Battle Story: Isandlwana 1879

Battle Story

by Edmund Yorke

On 22 January 1879 a 20,000-strong Zulu army attacked 1,700 British and colonial forces. The engagement saw primitive weapons of spears and shields clashing with the latest military technology. However, despite being poorly equipped, the numerically superior Zulu force crushed the British troops, killing 1,300 men, whilst only losing 1,000 of their own warriors. It was a humiliating defeat for the British Army, who had been poorly trained and who had underestimated their enemy. The defeat ensured that the British had a renewed respect for their opponents and changed their tactics, rather than fighting in a straight, linear formation, known as the Thin Red Line they adopted an entrenched system or close order foundations. The defeat caused much consternation throughout the British Empire, who had assumed that the Zulu were no match for the British Army and thus the army was greatly reinforced and went on to victory at Rorke's Drift. Battle Isandlwana puts you at the forefront of the action.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Military History

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[Darren Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The battle of Isandlwana is one of the greatest defeats of the British army. A combination of poor leadership, poor defensive strategy, arrogance based on a presumed superiority of colonial power, and a complete lack of respect for the Zulu military prowess.
This is a great primer for the event, it covers the build up, event and legacy.
The Zulu war was an inevitable conflict, the territory surrounding it was ultimately colonised and the Zulu culture was warrior based, needing to attack neighbouring nations for pride and resources.
Isandlwana is overlooked in British culture, overshadowed by the far more satisfying victory at Rorke’s Drift. It is however an important aspect of Zulu culture, and a costly reminder of the switching fates of war.

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isandlwana was the first major battle in the Anglo-Zulu war and was a defeat for the British Empire that shook London, before the defense at Rorke's Drift proved what was possible in defense against the Zulu warriors.

Yorke explains the background to the events in South Africa, and the direct actions impacting the battle, including looking at possible reasons for the defeat. Using a lot of historic documents and information he guides the reader through this seminal battle which was a high point for the Zulu nation in the war and which - ultimately - was not to be repeated.

[J.P. Harker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking stuff - packed full of information without feeling like an overload, written in easy-to-digest chunks. My knowledge of this period is really basic but I got a great handle on this campaign thanks to this book.
I'll strongly recommend this book!

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yorke analyses the causes of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He gives the historical and political perspectives leading up to the war. The composition and traditions of the armies on both sides are discussed and well as equipment and logistic problems. This is a good read for those interested in the history of South Africa.