Isandhlwana. 22nd January, 1879.
1,300 Brits died, probably a lot more on The Boks side!
And all this on the day before Michael Caine walked his horse across a stream for another bundle at Rorkes Drift. Jack Hawkins was getting ready to shriek at everyone and the cook was starting to boil up the soup, before being told to put out the fires with it.
1969 - pretty much the same thing happened at Twickenham, but the Brits won then...
ReplyDeleteDead right, mate - faahzunds of em..
That's because we knew how to handle a Martini-Henry and, as we Brits said at the time, "You win some, Zulu's some"!
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ReplyDeleteHaha!
A different list for you Goosey on the previous thread (in case you missed it).
The Boks only had a few guns, and most of them were rusty and unreliable, Madame Goose.
ReplyDeleteI know Mr Gander would understand all this, but I reckon a sharp spear up the bum would have been just as painful as a slug from an old gun!
As a very, very ex-junior member of The South Wales Borderers, we were taught at a very early age that the red coats would see them all off...
Apparently they didn't!
Watched this recently with my little boy.....boys own stuff.
ReplyDeleteWe were in South Africa a few years ago and got dragged off to see a "Folklorique" wherein pert young unmarried Zulu maidens were dancing topless. Not good for the old ticker!
ReplyDeleteI gather that was quite normal for such shows as "that was their culture". Some entrepreneur booked the troupe to do some shows in London, but the busybody spoilsports insisted that they cover up "because that is our culture".
After a bit of discussion, they were allowed to perform au naturel, but not before it was pointed out that if they had to conform to our culture to perform in London, on the return performance by their English counterparts to Johannesburg, they same rules would apply.
What did they make of our Morris dancers then? Did they like the flouncy shirts, knee-bockers no pun intended)and the pole bashing or did they think all the bell-ringing and hanky-waving was a rather late attempt at surrender? I would love to have seen those nubile ladies trying out the various dance steps - a sight that would rival Strictly any day, although I'm not sure the accompanying song of "DAA da da-da-DAA, DA da da da-da da DAA" would have quite the same rhythm.
ReplyDeleteMr Gander informs me that by the time Rourke's Drift happened, the Zulu's had nicked many of our guns from the previous battle of Isandlwana so it was a coup-de-jour that put the sueop-de-jour on the fire!
ReplyDeleteGoosey
ReplyDeleteDance steps
Zebedee got it to perfection with his "boing-boing" - and if you know what I am talking about you will be showing your age!! :-)
I bet Stanley Baker had different ideas, Mmme Goose. The redoubt emplacement only seemed to have spears and shields around!
ReplyDeleteCan you please ask him how long it would take to re-load a Martini Henry?
I'm sure you still enjoyed the occasion Reevers! It's no different from walking through Aarf London on a hot summer's night I suppose...
ReplyDeleteYou're right Thud!
ReplyDeleteBoys Own describes the flick well, but at least it was historically almost correct.
If you ever find yourself near Brecon, pop into the barracks and spend an hour in the museum there, ...blimes, it makes you shudder!
I'm going to find a favourite clip of some Morris Dancers Goosey!
ReplyDeleteI always love their displays...
ReplyDeleteCan you also find one of Zulu maidens (for the lads)?
You will also love their displays (of dancing, not what is showing!!!!)
Hang on while I pop out for some popcorn.
Mr Gander said (along with his mimed display) that from taking the cartridge out, reloading then putting your finger back on the trigger took 7 seconds. I quite like the dancing bit - it's the ever so slightly out of rhythm bit that fascinates me. They are really bonny ladies but I wasn't that keen on the men. How strange!
ReplyDeleteAs a venerated historian, I am convinced that T H I S was the cause of their downfall.
ReplyDeleteWell, slap my thigh! Not exactly River Dance is it!
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