Osprey Fortress 35 : British Fortifications in Zululand 1879

On 11 January 1879 the British Empire went to war with the independent kingdom of Zululand. The British anticipated a swift and decisive victory, placing great faith in modern firepower; no plans were made for suppressing the Zulu over a protracted period, or for providing defensive positions from which to occupy Zulu territory. However, the losses suffered at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift quickly altered the British approach; throughout the rest of the war, the British fortified almost every position they occupied in Zululand, from permanent column depots to temporary halts. This book explores British defensive techniques employed during the war, and how these related to contemporary engineering theory. Among the sites covered are Eshowe Mission Station, forts Pearson and Tenedos, and Rorke's Drift. Text by Ian Knight with illustrations by Adam Hook.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• The Role of Fortifications during the Anglo-Zulu War
• The First Invasion : The Coastal Column
• The First Invasion : The Centre Column
• The First Invasion : The Northern Column
• The Second Invasion : The War of Fortification
• The Final Battle
• Visiting the Forts Today
• Select Bibliography
• Glossary
• Index