Information on Zungen Nek ??????

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

Came across this chap on one of the Boerwar forums.

"Strong, Major Sydney Philip, second in command, 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles.
He died of wounds received in action at Spion Kop, in the operations on the Upper Tugela, on January 24th, 1900. He was born in February 1858, educated at Winchester, and entered the 90th Foot January 1878, being promoted Lieutenant August 1878, Captain September 1883, and Major October 1892. He saw active service with the 90th Light Infantry in the South African War, 1877-78, in the Kaffir Campaign, and the operations against the Galekas.He also served throughout the Zulu War of 1879, and was present at the engagements at Zungen Nek, Kambula, and Ulundi, and was mentioned in despatches, LG, May 7th, 1879, and received the medal with clasp. Major Strong was adjutant of volunteers from November 1887-92. His death is mentioned in the despatch of Lieutenant General Sir C Warren of February 1st, 1900."

I have never heard of Zungen Nek. Can anyone shed some light on this.

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

Hi Dave. "Zungen Nek" Like you never heard of it.. But heres another chap that took part in this engagement.

FERDINAND SIMEON LE QUESNE (Surgeon-Captain, now Major) Royal Major Medical Staff.

"During the attack on the village of Tartanon May 4th 1889, a young officer, William Graham Michel (of the 2nd Norfolk, or 9th Regiment) was mortally wounded. Surgeon-Captain La Quesne remained for some minute’s whith him, within five yards of the loopholes of the enemy’s stockade, whence proceeded a hail of lead. While dressing the wounds of another officer soon afterwards, Dr. Le Quesne was himself severely wounded. Born at Jersey December 25th 1863, Major Le Quesne is the son of the late Lieut. –Colonel G. N. Le Quesne. Served in the Chin Looshai (1890), and Wunthoo (1891) Campaigns; also through the Boer War, 1899-1902. Educated at king’s College Hospital, London, of which he is Honourary Fellow. Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., in command of the mounted men, taking part in the assault of the Inholbane Mountain, noticed that some Zulus who had taken up a strong position in some caves, from which they commanded the spot where some of our wounded were lying, were causing much loss to our men. He therefore ordered their dislodgement. Some delay taking place in carrying it out, Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell, Coldstream Guards, with Lieutenant Lysons and Private Edmund fowler, “advanced in a most courageous manner over a mass of fallen boulders and between rocks which led to a cave on which the enemy lay hidden.” There being only room for one man to pass at a time, they advanced in single file, and the first to reach the cave was Captain Campbell. On seeing him the Zulus fired, shooting him dead, upon which Lysons and Fowler sprang forward, and with great gallantry drove them from their stronghold. Afterwards Lysons remained at the cave’s mouth while Captain Campbell’s body was carried down the hill. Lieut. –Colonel Lysons, son of the late Sir Daniel Lysons, of Crimean fame, was born at Modern, surrey on July 13th 1858. Educated at Wellington he joined the 90th Light Infantry in 1878, serving through the Zulu War as A.D.C. to Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., taking part in the affairs of Zungen Nek, and the Inhlobane Mountain, and the battles of Kambula and Ulundi, being twice mentioned in despatches and obtaining medal and clasp. Served through Soudan War 1884-5, obtaining medal and clasp. Served through the Soudan War 1884-5, obtaining medal, clasp and bronze star with Egyptian Army."

Source: Army Medical Corps

Subject: Re: Information on Zungen Nek ?????? Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:00 am

The Zungwini is another flat topped mountain just west of Hlobane and Ntendeka.

The action above might be getting confused with that at Hlobane in March (certainly the Campbell episode was at Hlobane) although, equally, it might be referring to the skirmishes that took place at Zungwini on 22 January when Wood decided to attack the abaQulusi who had been spotted by Buller the previous day.

The skirmishes were only light but when on top of the Zungwini, Wood was able to clearly see around 4,000 abaQulusi (impressively) going through their drills on the top of Hlobane. He resolved to attack Hlobane on the 24th January but during the course of this he received the news of the Zulu victory at iSandlwana. He thought better of it and returned to Fort Thinta before finding a new site at Khambula to consolidate his position and think again.

Here is a pic of Ntendeka (taken from the top of the Devil's Pass) with Zungwini beyond in case of interest: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] .

Hope this is helpful.

U

Subject: Zunguin neck Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:39 am

hi Umbiki.
great photos , thanks for sharing .
cheers 90th :) .

Subject: Re: Information on Zungen Nek ?????? Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:58 pm

OK - this is almost certainly the Battle of Hlobane, but bear in mind that there is another battle site with a similar name. It is, of course, Zungeni, which took place on the 5th June 1879 and the Adjutant of the 17th Lancers was killed (Lt FC Frith). British accounts refer to it as the action on the 'Upper Upoko River'. It is an Anglicism; the area is known to the local people as the Sbhokwe, below the Zungeni range which is, as I'm sure you know, en route from Fort Newdigate to Mthonjaneni. I'll try to post a photo of the site in the next day or so.
Regards, Ken

Subject: Re: Information on Zungen Nek ?????? Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:57 pm

Here is the site of the action of the Upper Sbhokwe River, Lt Frith (17th Lancers) was killed. I’ve attached a photo of his grave.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Photo’s and text by Ken Gillings.

Subject: Zunguin neck Mon Sep 06, 2010 12:34 am

hi Ken / Pete.
Thanks for sharing and posting the photographs Idea

.
cheers 90th.

Posts : 1 Join date : 2020-07-07 Location : Washington, DC

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

An article entitled "NHLOBANE MOUNTAIN AND KAMBULA, ZULULAND, 28th/29th MARCH, 1879" in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research Vol. 31, No. 125 (SPRING, 1953), pp. 3-9 there is a map that shows the Zungen Nek (which I have found also spelt Zunguin neck). It is depicted as lying to the west of Inhobane, between it and Kambula.

In the "Narrative of the Field Operations Connected with the Zulu War of 1879" Appendix C, page 167, has a table titled Casualties in Minor Actions during the Campaign. On the 24th of January is listed Wood's Column, Zungen Nek, with 5 Natives WIA. Wood's #4 Column included the Frontier Light Horse under Buller and Wood's Irregulars under Commandant Henderson.

The map on page 48 of "The Illustrated Guide to the Anglo-Zulu War" depicts Wood's forces leaving Fort Tinta on 24 January, advancing to a location near Kambula wherea minor engagement is depicted. The nearby ikhanda belonging to Msebe kaMadaka.

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