Re: Disappointment from Newline
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:33 pm
Especially basing.
Snook tries to apply inherent military probability to the final moments at Isandlwhana (and also tracked down some Zulu sources to get a more complete picture). He obviously does try to "big up" the reputation of the 1/24th, but does make some credible points whilst doing so - eg the junior officers were much more familiar with Zulu tactics than Chelmsford who was not inexperienced when it came to African warfare, but clearly assumed that all Africans fought the same way.
There was also a command-and-control problem vis-a-vis Durnford. As a Royal Engineer, his command of an all-arms force would have put a few noses out of joint, especially as Pulleine, ostensibly his equal, only held brevet rank. Where Snook takes issue, is that none out of Chelmsford and his entire staff, thought to establish a pecking order or settle such an issue. If they simply imagined that a situation in which it became of vital importance would never arise......well, they got that wrong.
Snook tries to apply inherent military probability to the final moments at Isandlwhana (and also tracked down some Zulu sources to get a more complete picture). He obviously does try to "big up" the reputation of the 1/24th, but does make some credible points whilst doing so - eg the junior officers were much more familiar with Zulu tactics than Chelmsford who was not inexperienced when it came to African warfare, but clearly assumed that all Africans fought the same way.
There was also a command-and-control problem vis-a-vis Durnford. As a Royal Engineer, his command of an all-arms force would have put a few noses out of joint, especially as Pulleine, ostensibly his equal, only held brevet rank. Where Snook takes issue, is that none out of Chelmsford and his entire staff, thought to establish a pecking order or settle such an issue. If they simply imagined that a situation in which it became of vital importance would never arise......well, they got that wrong.