The Battle of Kambula

The Battle of Kambula took place on 22nd March 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War. It was a significant engagement following the British defeat at the Battle of Hlobane the previous day. The battle occurred at the Kambula camp, a fortified British position on a steep-sided plateau in the colony of Natal.

Colonel Henry Evelyn Wood commanded the British forces, which consisted of 2,086 men, including infantry, mounted troops, and artillery. The camp was fortified with a hexagonal laager of wagons, a stone cattle kraal, and trenches and earth parapets. The British were well-prepared for the attack, having received intelligence that a large Zulu force was approaching.

The Zulu force, led by Mnyamana kaNgqengelele, consisted of approximately 20,000 warriors, many of whom were armed with rifles taken from British soldiers at previous battles. The Zulu warriors launched a series of attacks on the British position, attempting to overwhelm the defenders with sheer numbers.

Despite the intense and prolonged assault, the British forces managed to hold their ground. The defenders used their artillery and fortified positions to repel the Zulu attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers. The battle lasted for several hours, with the British eventually forcing the Zulu forces to retreat.

The Battle of Kambula was a decisive British victory, resulting in 29 killed and 54 wounded on the British side, while the Zulu casualties were estimated to be between 758 and 2,000 killed. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of well-prepared defensive positions and boosted British morale following earlier defeats.

The victory at Kambula played a crucial role in the eventual British success in the Anglo-Zulu War, leading to the final defeat of the Zulu Kingdom at the Battle of Ulundi in July 1879.

Orders of Battle

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