Use of fists and not weapons

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

In The film Zulu, there's a scene where Sgt Milne is on the roof with Bromhead, clearing the Zulus. Milne grabs a Zulu by what's looks like an ammuntion bandolier, and gives him a punch to the head.

I'm sure I read in one of the legacy volumes, that an incident occurred I beleive with the defender named Evans, who knocked down one or two Zulus, using his fists.

Is there any accounts of soldiers using their fists instead of weapons to defend themselves, in any battles during the Zulu War.

Subject: Re: Use of fists and not weapons Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:43 am

THROUGH THE ZULU COUNTRY: Mitford

"The Kandampemvu regiment was in the thick of the battle at Isandhlwana, and foremost in carrying the camp, though it suffered severely in the earlier stage of the conflict from the fire of the outlying companies ; and now its chief told me how stubbornly some of our soldiers had fought to the last, many of them using their pocket-knives when their bayonets were wrenched from them. Some even astonished their savage enemies by a well-directed ' one, two ' straight from the shoulder, flooring the two exultant warriors like nine-pins. The Zulus could not understand how men could use their hands as knob kerries, for the native is quite a stranger to the art of fisticuffs"

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Thanks LH. I guess there would have been quite a few incident in all.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Good post LH. Probaly encountered the army boxing team!

Subject: Re: Use of fists and not weapons Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:58 pm

Do we need first hand accounts?
One can imagine that many soldiers fighting to the last before the inevitable, would have used every last means at their disposal.

» MH Rifle or Musket
» Zulu Weapons
» The ammunition question