An Illustrated Tour of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu Battlefields (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 208
ISBN: 9781399040686
Published: 30th January 2024
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In 1878 southern Africa’s two most senior figures, army commander General Lord Chelmsford and the High Commissioner Sir Henry Bartle-Frere created a false threat of a Zulu invasion of British Natal. In an astonishing act of over-confidence and without any government permission, Frere and Chelmsford invaded Zululand with five independent columns of troops. Both leaders ignored the serious implications of their two recently failed expeditions against the Zulus’ neighbouring King Sekhukhune and his Pedi people. The Zulu war lasted only six months and witnessed two separate British invasions of Zululand – one catastrophic, one successful.
This book gives the reader a general overview of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879 with descriptive text, location photographs and illuminating map overviews of the twelve main battles including Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. The author’s unique maps are based on his own lecture notes and ‘battlefield map handouts’ as a Zulu War battlefield guide for over 25 years. These maps were avidly collected by his many groups and other guides; they clearly explain each battlefield’s layout and sequence of events but also included many little known details of each fierce and bloody engagement. At the suggestion of the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society, these maps are now reproduced in book form. While volumes have been written on the subject, this work gives us an even better insight into these gruelling and complex battles.
The purpose of this book is to give the reader a perceptive overview of the causes and battles of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War which commenced with the British defeat at Isandlwana and the defence of Rorke’s Drift. For twenty-five years the author, a close friend of David Rattray, regularly visited the numerous battlefields of Zululand, where he worked as an accredited guide and guest speaker, escorting over 1,000 UK visitors and corporate groups around the far-flung and fascinating battlefields of Zululand. I had the privilege of accompanying several of his tours while conducting my own research into Lieutenant Harford’s role in Zululand. His tours were noted for his professionalism and safely visiting many unique and important ‘off the beaten track’ locations, for which his maps were invaluable.
Dr David Payne Harford – The Writings, Photographs and Sketches
This book’s maps and illuminating observations are taken from the author’s personal on-site lecture maps and notes he used across the battlefields. The maps include many little -known details of the fierce and bloody battles that were fought in this short campaign. It was a war that lasted only six months and witnessed two separate British invasions of Zululand and, while volumes have been written on the subject, such illustrative maps were able to give visitors an even better insight and understanding of many Anglo-Zulu war events.
Highly commended.
About Dr Adrian Greaves
In 1960 Adrian Greaves joined up as a Private soldier. A year later aged seventeen, he was selected for officer training and was commissioned into the Welch Regiment. Stationed in Berlin for three years he witnessed the Wall being built, undertook border patrols and once being taken hostage at gunpoint by East German Police. As this book reveals, Albert Speer, who befriended him, taught him German to interpreter level. He met international leaders including Kennedy and Khrushchev.
After leaving the Army he joined Kent Police achieving high rank. His hobbies included mountaineering and he and two friends successfully climbed the Eiger north wall. In 1984 he led an armed police team to quell a violent mutiny on a tanker in the English Channel.
A qualified clinical psychologist, he has over twenty published titles, many with Pen and Sword including Forgotten Battles of the Zulu War (shortly to be re-issued)