Anglo-Zulu War Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sir Henry Bartle Frere

Sir Henry Bartle Frere was appointed High Commissioner to South Africa in 1874. He was appointed by Lord Carnarvon, who was seeking to mold South Africa into a federation like Canada.

Answer: Cetshwayo

Cetshwayo became ruler of the Zulus after his father, Mpande's death in 1873. After coming to power Cetshwayo started to expand his armies and went back to using military methods devised by his uncle Shaka. His refusal to accept the ultimatum presented to him by Sir Henry Bartle Frere ultimately led to the 1879 Zulu War. Upon Cetshwayo's death in 1884 he became the last king of an independent Zulu nation.

Answer: Lt. Colonel Henry Pulleine

Lt. Colonel Pulleine's encampment was surprised by an attack by an estimated 20,000 Zulus. Lord Chelmsford has often been criticized for not setting up the encampment defensively as well as not listening to intelligence reports regarding Zulu Impis in the area.

The battle of Isandlwana ended as the Zulus' major victory of the war. Out of a force of 1,400 British and roughly 2,500 Africans approximately 1329 men were killed. Pulleine along with 52 other officers (including Anthony Durnford) died during this battle.

Answer: Almost 15 hours

The soldiers managed to hold out for 10 hours until the Zulus called off the attack. Following this battle eleven Victoria Crosses and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded to some of the defenders.

Answer: Johnson Beharry

Lance-Corporal Johnson Beharry, although not a defender of Rorke's Drift, was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2004 while serving with the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment in Iraq.

Answer: Eshowe

At the beginning of the campaign Colonel Charles Pearson crossed the Tugela River and advanced as far as the Eshowe mission station. Upon hearing of the loss at Isandlwana, Pearson decided to withdraw behind the Tugela River. Before he could make this withdrawal the Zulus were able to cut his lines of supply beginning the siege.

Answer: 2 months

The relief column arrived in Eshowe on April 3, 1876 led by Lord Chelmsford after the British victory at Gingindlovu.

Answer: PIAT

The PIAT stands for Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank. It was a British anti-tank weapon first used in combat during the invasion of Sicily in 1943.

Answer: Devil's Pass

Geographically, Hlobane was made up of two plateaus. At the far eastern end there was a narrow traverse strewn with boulders forming a series of large steps. Buller was forced to take this route on his retreat down from the upper plateau in order to prevent his men from being cut off by a Zulu impi arriving sooner than expected.

Answer: Battle of Kambula

Kambula was fought the day after the British loss at Hlobane. The battle was hotly fought often in close quarters, but resulted in a British victory. It was estimated at the time that Zulu casualties around 3,200 while British forces underneath Colonel Eveyln Wood lost 29 killed and 54 wounded. Retreating Zulu warriors, it was reported, were chased as far as Hlobane by members of the Frontier Light Horse.

Answer: Ulundi - - - where the Zulu royal kraal was located.

The ultimate goal of the invading British Army was the capture of Ulundi where the royal kraal was located. Following the victories at Kambula and Gingindlovu they were much closer to this goal.

Answer: Zulu forces burned it down three days after it was evacuated.

The Zulus burned Eshowe station on April 5, 1879 just three days after Pearson's men evacuated. This destruction came on the heels of another major Zulu defeat following the battle of Kalumba.

Answer: Sir Garnet Wolseley

By the time Wolseley arrived in South Africa in July 1879 he found that the war was pretty much over. Wolseley remained in South Africa, replacing Sir Henry Bartle Frere, until he was recalled to England in May of 1880 and made quarter-master general.

Answer: Napoleon Eugene

After the Anglo-Zulu War ended the Zulus claimed that they would not have killed him if they knew who he was. His mother, Eugénie, following the war made a pilgrimage to the kraal where her son had died. He is buried in the Imperial Crypt at Saint Michael's Abbey, Farnborough, Hampshire, England, next to his father.

Answer: Battle of Ulundi

Lord Chelmsford, contrary to orders from Garnet Wolseley, engaged the Zulus at Ulundi on June 30, 1879. The result was a resounding victory for the British. At the end of the battle British casualties were 10 killed / 87 wounded while it is estimated that the Zulu main army suffered over 1500 wounded and dead.