[montomike]

I watched a Discover channel on Isladwana. The Zulus were hepped up on some sort of magic potion and the British fired so much that the smoke from their weapons obscured their view so much that the Zulus were able to come on in through the smoke and wreak some havok.

Fascinating. Queen Vickie’s little wars. They were trying to maintain the empire.

My grandfather was a Colour Seargeant for the Norfolk Regiment during the Boer Wars before being posted to Ireland to suppress my father’s people.

[Cheburashka]

I watched a Discover channel on Isladwana. The Zulus were hepped up on some sort of magic potion and the British fired so much that the smoke from their weapons obscured their view so much that the Zulus were able to come on in through the smoke and wreak some havok.

---

Don't know what the Disco Channel said, but my recollection about Isandlwana is that some idiot quartermasters kept the ammunition boxes locked (don't want to have the troops taking extras rounds - might be a shortage at the next inventory and there will be hell to pay for Mr. Quartermaster) and when the troops used up the ammunition they were issued before the battle they couldn't get resupplied fast enough. Bayonet vs spear combat is contraindicated when you are outnumbered 5 to 1 or more. Up until the British ready ammo ran out the Zulus were taking heavy causalities, couldn't close to hand-to-hand range, and were wavering.

The quartermasters didn't live to take another inventory, a lesson to quartermasters everywhere - when the troops ask for ammo, your job is to give it to them.