Darryl Scarborough
The British Army of 1879 marched on its stomach but died by its sanitation. The desperate glory of Rorke’s Drift and the shock of Isandlwana continue to captivate the public imagination. Yet, beneath this fascination, the real lesson of the Anglo-Zulu War is overlooked. It lies buried in the earthworks of a forgotten mission station, waiting to be unearthed. The Siege of Eshowe lacks the cinematic violence of the war’s famous battles. Yet, it offers a far more relevant case study for the modern military practitioner.
The conflict was not decided solely by the bayonet. Attrition shaped the conflict, driven by logistics, disease, and isolation. The Siege of Eshowe represents the strategic depth often ignored in favor of tactical heroism. In irregular warfare, victory is rarely decided by dramatic clashes on the battlefield. Success depends on sustaining positions and keeping logistics intact against a relentless adversary.
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