Isandhlwana

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Site Index</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Zulu War 1879"><U>Home Page</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Build up and Aftermath"><U>Build up and Aftermath</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT><A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Isandhlwana"><U>Isandhlwana</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift 1879"><U>Rorke's Drift 1879</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Defenders of Rorkes Drift"><U>Roll of Defenders of Rorke's Drift</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift VC Winners"><U>Rorke's Drift</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift VC Winners"><U>VC Winners</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Award Winners"><U>Other Award Winners</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Film Zulu"><U>The Film </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Film Zulu"><U>'Zulu'</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zulu Dawn"><U>The Film </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zulu Dawn"><U>'Zulu Dawn'</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Zulu War 1879</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC99" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>| </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Zulu War 1879"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="02658020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Isandhlwana</div> <bR> <div> <B>22 January 1879 - the Empire's longest day</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>  <script language=JavaScript>  </script>  </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="414" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 306 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="08d902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Isandhlwana from the top of the plateau that the Zulu's advanced from. </div> <bR> <div> No.3 or Centre Column began crossing the Buffalo in thick mist and drizzling rain at 4.30am on the 11th January. </div> <div> The advance was led by the mounted troops and the N.N.C., some of whom drowned in the river, which came upto their necks. </div> <div> The less expendable battalions of the 24th crossed on flat-bottomed ponts, operated by the Royal Engineers. They were </div> <div> covered by Lieutenant-Colonel Harness' battery of N/5 Royal Artillery. A bridgehead was established without opposition and </div> <div> the whole day was spent getting the column across while Chelmsford rode north to confer with Colonel Evelyn Wood </div> <div> of the left column, his last opportunity.</div> <bR> <div> Before the column could advance, a Zulu kraal commanding the track had to be captured to allow the Natal Pioneers </div> <div> to reinforce the track. The task fell to the 1/3rd NNC commanded by George Hamilton-Browne. He had contempt for </div> <div> his command, save for three of his companies which were formed from renegade Zulus. Encouraged by the bayonets of four </div> <div> supporting companies of 1/24th, the 1/3rd NNC attacked Sihayo's kraal on 12th January. The Zulu companies showed </div> <div> themselves proud and the position was taken along with a quantity of sheep and cattle captured.</div> <bR> <div> The next few days were taken up with improving the track and moving the transport forward. The mounted troops scouted </div> <div> ahead towards Isipezi Hill. No Zulus were seen and an intermediate campsite was found with good fuel and water. From here a </div> <div> further advance could be made to Ispezi which lay beneath Isandhlwana hill some 10 miles along the track. Chelmsford decided </div> <div> to form an advanced base there so that the wagons could be offloaded and sent back to Rorke's Drift for fresh supplies. At noon </div> <div> on the 20th January, the wagons were left behind as the column reached Isandhlwana and began setting up camp. </div> <bR> <div> The hill at Isandhlwana runs north for about 400 yards from its highest point just north of the track leading up from the Buffalo, </div> <div> until it drops sharply. The ground rises again for about 1,500 yards along a spur up to the Nqutu plateau. The plateau stretches </div> <div> north and east towards Isipezi Hill 10 miles away, forming the northern boundary of the plain, which is some 4 miles away. The </div> <div> track to Ulundi runs across the plateau to the east of Isandhlwana. South of the track and forming the southern boundary of the </div> <div> plain lie the Malakata, Inhlazatye and Nkandhla hills. The southern edge of the plateau forms an escarpment, broken at various </div> <div> places down which streams flow and the track spur runs down to Isandhlwana. The streams flow to join in wide ditches known </div> <div> as 'dongas' and cross the plain in a north-south direction.</div> <bR> <div> The east of the plateau is wide open with no cover except among the boulders and dongas, the force had a fine field of </div> <div> fire with its back to Isandhlwana, observation reaching out to the escarpment and a conical hill to the east of Isandhlwana and </div> <div> the Malakatas. Only where the northern spur joined the plateau was there an opportunity for an enemy to get round and </div> <div> strike in close to the hill.</div> <bR> <div> The column did not put the standing orders of entrenchment into effect, probably because of the stony ground, but no breastworks </div> <div> were built or obstacles placed to slow an enemy attack. Several of the experienced officers of the 24th expressed concern.