This year saw England committed to two wars, in Afghanistan and in Zululand. It must now be told how the Seventeenth Lancers played a part in both of them.

CHAPTER XV
THE ZULU WAR—PEACE SERVICE IN INDIA AND AT HOME, 1879–1894

1879.

At the beginning of February England was shocked by the intelligence that one of Lord Chelmsford’s columns, consisting of the 24th Regiment, had been surprised and annihilated by the Zulus at Isandlhwana (22nd January). 10th Feb. The Seventeenth Lancers was at once warned to proceed on active service in South Africa, and the regiment was augmented by the transfer of sixty-five men and horses from the 5th and 16th Lancers. In the short interval between the warning and the embarkation the Commanding Officer, Colonel Gonne, was accidentally shot while superintending the practice of the non-commissioned officers with the newly issued revolver, and so severely wounded as to be unable to proceed on active service. Accordingly, on the 22nd February, Colonel Drury Lowe was gazetted as supernumerary Lieutenant-Colonel, and reassumed command of the regiment, his return being joyfully welcomed by all ranks, without exception, from the second in command downwards. On the same day the regiment was inspected by the Colonel-in-Chief at Hounslow, 24th Feb. and two days later one wing, under the command of Major Boulderson, embarked on board the hired transport France at Victoria Docks; headquarters and the other wing embarking on board the England at Southampton on the 25th. A depôt of 121 men with 30 horses was left under the command of Captain Benson at Hounslow.

1879.

The strength of the regiment, as embarked, was as follows:—

Headquarter wing
England		Left wing
France		Totals
Field Officer.112
Captains.437
Subalterns.7916
Staff.415
Total.161430
Rank and File.302238540
HORSES. Officers.252146
Troopers.238238476
Total.263259522

Both ships arrived at St. Vincent, Cape de Verdes, on the 7th March to coal; but owing to the great number of transports assembled at the same place for the same purpose, the England did not leave until the 12th, nor the France until the 14th. Both ships were detained again at Table Bay for a few days to coal, and arrived at Port Durban, the England on the 6th, and the France on the 11th April; five horses dead on the former, and six on the latter ship, were the casualties for the voyage. By the 14th both wings were disembarked, and the regiment then encamped for a day or two at Cator’s Manor, near Durban—the right wing, under Colonel Drury Lowe, finally marching on the 17th April to Landman’s Drift, and the left wing, under Major Boulderson, on the 21st April to Dundee.

The entire regiment shortly after marched up to Rorke’s Drift together with the King’s Dragoon Guards, the whole being under the command of Major-General Marshall. On the 21st May it visited the battlefield of Isandlhwana, buried most of the dead bodies, and brought back some of the abandoned waggons to Rorke’s Drift. On the 23rd it joined the 2nd Division under Major-General Newdegate at Landman’s Drift, on the 28th it marched with it to Koppie Allein on the Blood River, and at last on the 1st June crossed that river and entered Zululand.

On the 5th June the regiment came in contact with the Zulus for the first time at Erzungayan Hill. In a trifling skirmish which ensued the Adjutant, Lieutenant Frith, was shot dead by the Colonel’s side. 1879. 7th June.Two days later the division reached the Upoko River. A squadron of the Seventeenth was now detached to do duty at Fort Marshall, one of the posts constructed to guard the line of communication. The remainder moved up with division towards Ulundi, the kraal of the Zulu king. It was employed in the usual reconnaissance and outpost duties, varied by an occasional skirmish with the Zulus, but was never able to come to close quarters with the enemy. It was not employed, nor was any part of the strong force of cavalry available for the service, in a rapid advance upon Ulundi, as had been expected and hoped.