall under a show of British superiority.
The Conflict
The war began in January 1879. Cetewayo had forces estimated to number around 40,000 men, all of whom were extremely mobile. Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford was placed in charge of the British forces; he organised them into five separate columns, of which the 13th formed part of the number 4 column based at Utrecht. The aim of the campaign was to secure Natal and the Transvaal from invasion. An ultimatum was delivered to Cetewayo which, when it expired on 11 January 1879, led to the invasion of Zululand by columns 1, 3 and 4, with the other two columns remaining in defence.
During the first two weeks of the campaign, the British army received unmitigated disaster. On 11 January, number 3 colony crossed the Tugela River at Rorke's Drift. Leaving a small garrison there, they continued to Isandhlwana. On 22 January a huge force of Zulus attacked Isandhlwana, killing 52 officers and 806 other ranks. They then attacked the garrison at Rorke's Drift where just 145 men, after ten hours of fierce fighting, drove off the attacking Zulus - a scene made famous by the 1964 film Zulu. British morale had been severely dented by the attack on Isandhlwana: as well as the knowledge that much ammunition and all the transport and supplies from the 3rd column had been lost, it was feared that an invasion of British territory would follow. Fortunately for them, the Zulus did not follow up their success and British forces gained much-needed breathing space.
At the end of January 1879, number 4 column and the companies of the 13th moved to Kambula Hill, which lay on the slopes of Ngabaka Hawane Mountain. Kambula covered the approaches to Utrecht, and was thus an important defensive garrison and also a by-station for captured and surrendered Zulus. A force of 20,000 Zulus advanced on Kambula, and on the afternoon of 29 March 1879 formed their traditional attack position, resembling a bull's head. One hundred mounted men were set out to the fort to engage with the right wing of the Zulu attack, hoping to entice the Zulus into making a premature attack. The Zulus fell for the trick and advanced, whilst the British forces retired to the fort. When the enemy came within 300 yars of the garrison, they were met by tremendous firepower. After that day's fighting, the Zulu forces were driven back with an estimated death of 2,000 Zulus and only 18 British.
The 1st Battalion remained camped at Kambula until early May, when it marched to Mumhla Hill and then onto the Umyanyene River, meeting up with Lord Chelmsford in early June. By the end of June, the Battalion was station at Entonjaneni Hill, which lay just 6 miles from Ulndi, the Zulu headquarters. While here the Zulu King sent out envoys of peace, but this led to no resolution. On 5 July 1879 the British forces crossed the Umvolosi River, and took up a square formation for battle: the mounted men formed a hollow rectangle, with the 13th on the right flank, the guns and Gatlings placed in pairs at the corners, and the ammunition and tool carts, the bearer company and the Natal Pioners in the centre. The Zulus advanced on the square, but the firepower was too strong for them. They were finally defeated by an attack from the 17th Lancers. The Battle of Ulundi totally crushed the military strength of Cetewayo: the Zulu warriers returned to their kraals and the King fled. Soon afterwards, on 1 August 1879, the services of the 13th were no longer needed and thus embarked for England.
