Did British soldiers run out of ammunition at Isandlwana? Were young drummer boys tortured by Zulu warriors? And did drugs turn the Zulu army into fearless killing machines? We examine three of the biggest myths of the Anglo-Zulu War and uncover what really happened in January 1879.
Would You Have Gone Back?
The Victoria Crosses Awarded at the Battle of Isandlwana The Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was one of the greatest defeats in British military history. Over 20,000 Zulu warriors overwhelmed a thin red line of redcoats and their allies, leaving just a handful of survivors. But amidst the chaos and slaughter, there were … Continue reading Would You Have Gone Back?
Forget everything you think you know about the Martini-Henry Rifle
At the recent Clash of Empires Exhibition in London I was lucky enough to meet and interview many experts in their field. Amongst them was the wonderful Neil Aspinshaw - collector and expert on the Martini-Henry Rifle. He is the author of an exceptional book about the weapon that you can find here - https://martini-henry-society.myshopify.com/ … Continue reading Forget everything you think you know about the Martini-Henry Rifle
The surprising secrets of Zulu Shields
One aspect of the anglo-Zulu war of 1879 that’s always fascinated me is Shields. They were a big part of Zulu tactical doctrine but also had deeper meanings, both on and off the battlefield. Ian Knight, co-curator of the Clash of Empires Exhibition, and expert of all things Anglo-Zulu war, explains more in the video … Continue reading The surprising secrets of Zulu Shields
THE CLASH OF EMPIRES: LARGEST EVER ANGLO-ZULU WAR EXHIBTION TAKING PLACE IN LONDON
The clash of empires exhibition will be huge - the largest artefact-driven museum exhibition on the Anglo-Zulu War, and it is happening in London in July. Alex Haimann and the world renowned historian Ian Knight are co-curators. Tickets can be found here. I have just spoken to Alex all about it and that film can … Continue reading THE CLASH OF EMPIRES: LARGEST EVER ANGLO-ZULU WAR EXHIBTION TAKING PLACE IN LONDON
The Battle for Moorosi’s Mountain – 1879
Did you know that while the British army was battling the Zulus, another force of Cape soldiers was fighting in a nearby region against the BaPhuti people of southern Lesotho?
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Keeping the memories alive: Visiting little known sites of the Anglo-Zulu War
In this video and blog post you can see and learn about a number of little-known Anglo-Zulu War battlefields and memorials...including Luneburg, Ntombe Drift and Conference Hill.
Rorkes Drift From Above: Drone shots of the famous battlefield
The Battle of Rorke’s Drift is one of the most famous engagements in British military history. I’ve made a number of films about the battle over the years which you can find on this website and on my YouTube channel, but for this film I wanted to do something different - Drone shots of the site and also a chronology of the battle.
Fort Pine – A hidden gem of the Anglo-Zulu War
Deep in the rural areas of KwaZulu-natal, about 20km from Dundee is the impressive, but almost unknown Anglo-Zulu War fortification known as Fort Pine. Its dry-stone walls are still impressive, at least 14 feet high they tower over the gentle farmland of the Biggarsberg ridge. https://youtu.be/0FpLS6CYmag Work began on the fort by the Royal Engineers … Continue reading Fort Pine – A hidden gem of the Anglo-Zulu War
