Zulu War. British Aggression

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Should we really be saying the British were the aggressors. Or should we be saying it was a pre-emptive strike in view of what was happening at the time in South Africa an the issues with the Zulu's and the Dutch gamers. Looking at the bigger picture would the Zulu's have caused problems in Natal if the British hadn't intervened and took the fight to the Zulu's.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

pre-emptive strike. That what it would be called to day. But don't forget the British were building an empire.

And those famous words.

"Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand without the knowledge of the British Government in the hope that he could Capture Cetshwayo, the Zulu King, before London discovered that hostilities had begun"

So it was not the British Government's intention to go to war in 1879. But that had no choice but to continue and back the invasion.

Subject: British Agression Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:56 pm

Hi all.
I agree with 24th , it wasnt the Govt who were the agressors , it was Frere and Chelmesford who decided that '' Attack is the better
form of Defence '' as the old saying goes !. I for one dont think Ceteswayo had any designs on invading Natal as he was smart
enough to realise that the British had many troops who would most certainly be sent to Natal to take it back !.
cheers 90th.

» Disparity in British and Zulu unit scale when wargaming larger battles of the Zulu War
» Just how bad did the British have it in Zululand
» British Forts Zulu war