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="315" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 231 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="08e2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> View towards British line and initial central Zulu attack<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> On the morning of the 22nd January, Chelmsford divided the force, sending out mounted troops and sixteen </div> <div> companies of the 3rd NNC to scout the south-east for the Zulu army and sent other patrols out in other directions, The main </div> <div> patrol, under Dartnell, encountered 1,500-2,000 Zulus some 10 miles from camp who withdrew after a skirmish. Dartnell </div> <div> decided to bivouac for the night as it was getting dark and asked for reinforcements. Chelmsford decided to move out to </div> <div> support Dartnell assuming the Zulu force was a portion of a much larger Zulu force in the area.</div> <bR> <div> The camp at Isandhlwana was left to the command of brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pulleine, who had taken over the </div> <div> 1/24th when Glyn was appointed to command No.3 Column. Pulleine had seen no active service. To defend the 900-yard </div> <div> long collaction of tents and over a hundred wagons and draught animals he had five companies of the 1/24th, G Company </div> <div> and the rear details of the 2/24th, 115 mounted men of the Police, Mounted Infantry and Volunteers. Two guns of N/5 RA, </div> <div> Nos 6 and 9 Companies of the 2/3rd NNC and 13 staff officers and assorted administrative troops. </div> <bR> <div> Chelmsford believed that Pulleine's defences were strong enough to beat off any attack and was not concerned when it </div> <div> was reported that Zulus were heading for the camp in force. Chelmsford stuck to his plan and moved to the new campsite. </div> <div> Chelmsford ordered Glyn to gather his scattered troops and move in the direction of Mangeni valley.</div> <bR> <div> At Isandhlwana, Pulleine set out his protective screen. All the mounted men were deployed as vedettes on the high ground </div> <div> to the north-east and east. Infantry picquets were in an arc, with two companies of the 24th guarding the right front and flank, </div> <div> extended in posts of four from the stony hill right round to the centre where they men the No.9 company of 1/3rd NNC midway </div> <div> between the camp and conical hill, No.5 Company of 2/3rd NNC completed the line. A party under Lieutenant Anstey was sent </div> <div> out to repair the track and the rest of the camp settled down to its normal routine. Just before 8am a trooper galloped down from </div> <div> the spur to report a large force of Zulus approaching from the north-east across the Nqutu plateau.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="311" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 231 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="08f2ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> The site of Durford's stand, known as 'Durnford's Donga'</div> <bR> <div> It is between the four trees on the left and the group of trees on the right.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" > Pulleine sent off a message to Chelmsford and called in the </FONT></div> <div> road party and the 24th companies on picquet, but left the NNC companies in position. He sounded the 'fall in'. </div> <div> All remained quiet until 10am when five troops of Natal Native Horse, followed by the rocket battery and two companies </div> <div> of the 1/1st NNC rode upto Isandhlwana. They left their wagons behind on hearing Chard's warning about the </div> <div> Zulus approaching Isandhlwana. The horse, rockets and NNC arrived about 11am. Durnford, who had been commanding </div> <div> the Horse, arrived at the camp and this put Pulleines' position into question. Durnford was more experienced and </div> <div> older than Pulleine as well as having considerable experience in South Africa. Pulleine was willing to hand over command, </div> <div> but Durnford said he and his command would not be staying in camp. </div> <bR> <div> They moved out to clear the plateau of scattered parties of Zulus. </div> <div> Hamilton-Browne who was returning to Isandhlwana was still some 9 miles out as Durnford and Pulleine sat down for </div> <div> an early lunch. They had captured two Zulus, who informed Hamilton-Browne that the impi was close to the camp and was </div> <div> going to attack. Browne sent a message back to Chelmsford but the message did not reach the General until about 2pm.</div> <bR> <div> Receiving a report of 500 Zulus to the north-east moving away east, Durnford decided to ride out with his two </div> <div> remaining troops, the rocket battery and a company to head off this force and asked Pulleine for two companies to </div> <div> support him. Pulleine demurred but gave in under pressure. His adjutant strongly protested at the decrease in the camps' </div> <div> strength and Durnford agreed to leave them behind and at 11.30 rode out of camp. At about midday, a troop of Sikali Horse </div> <div> found the main impi. 20,000 Zulus all packed into a ravine some 5 1/2 miles north-east of the camp and nearly 11 miles </div> <div> north of where Chelmsford was searching for them.