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Episode 254 - Skop, Skiet and Donner on the Day of the Dead Moon
The morning of January 22, 1879, dawned with a deceptive, stillness across Zululand masking the fact that over 45,000 men were in motion across a 200…
4 months, 1 week ago
Episode 253 - The order of Battle Before Isandlwana and Nyezane and ‘ukhuni’ Wood Heads North
Episode 253 - The order of Battle for Isandlwana and Nyezane as ‘ukuni’ Wood Heads North
Three separate British columns are inside Zululand and thi…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 252 — Chelmsford’s Fatal Confidence: The Day Before Isandlwana
This is episode 252, it is January 19th 1879, and we’re standing alongside Lord Chelmsford at the British camp based at Rorke’s Drift — and nearby is…
4 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode 251 - The Grey Vultures of Ondini Gather Before a March to Isandhlwana where Pride Met Prophecy
Episode 251 and the British Invasion of Zululand is into it’s first week.
King Cetshwayo kaMpande had prepared his people for war, and here it was,…
5 months ago
Episode 250 - Nqutu's Rocky Mountains: British officers bicker then Zulu Snipers target an entomologist hunting beetles
First a quick note which the marketing weasel ordered me to announce. This week I received an email from Apple which read:
"We’re thrilled to share…
5 months, 1 week ago
Episode 249 - Three Columns and a Thousand Secrets: Chelmsford’s 1879 Invasion of Zululand
The invasion of Zululand did not arrive suddenly. It had been constructed brick by brick over the preceding months, through decisions made in distant…
5 months, 2 weeks ago
Episode 248 - The Eagle and Four Hawks: The Making of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879
Sir Bartle Frere’s ultimatum to Cetshwayo kaMpande of 11 January 1879 was about to expire.
Last episode I explained the reasons behind Frere’s feve…
5 months, 3 weeks ago
Episode 247 - A Ball of Sand Fallacy and Frere Demonizes Cetshwayo
Episode 247 launches us into an intense period. We’re going to travel to the border between the Zulu kingdom and the Transvaal because there’s troubl…
6 months ago
Episode 246 - Black Bricks, Armed Maids, and the Bloody Marriage of the Ngcugce
The year is1878 - and Cape Governor Sir Sir Bartle Frere is throwing the empire’s weight around South Africa. Let’s put ourselves in his shoes becaus…
6 months, 1 week ago
Episode 245 - Sir Bartle Frere’s Excellent Adventure: A Gentleman’s Guide to Igniting Wars
Sir Bartle Frere had sailed into South Africa in March 1877 - lauded as a great British administrator in India. He arrived just in time to witness Si…
6 months, 2 weeks ago