Isandlwana at "COLOURS 2011" 10-11 September 2011

Hi all
I have been asked to post the following with very kind permission of Bill Cainan from the museum at Brecon.

The annual wargame show “Colours” will be held at Newbury (in the racecourse pavilion) over the weekend 10-11 September. This year, at the show there will be a demonstration “game” based on the moment of withdrawal of the British firing line at Isandlwana. The game will employ 28mm figures and the units will be represented on a 1 to 1 basis (so, each British Company will have 3 officers and 107 men) ! The demonstration will cover the ground from the Isandlwana Mountain to the rocky knoll, some 7-800 yards in TRUE scale of 1:64 (to match the 28mm scale figures). The table will be 36foot long by 6foot wide (i.e. 768yds by 128yds). The demonstration will employ nearly 600 model Imperial figures, and over 1500 model Zulu figures (the number being restricted by the width of the table (representing 130 yards). This will give viewers the opportunity to relate units to the ground in true scale.

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That's amazing. I did not realise the size of the these models. The work to create this must run into hours if not days.

A big thanks to Bill Cainan for allowing these photo's to be posted. I think there's another one coming up in October.

Fantastic. That's the largest Isandhlwana wargame I've ever seen. I had wondered if it might have been played on an L-shaped battlefield, which then could have followed the retreat down Fugitives' Trail. Best model of Mt. Isandhlwana too, self-made rather than a kit I think. Thanks Bill.

Firstly thanks to Bill Cainan for allowing photo's. Like the rest. I didn't realise these models were build on this scale. It certainly is an impressive display. Going to sound a bit dumb now!!! Is it just on display or are Battles rein-acted using the model and moving soldiers into various locations as they may have done at the actual battle of Isandlwana.

Hi All

A few more photographs with very kind permission of Bill Cainan.

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Looks like the N.N.H. were well represented, as they are usually missing from wargames depicting Isandhlwana, being played mainly with 24th, R.A. and Colonial figures. Good numbers of N.N.H. figures in the images. Does this mean someone playing the wargame was in charge of these figures as Col. Durnford ? Or was it just the one wargamer operating all the British forces ?

Was there a figure of him present as I can't see it in the photos ?

A report on the event. Scroll to bottom for Zulu War display. Some great photo's of all displays. Team Zulu display being the best

Click Here For Report;

ISANDLWANA DEMONSTRATION GAME – COLOURS 2011

Our Isandlwana demonstration game at Colours 2011 seems to have created quite a bit of interest, so I thought it might be useful to provide some background information, to supplement the picturtes above.

DESCRIPTION OF DEMONSTRATION:
The size of figures (28mm) used, determined the ground scale, which was 1:64. The table provided was 38 feet by 6 feet, which in “real” terms meant an area 811 yards long by 178 yards wide. This enabled us to recreate the length of the firing line at Isandlwana, from the mountain to the rocky knoll (where the artillery were positioned). The width – 178 yards – did restrict the number of figures we could get on the table and retain correct spaced formations, yet, we did manage to get well over 3,000 figures involved !


What you see in the pictures reflects the position at about 1.15pm (ish) on the 22nd January 1879. The Zulu left horn has swung around, forced Durnford to withdraw and has swarmed into the camp, over-running the lines of the 1/24th camp (at the southern end of the tented enacampments), and most importantly, over the ammunition wagons of the battalion, positioned behind the tent lines. This in 1/64th scale would be nearly 45 feet behind the firing line ! The ammunition supply to the firing line has thus been severed and the troops on the firing line are firing off their last few rounds, before re-deploying into rallying squares to fight to the end. The two Zulu Regiments facing the firing line, the uNokhenke and the umCijo, have come out of the dead ground some 200 yards away (7 feet on the table) and are surging towards the redcoat line with renewed vigour, seeing the crashing volleys beginning to falter.

Four Imperial companies are represented, each in a different formation –

Younghusband’s Company are inclined back and are in close order.
Mostyn’s Company are spread out in extended order, covering as much ground as possible .
Cavaye’ Company, with an eye on the approaching Zulus, have already formed a rallying square
Porteus’ Company are deployed in open order by platoons to cover the guns.

Wardell’s company would be 2 feet “off table),beyonf bPorteus, and Pope’s Company would be moving towards Durnfords donga – about 20 feet “off table”

Between Younghusband and Mostyn are the Natal Native Contingent (NNC) Company of Erskine and a Troop of the Natal Native Horse (NNH) under Shepstone. Erskine’s company has broken and are fleeing the field, while Shepstone is just about to order his troop mounted.

On the rocky knoll is the two gun section commanded by Lt Curling – one gun is already limbered and withdrawing. The other is firing one last round before limbering up.

Lt Col Pulleine (CO 1/24) and Lt Melvill (his adjutant) are adjacent to Shepstone.

Each of the units are represented in correct numbers – the Imperial companies have about 100 men each, Erskine has 150 and Shepstone about 50 men.

The Zulu regiments are deployed in Company blocks (some 50 – 60 warriors per company) in the traditional three rank formation. The uNokhenke have some 750 warriors on the table (about a third of the regiment) while the umCijo have nearly 1,500 warriors deployed (about half the regiment). The 6ft width of the table prevented us from deploying the full regiments – but I think what is “on” reflects the odds quite clearly.