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="574" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 257 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="09035fb0.jpg" border=0 width="565" height="251" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The impi was resting while small detachments gathered food. The troop was pursued as it fell back and joined </div> <div> by another troop. The two horns of the Zulu attack closed in around the camp, Durnford recovered a warning while </div> <div> some 4 miles from the camp as he saw the left horn of the Zulu attack advancing over the skyline to his left front and </div> <div> coming on fast. Durnford extended his troops and opened fire but the enemy was not even slowed and the force </div> <div> began to retire. At about 12.15 messengers reached the camp and Pulleine sounded the Alarm and scribbled a note </div> <div> to Chelmsford about the oncoming enemy force and that he could not break camp now. Pulleine sent F Company 1/24th </div> <div> to plug the gap between Durnfords troops and Cavaye's which were retreating before the right horn of the Zulu attack.</div> <bR> <div> Pulleine now had a dilemma; he had undertaken to assist Durnford who was far out on the plain but his orders were to </div> <div> draw in a compact defence close to the hill. Durnford was also in danger of being cut off as the Zulus began spilling over </div> <div> the lip of the escarpment. Pulleine deployed two guns and some companies to the east of the NNC camas others on the left </div> <div> took up a position to cover the retreat of Cavaye and Mostyn who fell back to form their right front. The whole line was a </div> <div> mile and a half long from Young-Husband on the left to Scott on the conical hill to the east and faced north and north-east. </div> <div> The guns opened fire with shrapnel as the Zulus boiled down the escarpment. Rifle fire was added </div> <div> as the range shortened to half a mile.</div> <bR> <div> On the right, the right horn overran the NNC and rocket battery as it pursued Durnford which picked up Scott from the </div> <div> concial hill and rode hard for the safety of the big donga. On reaching it, he dismounted his men and lined the bank, </div> <div> opening fire on the approaching Zulus. Mounted riflemen galloped down to join Durnford and they succeeded in halting the </div> <div> inGobamakhosi below the conical hill, where the fire of one gun temporarily dispersed them. The gun then returned to its </div> <div> former position.</div> <bR> <div> Pope, commanding G Company of the 2/24th, part of the left defence was threatened by the left horn and wheeled back onto </div> <div> the rocky crest facing east, so that his left linked up with Wardell's H Companies of the 1/24th. At 1.30pm Pulleine's line curved </div> <div> in an arc form the north end of Isandhlwana to a point on the rocky crest 600 yards due east of the centre of the camp, </div> <div> with Durnfords men forward on the right holding the donga.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="315" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 231 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0912ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Isandhlwana and a Cairn, marking the spot where British soldiers fell, and were buried. </div> <bR> <div> The Zulu advance wavered in the face of heavy musketry from the 24th. Each time the Zulus rose from cover, the rifle </div> <div> fire drove them down again. Those Zulus armed with rifles returned the fire, but more of their rounds passed overhead. </div> <div> Durnford was running short on ammunition, men were sent back but were refused ammunition from the 1/24th's wagons, </div> <div> not being able to find their own. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="461" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 315 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="15bc2340.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="308" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> This is the type of Ammunition Box that was in use.</div> <bR> <div> The whole impi rose for a general advance while the two troop leaders were out of the line. </div> <div> The centre was halted again some 1150 yards short of the line by the 24th companies closing up and firing vollies. The left </div> <div> horn was wavering away and cross-fire from Pope's company extended to its left to encircle Durnford's right. Durnford </div> <div> abandoned his position when he ran out of ammunition and made for the camp to form a new line in front of the tents as the </div> <div> officers went in search of ammunition. This imperilled the whole line, with ammunition not reaching Durnfords men.</div> <bR> <div>  <a href="HTMLobj-357/bm2.avi" target="_blank"><img src="HTMLobj-357/zul_reconstruction_zulu_war.jpg" height="107" width="160"></a>  </div> <div> Click on Picture to Play Video</div> <bR> <div> Pope had also been forced to fall back to a new position between the big and narrow dongas, just north of the track. </div> <div> Part of the Zulus' left horn was now sweeping south under the cover of a herd of oxen at the 1/24th's tents. Pope's move had </div> <div> exposed the right of the main line. This left only Pope's ninety-odd men between the camp and the Zulu left horn, a gap of </div> <div> about 700 yards between him and Wardell. Puelline ordered the 'Retire' to be sounded as the entire 1/4th were in danger of </div> <div> being outflanked. As the companies fell back the Zulus rushed in. After a fierce flurry of hand-to-hand fighting the guns were </div> <div> got away. Those of the native Horse who could, rode away, bereft of ammunition,. Some 85 Europeans reached Helpmakaar </div> <div> these being chiefly of N/5 and the Mounted Infantry. Most of the Basuto and Edendale troops got clear and many </div> <div> of the NNC made their escape.