The Rorke's Drift VC
Discussion Forum
(View Discussion Rules)
** IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL USERS ** PLEASE NOTE: This forum is now inactive and is provided for reference purposes only. The live forum is available at www.rorkesdriftvc.com/forum
(Back To Topic List)
Date | Original Topic | 15th February 2002 | Zulu Shield Organisation By Glenn Wade Many historians have put Zulu down with remarks like 'Historically inaccurate' and hailed Zulu Dawn as being more accurate but have you noticed that in Zulu the Zulus are organised into regiments according to shield colour whereas in Zulu Dawn they are not? Just a thought. Glenn | Date | Replies | 15th February 2002 | John Young Glenn,
You're prempting me here.
Why are the shields drawn up in the same uniform colour? That classic scene where you see all the Zulu amabutho deployed was just a trick.
A trick perpetrated by nailing a number of shields to a plank of wood, and having two Zulus, one at each end stand there holding it. Looks great, but now I've given the game away. My informant for this was John Poyner, the Property Master for the production.
Professor John Laband has stated that by 1879, the uniformity of regimental shield pattern had gone.
John Young,
Chairman,
Anglo-Zulu War Research Society. | 16th February 2002 | Greg King Ouch!!that one hurt John .That bit were they appear on the hill is my favourite part.And I`m sure poor pvt Cole would`nt have looked so scared . Thats enough info of this nature or we will send the boys round to put an end to such blasfamy.sorry if I spelt the last word wrong . | 17th February 2002 | John Young Sorry Greg, but the truth often hurts.
Never mind it will be computer graphics next time!
John
| 2nd March 2002 | Mike McCabe Interesting point on John Laband and shield patterns, but the Second Edition of published notes on the Zulu Army (See copy in Killie Campbell Collection), in (I think) June 1879 still features shield patterns as an identifying characteristic for Zulu regiments. This when a number of regiments were already seriously depleted by losses in engagements to date. |
|