Zulu

Zulu

This was Micael Cain's first staring role. His previous moves was supporting roles. The story portrayed in the movie is remarkably accurate, as far as I can tell. The Zulu attack on Isandlwana was successful because the British were caught in the open. The Martini–Henry rifle 58 caliber had just been introduced to the army was an awesome infantry weapon. However, to be most effective it required coordinated fire. The British did not lager up their position on Isandlwana and when the Zulu attack could not support each other, thus the Zulu could destroy the British in detail hand to hand fighting. Once the British line were broken in several places the Zulu regiments were able to Roma at will and killed 1500. 

At Roark's Drift Chard and Bromhead did not venture into the open. They had clear lane of fire and could mass firepower at any point the Zulus attacked. Unlike Isandlwana ammo and rifles were at hand and the soldiers were able to exercise long range fire on Zulu units. While there is an uncertain number of Zulu WIA it but be assumed that firing discipline and accuracy of the British was good. Even a minor wound from a 56 caliber bullet would render a Zulu incapable of fighting, not only this engagement but also many others. Even the battle damage inflicted from wounds at Isandlwana makes that a Pyrrhic Victory. The two day's at Roark's Drift only added to the loses. 

There is good information that the Welsh at Roark's Drift did not sing Men of Harlech, but it makes a great end to the film and it it is a wonderful and inspiring regimental song. One of the things the Brits get right is pipes and regimental songs. Something the Romans also understood martial music does make men braver. 

There was some mention of the rifle. A better mention of it should have been made, including giving it context as an improvement. And we do see the British (particularly near the end of the film) shooting in firing lines. They blast the hell out of the Zulu. Before that, they were mainly crouching behind bags of meal.

One wonders if the incident is true of the idiot who took off his hat and sat on top of the bags (because he said he couldn’t see to fire back the Zulus who were firing at them from the hill above). He was immediately shot and killed as well as the fellow who was trying to talk him down out of his precarious position.

The actual British soldier comes off as a bit of a dunce…at least some of them. No doubt Mr. Kung can square this with his reads of the Sharpe series. But many others seemed extremely brave and hard-working.



The film does give the impression that the British were calmly skilled at the use of the rifle. I’ve read (no surprise) that the Zulus couldn’t generally hit the broad side of a barn.



Yeah, I don’t at all resent a bit of Hollywood inserted into this. The singing (on both sides) was the highlight of the film. Didn’t know that the British were superior in martial music over the Romans. Interesting.

In the Sharpe series, the British enlisted man is not given much credit for intelligence and is often a slacker. That said, the British Army trained its soldiers well, especially in gunnery. This is described very well in the Sharpe series. A rifle didn't have to be terribly accurate at 100-200 yards when a well-trained regiment of riflemen could put down something like 2-3,000 rounds a minute downfield. 

In WWI, the British army had something they called the Mad Minute which was a drill during which riflemen got off 15 rounds (I recall reading it was sometimes 20) in one minute. This using a bolt-action Lee-Enfield. I recall reading somewhat that the speed at which a British regiment could fire their weapons sometimes had the Germans thinking that the Brits were firing a machine gun, not bolt-action rifles. 

If the British soldier was a bit of a dunce and less than a model citizen, just imagine what the Royal Navy's sailor was like up until the navy ended impressment after the Napoleonic Wars.