58th Regimental History
Final Stand, Battle of Isandlwana
Anglo Zulu War - IsandlwanaThe Battle of Isandlwana was fought during the morning and early afternoon of 22nd January 1879 when a force of over 20,000 Zulus attacked a portion of the main British invasion force. Most people will be aware of the battle via the film Zulu Dawn.
Despite primarily only being armed with assegais and cow hide shields, against an army equipped with modern Martin Henry rifle, the Zulus athletism, discipline and outright bravery won the day. Over 1,300 British were killed. The Zulu victory came at an appalling price as their casualties ran into several thousands. King Cetshwayo was heard to say "An assegai has been thrust into the belly of the nation". Anglo Zulu War - Rorke's DriftBritish forces invaded Zululand on 11 January 1879. During the morning of 22 January, reports began to reach Major Spalding, the officer commanding Rorke’s Drift, that Zulus had been seen in the vicinity of Isandlwana. Spalding was aware that two companies of the 2nd 24th were overdue at the drift from Helpmekaar, some 15 mile distant, so he rode to Helpmekaar to ascertain their location. He left instructions for Lieutenant Chard, the most senior Imperial officer present, to take charge.
During the afternoon a message was brought to the drift that the Zulus were approaching the Mission Station. It was realized by Chard and Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, commanding a company of 2/24th left as a garrison that, with some thirty injured or sick soldiers in the hospital, they could not escape. Assisted by Commissary Dalton, they began to prepare the position for defence by stacking heavy sacks of mealie corn and biscuit boxes around the position. Helping them were three hundred blacks under the command of Captain Stevenson. This officer fled with his NCOs and workforce as the Zulus approached and did not take part in the battle. 58th Battle Honours
Total Honours: 10
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The 58th Regiment of Foot was first formed in 1755 during the Seven Years’ War (1754-1763), originally number as the 60th Regiment it was renumber the 58th in 1757 following the disbandment of senior Regiments. In 1782 all British Regiments without Royal titles were awarded county titles in order to aid recruitment from that region therefore the 58th became the 58th (Rutlanshire) Regiment of Foot. The 58th went on to take part in the Great Siege of Gibraltar when Franco/Spanish forces attempted to capture Gibraltar for 3 years and seven months.
The 58th also served in Egypt during the French Revolutionary War (1792-1802) fighting at the Battle of Alexandria and Calabria, it also took part in the Capture of Minorca (1798). It also served during the Peninsular War fighting at the Battles of Salamanca and Burgos. It on to serve in Australia and took over garrison duties in New South Wales. The 58th also went on to serve in New Zealand from 1845 during the 1st Maori War (1845-47) and remained in New Zealand until 1858 when over 300 men chose to take their discharge in New Zealand. The 58th also served in the final stages of Anglo-Zulu War (1879) fighting at the Battle of Ulundi. In 1881 the Childers Reforms restructured the British army into a network of multi-battalion Regiments, the 58th Regiment of Foot was merged with the 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Northamptonshire Regiment. The newly formed Regiment went on to serve North West Frontier Operations 1897-98, Second Boer War (1899 - 1902) and two World Wars. In 1960 the Regiment was merged with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment to become the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment. Huge Wave of Zulus, Battle of Khambula
One of the fleeing NCOs, Corporal Anderson, was shot in the back by a 24th defender; Anderson is buried in the cemetery along with the other soldiers killed in the action. The defended area included the hospital and the store; the defenders were now reduced to 139 men, including the Reverend Smith and Surgeon Reynolds with his 35 patients. The Zulus appeared in force at about 4 p.m. and repeatedly attacked in successive waves until after dark, when they set fire to the hospital’s thatched roof. During the following hours the soldiers occupying the hospital were forced, room-by-room, through the building until they reached the high window facing the British position. One by one, the wounded were lowered to the ground, under constant fire from the Zulus. Corporal Allen and Private Hitch, both already wounded, nevertheless successfully ferried the wounded to safety. The hospital was then abandoned to the Zulus.
By firing the thatch the Zulus inadvertently illuminated the area for the defenders who were able to keep them at bay until dawn; by then the British had fired 20,000 Martini-Henry rounds and repelled numerous hand-to-hand assaults with the bayonet. The Zulus withdrew at dawn when they saw Chelmsford’s force approaching the drift. The battle of Rorke’s Drift is famous, not only for the ferocious action taken by the defending officers and men, but for the recognition of their bravery by the award of eleven Victoria Crosses, seven of which went to the 24th Regiment, the most ever awarded to one regiment for a single action. |
Huge Zulu Assault, Battle of Ulundi
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Rank Structure
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