More Zulu War Books

A recent Buy taking my Zulu War Book Collection up to 131

Tribal

Been looking at these rules for a long time and eventually got them when the version 2 was released recently. According to the rules nothing much has changed from the first edition just some clarification and bits have been added fron the first edition supplements that were released . The rules are very nice ,comic book size with lots of colour over pictures 64 pages laid out really clearly . The unusal thing with these rules is everything is card driven ,using normal playing cards for combat etc but also for moving for example if you want your figure to march you lay a playing card in front of your figure and then move the figure to the end of the card ,sprint is 2 card lengths and so on. The book includes add on rules for Zulu's , plains Indians and even early colonial games and a section for solo play Played our game using Zulu's and it was great fun and very easy to pick up ,the game can be won even if your warband is wiped out because honour is everything and you gain honour points for completing objectives ,winning combat etc but also lose points for not completing your objectives and having yourwarband members killed . 10/10

Rorke's Drift by those that were there volume 1

A new book entered my Zulu War library ,bringing it up to 123 titles , any book with the words Zulu and Ian Knight automatcally get bought . This is a new edition of an old book extemsively editedby Lee Stevenson and Ian Knight with nsome of the original work done by the late Alan Baynham -Jones An hardback edition with a lovely sleeve which has a lovely artists impresion of the action fought at the famious mission station in 1879 . The book contains eye witness accounts from both sides British and Zulu taken from letters and documents of the time and gives an interesting first hand account of the battle . The book has some great pictures of the period and modern photographs of the battle site and monuments and graves of the fallen ,266 pages which also includes maps and charts I am really looking forward to reading this and wait eagerly for volume 2

The Zulu war Library grows again .

Picked up another 4 boooks about he Anglo Zulu War ,two by James Bancroft ,both soft back with just over 50 pages each ,they are well written with lots of photographs and illustrations . Another book on Rorkes Drift this one by Edmund Yorke and the last is a book I have been after for a while ,The Road to Isanhlwana ,Colonel Anthoney Durnford in Natal and Zululand by R.W.F Droogleever ,Durnford is one of my favourite Heroes of the AZW ,his story if full of heroism and intrigue ,was he an hero or was the disaster all his fault ,played bt Burt Lancaster in Zulu dawn Durnford was quite a colourful character what ever you beilieve about him.These bring my collection to over 120 titles

Death of the Prince Imperial

One of the strangest stories from the 1879 Anglo Zulu War is the death of the Prince Inperial Louis Napoleon . After his father Napoleon 111 was dethroned in1870 he moved with his family to England When his father died in 1873 Louis was he was declared Napoleon IV . Wanting to be recognised for his military skills he with the help of his mother Empress Eugenie and his God Mother Queen Victoria he managed to get sent to join the British Forces in the Zulu Land for the second Invaasion , being headstrong and reckless he was almost killed on one patrol when on 1st June 1879 on apatrol led by Captain Jaheel Carey they were ambushed and in the attempt to escape Napoleon was killed in hand to hand combat with a group of Zulus . Many books give the full account my favourite is " with his face to the Foe " by Ian Knight but many others cover the episode . I was lucky enough to visit the monument to Louis and the graves of those who died with him { Louis was brought back for buriel in England }.

I have built the benito 54mm Diorama representing Napoleons last moments below are some in progress pictures and the finished diorama

This fascinating piece of history has been the subject of many books ,two in my collection are the Ian Knight book I mentioned earlier and Captain Careys blunder by Donald Featherstone a nice read but very dated with lots of mistakes .

The Morning after , another 54mm Works Drift figure

Finished this chap , another 54mm Benito He looks tired and weary after the long bloody fight around the mission staion ,his unform is ripped and dirty and he has lost or removed his gaiters ,his Martini Henry in one hand and his helmet in the other .

24th at Rorkes Drift

Took my box of 54mm stuff away on holiday with me and managed to finish one I started about 2 years ago , a lovely figure of a private of the 24th foot at Rorkes Drift . The private is shown at the ready stood outside one of the buildings waiting for the next Zulu attack. As our new caravan has lots of display shelving I moved my other 54mm figures to their new home and even started the next figure ,again a 24th soldier at Rorkes Drift but this time stood on the mealie bag wall in arather tattered uniform with a zulu sheild and other bits giving the impression it is after the battle and he is scanning the horizon for the relief column or the return of the Zulus .Hopefully get this finished and post a picture after our next visit

