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DateOriginal Topic
29th August 2002Shako Plates
By Mike Fuson
I've looked at the images in the "Zulu" film section and the 24th Shako Plate in the film appears to be different than the ones offered for sale on the site (wider with a banner on the bottom). Is there a difference? Was there more than one type of Plate for the 24th?
DateReplies
29th August 2002Maritn Everett
Dear Mike,
In the film Zulu - they used helmets plates - but it was the Shako plates which were worn with Foreign Service helmets. Just a minor point missed by everyone - the soldiers at RD removed the plates from their helmets - to avoid them glinting in the sun. No quite camouflage but a start!
30th August 2002John Young
Martin,

I hate to contradict your statement made above, but there is at least one photograph clearly showing an officer, allegedly from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment, wearing the 1878 helmet plate.

A copy of the photograph is reproduced in 'The Washing of the Spears', by Donald Morris & also in 'Nothing Remains But To Fight', by Ian Knight, page 110. The officer in centre of the 'burial party' is certainly not wearing the last pattern shako plate on his Foreign Service helmet.

John Young,
Chairman,
Anglo-Zulu War Research Society
1st September 2002glynne davies
martin,
i' ve checked my edition of 'washing of the spears' but can't find the photograph that John
mentions. it may have been omitted from my copy. I thought that the soldiers at RD were issued with the helmet badge as they were
'new arrivals' compared to those at Isandhlwana who still had the Shako.
2nd September 2002John Young
Glynne,

Just to elaborate on the photograph - it is the one with two 'dead Zulus' with spears tucked under their arms. In my copy of 'The Washing of the Spears' it appears beneath the photograph of James Dalton receiving his V.C.

The photograph is much clearer in 'Nothing Remains...' It has in it some excellent uniform & equipment details. Evidence of helmet covers; earlier pattern ammunition pouches; a Sergeant Instructor of Musketry with a sword. Worth examining under a magnifying glass!

John Young,
Chairman,
Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
5th September 2002Mike Fuson
I have searched the web high and low and have found no helmet plate that looks like the one worn by "Chard" in the Zulu film section. (See the first Chard photo.) I did find the following information about versions of the plate: "The helmet badge shown here is the last pattern shako plate of 1868. In 1878 a new helmet plate had been issued, but the 24th. were abroad at that time and did not take delivery of new stocks before their famous engagements in January 1879." See: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~thinred/collection/24th.htm

While that is interesting, the wide plate with the banner at the bottom worn by Chard in the film doesn't seem to be the pre or post 1878 helmet plate for the 24th. Did the film use something entirely different?

Thanks for your comments.
5th September 2002John Young
Mike,

One point John Chard would not have been wearing any helmet plate for the 24th - he was a Royal Engineer.

In the film 'Zulu' Stanley Baker, who played John Chard, actually wore a Royal Monmouthshire Engineers helmet plate, hence to colour of it - white metal for Volunteer Forces. So yes it is entirely different from the regular R.E. badge.

John Young,
Chairman,
Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.