UNITS OF THE ZULU WAR 1879

After the disaster of the first invasion of Zululand reinforcements from Britain arrived including the 1st Kings Dragoon Guards. They were at nearly full strength numbering 649 men. The British had relied on locally raised cavalry units and the dragoons brought a bit if glamour to the mounted units. They had Betty flashy uniforms with gold lace and Austrian Knott work on the cuffs but they relied on infantry ammunition by pouches. They also had trouble adapting their British mounts to South Africa. They refused to eat the local grass. They also got some unglamorous duties such as burying the dead who still lay at Isandlwana and recovering the body of the French prince Imperial. They did however capture king cetshwayo after ulundi.

These two irregular units were neighbors from Victoria county and the town of Stanger. The VMR formed in 1862 and by the Zulu war were led by a Yorkshireman, captain Saner. The SMR were formed in 1872 and led by an ex VMR officer. The town if Stanger lay close to the Zululand border and had the choice of staying in the town to defend the border. Ten stayed behind while the rest joined the VMR in helping Pearson’s coastal coloumn. Both units numbered around 50 mounted men. They both wore dark blue uniforms with red and yellow piping. They wore white spiked helmets but when not in action would swap to wearing Kepis.

The first battalion if the 13th light infantry had been on campaign in South Africa for some time before the Zulu war. This was rather clear by the state of their uniforms. They were described as being in rags with patched up uniforms and in some cases no boots. Their helmets were recovered in old shirts and had a dirty appearance. Apart from the grime they dressed vin the usual line infantry uniform apart from their glangerrie hats which were light infantry green rather than blue. They saw action at Khambula holding the cattle krall until forced out by the Zulus and later retaking the position charging the enemy an unusual accurance during the war for the British.

The Boers of the Transvaal had little love for the British but a number living near the Zulu border were keen to join the war. Piet Lafras Uys joined woods coloumn and with him came most if his family friends and neighbors. Like most Boars they were crack shots and excellent riders. During the Zulu attack at Hlobane Piet was killed trying to save his sons. Many of his followers went back home after his death. They stuck to their own civilian clothes and received weapons from the government.