| Date | Original Topic |
| 5th December 2002 | Did the men with Younghusband at Isandhlwana use Pocket Knifes.
By PETER HARMAN
I once read that the men under Younghusband used thier pocket knifes to defend themselfs During their last stand.I think it was a zulu That made this claim. Is this true. |
| Date | Replies |
| 5th December 2002 | Adrian Whiting
Peter,
I can tell you that soldiers were individually issued with a clasp knife, with folding blade, as an item of field service equipment. many examples survive. The knife was supplied with a lanyard, so could be carried without recourse to also having the haversack or valise to hand.
Whether soldiers made use of them as you ask I am not sure - I expect other contributors to this forum will be able to refer to sources one way or the other. |
| 6th December 2002 | Barry Iacoppi
You guessed it Adrian. I am also a blade collector. I have been trying to find an illustration of the issue clasp knife circa 1879 but have had no luck. Can you point me in the right direction? I hope to obtain one for my collection and would help to know what I am looking for. |
| 6th December 2002 | Clive Dickens
Peter
It would no surprise me in the least if they did after all in a much later conflict one of modern times namely " KOREA" Pte Bill Speakman K.O.S.B. who was awarded the VC for his gallentry actually finished up throwing beer bottles( empty one's of course) at the Chinese when he ran out of grenades and amunition.
Clive |
| 8th December 2002 | Adrian Whiting
Barry,
I don't have a LoC illustration, but I do have a knife ! I'll endeavour to take a picture of it and e-mail it on to you separately |
| 9th December 2002 | Barry Iacoppi
Many thanks Adrian. I look forward to that. Just how available are such knives and what kind of price would one pay? |
| 10th December 2002 | Keith Smith
Sorry to be late coming in on this.
"The Kandampemvu regiment was in the thick of the battle at IsandhIwana, and foremost in carrying the camp, though it suffered severely in the earlier stage of the conflict from the fire of the outlying companies; and now its chief told me how stubbornly some of our soldiers had fought to the last, many of them using their pocket-knives when their bayonets were wrenched from them." Vumandaba, in Mitford, Through the Zulu Country, p. 156.
There is another reference, which I am still trying to find!
Keith
|
| 8th May 2005 | Nigel H Crosby
Clive Dickens ; My farther newBill Speakman and they were friends; my dad told me of this stand and how Bill was Drunk at the time and and used every avasilable weapon to hand; knife; bottle's, tin hat and stones my dad always said Bill was not brave just drunk and pissed off; but he would never take the fact away that Bill stood his ground. My dad was a Bren Gunner in Korea and also served in Suez Crises, Egypt and Kennya against the Mau Mau. |
