More Anglo-Zulu War Bases

Here's the latest set of bases starting with No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Natal Native Contingent. The majority of men in this company came from the amaThembu (meaning people of the Thembu), they provided all of the rank and file along with a much smaller number of NCO's (usually 10). The company also had a few European officers and NCO's who were nominally in charge but often didn't speak the language of those they commanded! The Europeans themselves often came from different countries so communication between Europeans must of been somewhat difficult as well! (The Regiments European Officers and NCO's were English, Irish, French, German, Danish, Swiss, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Belgian and American).








Note the two Rifle armed figures standing out in front of the rest of the company - these are the amaThembu NCO's, being the only Africans in the company with fire arms they were sent out in front to engage the enemy with rifle fire. I presume that they would fall back within the company as the enemy approached. The Rifles were probably Enfield Breach Loading Rifles though some Martini-Henry Rifles were issued to the 3rd NNC they mostly ended up with the Europeans or with the second battalion. The companies firepower is diminished by the lack of training and the small issue of firearms.

Next up is A Company 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot. This battalion had been in Africa for many years by 1879 so probably didn't look quite as smart as they do here. A Company was commanded by Captain William Degacher (modelled with a blue coat which many officers wore in preference to red) and was probably about 80 strong when it crossed the frontier in to the Zulu Kingdom. Unfortunately none of the officers and men survived iSandlwana.








Finally these are the first pair of Zulu "brigade" command stands. Each features a couple of Indana's (leaders) and a couple of Zulu Warriors acting as bodyguards.





All figures are Baccus from packs CBR8 (mounted officers), CBR9 (Natal Native Contingent and European NCO), CBR2 (British Regulars), CZU1 (Zulu Warriors) and CZU3 (Zulu Command). Bases are all by Minibits.

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amaThembu (No. 1 Company 1/3rd NNC)

Tonight I completed No. 1 Company 1/3rd NNC, this is a company made up of men from the amaThembu people in Natal. The shield colours are conjectural so I picked a set of colours for each of the different tribes that make up the battalion. The first 4 companies were all amaThembu, the 5th and 7th were made up of late comers so will have mixed shield colours, the 6th company is amaBele which will have black shields as will the final 3 companies that are made up of isiGqosa - I will vary the markings on the shields to make the companies look distictive. Incidentally the isiGqosa were Zulus that had left the Zulu kingdom some years before, they were probably the best troops in the battalion and were highly rated by the battalions commander Commandant G. Hamilton-Brown (his book A Lost Legionary in South Africa is available online - be warned that although of historical value it, along with other books written at the time, isn't very PC).

The full company including its command stand:

A close up of the NNC bases: