MAKING HISTORY UNFORGETTABLE


MAKING HISTORY UNFORGETTABLE

	Today it is difficult to imagine that the tranquil scenic rolling grasslands and the flat topped hills of the northern parts of the KwaZulu Natal was once the focal point of major military clashes. For it was in this area that military engagements that were to shape the history of South Africa and rock the very foundations of the then British Empire, took place. KwaZulu Natal offers both the military history enthusiast and the amateur a chance to view these world famous sites. Significant battles that spring immediately to mind are Rorke’s Drift (11 V.C’s) and iSandlwana, uLundi, Blood River, Colenso (7 V.C’s), Spioenkop, Vaalkrans, the siege of Ladysmith and Wagon Hill.
	Re-live the drama of world famous battles on the KwaZulu Natal battlefields with Evan Jones, Satour registered battlefields specialist and SATSA accredited guide. Listen to fascinating and dramatic stories of bravery and courage interspersed with strange and sometimes laughable tales of people and events. Evan has visited these battlefields for over 40 years and has an exceptional and intimate knowledge of the area which boasts a total of 68 battle and skirmish sites.

During the Great Trek of 1836 - 1852 a group of Voortrekkers, under the leadership of Piet Retief, arrived in Natal. Whilst on a mission to finalise land negotiations with King Dingane of the Zulus for land on which to settle, Piet Retief and a group of Voortrekkers were killed.

In pursuit of retribution over these deaths, the Voortrekkers defeated a Zulu force commanded by nDlela Ntuli, in what was to become known as the Battle of Blood River, on 16December 1838. 3000 Zulus lost their lives.

Fearing a Zulu invasion of Natal, the Natal Government issued the famous ultimatum to the Zulu King Cetwayo which was impossible to fulfil. On expiry of the ultimatum, the British invaded Zululand. On 22 January 1879, 20 000 Zulus defeated the invaders at iSandlwana. A mere handful escaped to safety across the swollen Buffalo River at Fugitive's Drift.

The afternoon of the same day, at Rorke's Drift, 141 British soldiers fought off repeated attacks by 4 000 Zulus. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded, earning this battle the distinction of having the highest number of VC's ever awarded in a single engagement.

Five days before Christmas in 1880, the opening shots of the First Boer war were fired at Bronkhorstspruit. General Sir George Pomeroy Colley had 1200 men to fight their way through 7000 Boers and attempt to relieve 2000 British Troops in the Transvaal.The Battles of Laing's Nek and Ingogo in early 1881 were followed by the British defeat and Colley's death at Majuba Hill on 27 February 1881.

Talana Battlefield - Dundee

War between the British and the Boers broke out on 11 October 1899. On 20 October the first shots were fired as the British wearing khaki in the field in S.A. for the first time, successfully drove the enemy off Talana Hill, but sustained heavy losses during the Battle.

	Spioenkop Battlefield For 118 day Boer forces lay siege to the town of Ladysmith, an epic destined to remain unsurpassed in the history of the British empire. On 24 January the nearby Spioenkop Hill was the scene of the most futile, .certainly the bloodiest of the four battles fought in an effort to relieve the beleaguered town,
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