More Zulu Books

Picked up another 2 Zulu related books ,The Battle of Ulundi and King Cetshawayo Kampande both by John Laband and part of the Kwazulu Monuments Council series , I already have one ,seen with these 2 in the picture and I am not sure how many there were in the series I know there is at least one more on Isandlawana . They are nice soft cover books packed with B&w Photos ,drawings and maps ,as you would expect from Laband they are very informative nd well written

The Defence of Rorkes Drift

A couple of new items for my Anglo Zulu War collection ,2 wooden Plagues celebrating the Defence of Rorkes Drift .I believe these were originally produced for the Museum in Brecon but went out of production quite a while ago but thanks to Ian Knight managed to get a contact for the original manufacturer and got these made up for me. The Rifle and Shield one measures around 25cm x20cm and the Victoria cross one is about 17x12cm .

A few more Zulu related Books

Another Zulu purchase ,especially looking forward to reading the zulu kings and their Armies.These take my collection to 116 ,not including ,magazines ,DVD's etc

Zulu War Library Additions.

Added a few books to my AZW collection over the last few weeks bringing my collection to well over 100. Anglo Zulu War 1879 -A history of the Zulu war A birthday present from my daughter ,a reprint of an 1880 book written by Walker Ashe a newspaper correspondent that was present during the conflict and the reports from E.V.Wyatt Edgell an officer with the 17th lancers who was killed at Ulundi .It also contains ashort history of the 17th during the AZW Kingdom and Colony a second book I picked up from Ian Knight just before Christmas , an old hard back from the university of Natal by John Laband . A Bloody Night A christmas present from my son ,an account of the Irish troops at Rorkes Drift Isandlawanathe revelation of a disaster Picked this up myself , contains "new evidence and perspectives " of the battle by ron Lock ,will read with interest The Fall of Rorkes Drift An alternative history by John Laband ,I am not a great fan of what ifs but my boss bought me this for Christmas and I must admit at first glance looks very good .

The Men Who Would Be Kings

Had a nice game of TMWWBK from osprey ,using the Mr Babbage solo system .A fast bloody fight with Her Majestys forces being wiped out to a man in good Victorian style the Brits had 2 units of Naval brigade Infantry and a unit of NNC ,plus I know the rules do not allow this but I wanted to try out both in a game so used a Machine Gun and a Rocket launcher .so the colonials had 26points v the Zulu 24

the above show the forces before deployment and before leaders characteristics were rolled

Above the first round of fire from the Naval Brigade and the rocket lauancher were effectiive a pin marker from the Launcher and 3 dead from the long range rifle fire ,then it pretty much went down hill from there . table and Mat from Urban ,figures are Empress, Warlord plastics ,Pery Plastics and wargames factory plastics

Christmas Goodies

Had a few wargaming and military inspired prezzies including another 2 of the Minden games solo games ,a Army Painter gamesmaster set for terrain contruction and a set of their new air paints ,a couple more of the Mantic terrain crates .An addition to my zulu war book collection and although slightly off the scale 3 Olivier shakespeare movies that do include some nice battle scenes.Hope you all had agreat Christmas

Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu R.I.P

 Sad news that king Goodwill passed away on the 12th March due to covid 19 ,the controversial King who always showed a huge interest in the anglo Zulu war and attended many functions not only in South Africa but in the UK ,he was the first Zulu Monarch to visit the UK parliament since Cetshawayo attended after his capture . I attended one of his visits to the UK in 2019 .

The picture of Goodwill at the Blood River memorial to the Zulu Kings taken in 2019 on our visit to Zululand

The Kings visit to Brecon in Wales 2019 

More Zulu Goodness

 A parcel arrived today from Ian Knight containing a few bits for my growing Zulu collection ,3 rather nice movie stills 2 of them framed ,featuring Micheal Caine , Nigel Green and Ivor Emannuel all in action poses from the film amd a nice booklet by John Labland for the KwaZulu monuments council a rare booklet made that bit more special as its signed by the author .

November Painting Challenge

Only just got everything done.

Fireforge Peasants going to appear in many games including Rangers of Shadow Deep

Krampus an amazing figure from the Hellboy Game

Bonnie Prince Charlie and some of his men ,all Flags of war 

Governemt Troops to Tackle the Prince again Flags of War probably be using Sharp Practice for this period

Some stunning figures from Galloping Major for the FIW again Sharps or maybe M&T 2

AW MIniatures figures for FIW 

HMS Shah naval brigade for the AZW all Empress .rulrs wuill be the menwho would be king ,although i am tinkering with my own set which have proved popular