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="502" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 330 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="095f4440.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="324" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The gun detachments of N/5 fought their way through the camp, losing fifty men in an attempt to save the guns but further </div> <div> on two guns were lost, one overturned and another was halted by a ravine. The 24th fought to the bitter end at Isandhlwana. </div> <div> When their ammunition ran out they fought with bayonets in squares until the Zulus finally overcame them by sheer weight </div> <div> of numbers. Only two bandsmen and a groom of the 24th survived. Three serving with the rocket battery and four with </div> <div> the Mounted infantry had also survived.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="704" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 503 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0b4bcf10.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="497" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> As the Queen's Colour of the 1/24th became imperilled, the adjutant, Melvill, was ordered to carry it to safety. He rode off </div> <div> and was joined by Lieutenant Coghill who had an injured knee. Both were killed on the Natal bank of the Buffalo river. </div> <div> The Colour was recovered some weeks later. Both men were awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses. Private Wassall of </div> <div> the 80th, serving with the Mounted Infantry also won a Victoria Cross for saving a drowning comrade while </div> <div> crossing the Buffalo under fire at Fugitive's Drift.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="315" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 232 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0922ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Fugitive's Drift</div> <bR> <div> The last hours of Isandhlwana were witnessed by Hamilton-Bronwe whose battalion was 5 miles from camp when </div> <div> the impi was discovered. He approached the camp but his battalion was of uncertain calibre and as such, retired. Chelmsford </div> <div> was finally found by a messenger at 2.30pm and was finally convinced of the full extent of the disaster at 3.30pm. Chelmsford </div> <div> immediately decided to retake the camp after a rider reported that the camp was full of victorious Zulus. Glyn's column </div> <div> marched at best speed and reached Chelsmford at just after 6pm. Chelmsford ordered the advance with the 2/24th in the </div> <div> centre flanked by the Volunteers and Mounted Infantry on the wings. By the time they approached Isandhlwana it was dark. </div> <div> Over 1,200 men in the camp and nearly 500 of Durnfords men had been slain.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="247" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 320 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="15de83a0.jpg" border=0 width="232" height="314" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 29 WIDTH="622"><div> <B>Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="179" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 306 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="157a42c0.jpg" border=0 width="164" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="830" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 640 ><NOBR><div> <B>Lieutenant Teignmouth Melvill</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> was born at 4 Clarendon Place, Marylebone, Central London on 8th September 1842. </div> <div> He died aged 36 when trying to save the Colour from Isandlwana on 22 January 1879. </div> <div> He, along with Coghill, were among the first recipients of the posthumous Victoria Cross in 1907.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="180" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 306 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="156a42c0.jpg" border=0 width="164" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Lieutenant Nevill Josiah Aylmer Coghill</B></FONT><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> was born Drumcondra, Co. Dublin, Ireland on 25 January 1852. </div> <div> He died with Melvill trying to save the Colour.</div> <bR> <div> When the situation at Isandlwana seemed hopeless, Lieutenant-Colonel Pulleine ordered Melvill to save the Colour. He </div> <div> was accompanied by Coghill, he having sustained an injury to his knee earlier in the day when trying to catch a chicken for </div> <div> Lord Chelmsford's supper. It was this injury which meant that he was unable to go with Chelmsford's force moving to the </div> <div> South East in search of the main Zulu force.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Melvill and Coghill made their way through the battle and through to the Buffalo River. Coghill was first to arrive and </div> <div> managed to cross to the Natal side. He turned to see Melvill plunge into the water, with the Colour in its case, only to have </div> <div> his horse shot from under him. He was swept to a large boulder, Coffin Rock, showing out of the torrent. </div> <div> He was soon joined by an NNC officer named Higginson. Melvill asked for help to save the colours but it was torn from </div> <div> his grasp by the strong current and disappeared. </div> <bR> <div> Coghill turned to help the two in the river, but then his horse was shot in the head, plunging him into the water. He struggled </div> <div> to the rock and all three men then managed to swim to the Natal side of the bank. Higginson went to look for horses, </div> <div> while Melvill and Coghill struggled up the steep sides of the valley. They were killed by supposedly friendly natives who had </div> <div> been threatened by the Zulus on the opposite bank with death, had they not chased Melvill and Coghill and killed them. