Greaves, Adeian The Battles of Hlobane and Khambula

Forgotten Turning Point of the Anglo-Zulu War

The two most important battles of the Zulu War, Hlobane and Khambula, were fought on consecutive days, 28 and 29 March 1879, and had very different outcomes. The first, a botched raid to steal the Zulus' vital cattle, ended in humiliating defeat due to poor planning and reconnaissance. In the second battle, the outnumbered British first repelled the counterattack on their camp and then used their cavalry to turn the Zulus' retreat into a bloody rout, achieving the first decisive British victory of the war. As Adrian Greaves explains in his account, this turning point made Khambula the most important battle of the war, as it convinced both Lord Chelmsford and the Zulu king Cetshwayo that the British could defeat the Zulus. Yet despite their significance, these linked battles have been neglected by historians, largely due to their inaccessibility and the dangerous terrain. Both battles are described in as much detail as possible, drawing on eyewitness accounts and meticulous research, with the author benefiting from his 25 years of experience as a guide leading tours of the battlefields and surrounding terrain. He recounts stories of extraordinary courage, but also reveals mistakes and cowardice that tarnish the reputations of some famous figures. Colonel (later Field Marshal) Wood, in particular, comes off badly. This is an insightful book for anyone interested in the Anglo-Zulu War.