ADMITTED ERRORS :
1. The tents shown are those of a bn of the NNC and should in fact be improvised shelters and not bell tents !
2. Some of the Zulu warriors are clearly wearing red coats, but had not yet had the opportunity to strip the British dead !
3. The Zulu company formations are a bit too “regimented”.
4. In setting out the firing line, I inadvertently reversed the positions of the NNC and NNH – oops !
5. The Imperial Companies are shown with their established strength of 107 men and 3 officers, whereas, in reality they were probably nearer 80 strong.

TEAM ZULU:
The game was put on by “Team Zulu” which comprised:
Bill Cainan
Ian Knight
Michael Lane
Alex Knight

It took us nearly two hours on the Friday night and one hour on the Saturday morning to place all the figures in position !!


THE DEMONSTRATION:
The demonstration generated a lot of discussion among the wargame viewers as to the merits of 1 to 1 wargaming, and of course we were clearly able to show the down sides – it takes a lot of space; a lot of time to game; it takes a lot of money to fit out the armies; etc; etc. However, on the positive side it undoubtedly looks “right” and can clearly claim to be an accurate representation.

QUESTIONS (RAISED ABOVE):
1. "L" shaped battlefield ? Newbury & Reading Wargames Society were very charitable in giving us a 38ft by 6ft table. To get the whole battlefield in at 1:64 scale (28mm) we would have needed a table approaching 60ft by 60ft ! There is NEVER enough space, especially for true scale wargames !
2. Location of Durnford ? At this stage of the battle he had withdrawn from the donga and was probably fighting elements of the Zulu right horn that had reached the camp - this would be (in scale terms) some 25 feet behind the firing line.
3. Command and Control ? I have Pulleine and Melvill on horeseback adjacent to Younghusband and the NNH - this is of course conjecture. I'm presuming he has just ordered the withdrawal on the camp (following the interuption in the ammunition supply) and has moved forward, with his adjutant to see this progressing.
I will try and answer any other questions ASAP.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
Team Zulu would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Newbury & Reading Wargames Society for allowing us to put on this demonstration.


Bill Cainan
Curator
The Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh
Brecon

Hi All

I forgot to mention the fact that Terrain Mats made the large mat (they initially though I was joking when I asked for a mat 36' x 6' !!!!) and also the model of the mountain. A stuuning job - thanks Richard.

We didn't attempt to move the figures - again illustrating how difficult it is to do recreation games to a correct scale. It would probably take us a week - at least - to game what took place over as few hours. This was one of the features of the demonstration - for me to explain the problems, and how they could (or could not !) be overcome !

Bill
Bill Cainan
Curator
The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh

Bill, excellent info and answers to my questions. Thanks.

Don't know what made me think it would be a dice rolling, tape ruled wargame of Isandhlwana, but as mentioned, the moving of such vast amounts of figures would be daunting and time consuming. Bill, I looked the Terrain Mats site hoping they'd show their Mt. Isandhlwana, as well as its size and costs, but they haven't included such details. Could you please let me know its full size and how much it cost and is it ready-detailed and painted. A PM would be great. Thanks.

Thanks Bill for giving us the heads up , much appreciated .
cheers 90th.

Hi Colin

I tried to post a response to your querry, but it didn't seem to take. I suspect it may result in two answers - but, hey ho, two answers are better than none !

Terrain Mats made the mountain as a one-off commission. It's 5ft long, 2ft wide and about 2ft 6" tall. It comes in a box for transporting. It was made fully painted and detailed - just as you see it. It is cut off vertically both at the back and end to fit on a 6ft by 2ft table. The lower slope (to get the right height) was achieved by extending the basic mat up and over a wooden frame. If I'd had more time I'd have detailed this lower slope to merge in properly with the mountain. Cost ? Well, including the box I think it was about £175, but I'll check on this on the weekend. Oh, and I had to go to Ipswich to collect it !

Bill

Bill. I guess the size would prohibit, the model being put on display in the museum.

Bill, thanks for the detailed info.

Impi

I certainly would like to display the whole model in the Museum as it's so much easier to explain the finer points of the battle with something to refer to. However, as you say, the size is a problem. It may be in the short term that we just put the mountain on display. Watch this space !

For those who've not been to Brecon lately, it may be worth pointing out that I've re-vamped the AZW room. I would extend a warm welcome to you all, to come and see what I've done. I'm always willing to discuss aspects of the war - but ring first to make sure I'm in !!! 01874 613310.

Bill Cainan
Curator

Quote :

I would extend a warm welcome to you all

We may just take you up on that Bill. "Pete" before you ask. NO!!!!!! I'm not camping

Fantastsic!
The pictures look gr8!
Bill, I will be stopping off at Brecon for an hour's skive around lunchtime on friday 16th december as i pass by. i am looking 4wd to seeing the Anstey display, but any part of this would be a bonus.
not having been to iSandlwana and RD (yet), a model like this must surely be an excellent second best.
Tasker

Tasker

Make sure you ask for me when you get to the Museum. It'll be good to put a face to the name.

Bill

bill cainan wrote:

Tasker

Make sure you ask for me when you get to the Museum. It'll be good to put a face to the name.

Bill

Thanks Bill, it would be great to meet you.
Tasker