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="611" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 413 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1532c950.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="405" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="15223960.jpg" border=0 width="291" height="406" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Melvill and Coghill's grave</div> <bR> <div> They were buried on 4 February 1879 where they died. They were reburied in an isolated grave on 14 April, the site </div> <div> being marked by a memorial. There are also two cairns just below this, presumably where other fugitives died and were buried. </div> <div> The site has been known since then as "Fugitive's Drift".</div> <bR> <div> The Colour was found some weeks later by a patrol who saw the pole sticking out of the water. </div> <div> Most of the gold braiding had perished.  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 306 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1542ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The restored Colour now hangs in </div> <div> Brecon Cathedral. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="155e12c0.jpg" border=0 width="225" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> One other VC winner on the 22nd. of January was a Private Samuel Wassall from Birmingham. He rescued a comrade </div> <div> who was drowning in the Buffalo River during the retreat from Isandlwana. He went on to live until he was 70. </div> <div> He is buried in The Barrow-in-Furness cemetery, section 3.B. plot 1952. There was another VC winner who </div> <div> died at Isandlwana. He was Private William Griffiths, born in Ireland. He won his VC in 1867 at Little Andaman Island. </div> <div> His grave is unmarked on the battlefield at Isandlwana.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="435" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 349 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0a4a8560.jpg" border=0 width="424" height="342" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Colonel Pulleine's last message to Lord Chelmsford reads as follows: </div> <div> 'Staff Officer - Report just come in that Zulus are advancing in force from the left front of the camp (8.5 am). </div> <div> H B Pulleine, Lt. Col'. </div> <div> The message was received at 9.30 am by Captain Hallam Parr, a Staff Officer in the field with Lord Chelmsford.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="163" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 176 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0a693a90.gif" border=0 width="147" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="525" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 385 ><NOBR><div> <I><B><IMG SRC="03cfa750.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="373" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <I><B><IMG SRC="03efc780.jpg" border=0 width="252" height="376" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> The Regimental Colours of the 24th Regiment</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="612" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 409 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="15a58930.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="403" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> The Zulu Memorial at Isandhlwana</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Some Prints of the Battle</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="514" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 186 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0b1f5b40.jpg" border=0 width="245" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0b3f5b40.jpg" border=0 width="245" height="180" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="415" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 277 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0b2900f0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="271" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="410" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 306 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0bb902b0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="299" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="324" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 464 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="http://www.militaryheritagetours.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.militaryheritagetours.com"><U><I><B><IMG SRC="04147c70.jpg" border=0 width="327" height="455" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> My thanks to Donal Buckley for this picture,</div> <div> please click on picture to go to Donal's website.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Build up and Aftermath"><U><IMG SRC="0a08b2b0.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>       <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift 1879"><U><B><IMG SRC="09f8b2b0.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <I><B> <embed src="HTMLobj-148/song2.wav" autostart="true" hidden="true">  </B></I></div> <div> <B> <meta http-equiv="Page-Enter" content="revealtrans(duration=2,transition=23)">  </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>