Dan Mersey gives a wargamer's perspective of the dramatic events of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and offers advice on how to recreate these on the gaming table. He discusses factors to consider when choosing an appropriate set of commercially available rules, or devising your own, to best suit the scale and style of battle you want and to capture the flavour of the period. Relevant ranges of figures, along with painting advice, are also included. Analysis of the forces involved, organisation, tactics and strategies will help with building your armies and period specific scenarios are included. Whether this is a new period for you, or you are looking to refresh your existing interest in the period, this handy guide is sure to hold much of interest.
Wargames Illustrated, February 2017 - reviewed by Henry Hyde
Dan Mersey gives a wargamer's perspective of the dramatic events of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and offers advice on how to recreate these on the gaming table. He discusses factors to consider when choosing an appropriate set of commercially available rules, or devising your own, to best suit the scale and style of battle you want and to capture the flavour of the period. Relevant ranges of figures, along with painting advice, are also included. Analysis of the forces involved, organisation, tactics and strategies will help with building your armies and period specific scenarios are included. Whether this is a new period for you, or you are looking to refresh your existing interest in the period, this handy guide is sure to hold much of interest.
Wargames Illustrated, February 2017 - reviewed by Henry Hyde
First published in 1996, by Greenhill Books and again in 2016, this paperback version was re-published by Frontline which gives an indication as to how good it is. For me, this is the Zulu bible - everything you need to know about this warrior race over a 60-year period during the 19th Century. The battles fought are legendary and well covered many times over in other books, but Knight' 'anatomy' goes much deeper. The book explains why the Zulu Army was so fearsome and effective, by exposing how each warrior was virtually nurtured into the role from birth and remained loyal until death. Training, weapons, clothing and customs are just a few of the topics covered, not to mention hierarchy and spiritual beliefs all of which would serve to keep the Zulu at the top of the food chain until Isandlwana in 1879. The book has a number of black and white photographs spread through its pages, plus a few line drawings of maps relevant to key battles. Despite the original text from articles written.. Read more
Military Modelling - David H. Smith
First published in 1996, by Greenhill Books and again in 2016, this paperback version was re-published by Frontline which gives an indication as to how good it is. For me, this is the Zulu bible - everything you need to know about this warrior race over a 60-year period during the 19th Century. The battles fought are legendary and well covered many times over in other books, but Knight' 'anatomy' goes much deeper. The book explains why the Zulu Army was so fearsome and effective, by exposing how each warrior was virtually nurtured into the role from birth and remained loyal until death. Training, weapons, clothing and customs are just a few of the topics covered, not to mention hierarchy and spiritual beliefs all of which would serve to keep the Zulu at the top of the food chain until Isandlwana in 1879. The book has a number of black and white photographs spread through its pages, plus a few line drawings of maps relevant to key battles. Despite the original text from articles written.. Read more
Military Modelling - David H. Smith
In this poignant and moving account of the Anglo Zulu War, Harry Turner wonderfully presents the facts as they happened in a style very rarely attempted by historians.
Using clever prose, Turner builds the suspense leading up to the conflict and captures the social attitudes of the time leading to the determination of the British Empire to turn defeat and humiliation early on in the campaign into a victory – a victory that came at a great price. Turner strips away all of the ‘Hollywoodisation’ of the battles to present them as they were – bloody, bitter and desperate.
Michael Kirkby
In this poignant and moving account of the Anglo Zulu War, Harry Turner wonderfully presents the facts as they happened in a style very rarely attempted by historians.
Using clever prose, Turner builds the suspense leading up to the conflict and captures the social attitudes of the time leading to the determination of the British Empire to turn defeat and humiliation early on in the campaign into a victory – a victory that came at a great price. Turner strips away all of the ‘Hollywoodisation’ of the battles to present them as they were – bloody, bitter and desperate.
Michael Kirkby
As featured in
VaeVictis January-February 2016
As featured in
VaeVictis January-February 2016
As seen in...
Military History Monthly
As seen in...
Military History Monthly
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The Wedding Feast War
The last of the nine Frontier Wars fought between 1799–1877 was in many ways a 'prequel' to the more famous Zulu War of 1879, featuring as it did many of the British regiments and personalities who were to fight at Isandlwana, as well as being the final defeat of the Xhosa people and their reduction to lowly workers for the colonists. This war saw… Read more...
