The Sun Turned Black: Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift - 1879 - Softcover

Knight, Ian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1874959021 ISBN 13: 9781874959021

Publisher: Waterman (William) Publications,South Africa, 1995

Synopsis

The Sun would never set on the British Empire. On 22 January, 1879, at the height of battle between Regular and Colonial troops and King Cetshwayo's Zulu Army, at a remote African crag called Isandlwana, the sun turned black. In ordinary terms, it was no more than a partial eclipse, but as a portent, it foreshadowed an ignominious defeat and a dark stain that would be cast over Britain's imperial policy and military pride. This book is an account of how and why, in January 1879, a force of British troops - experienced in African warfare, armed with modern rifles, well-supplied, supported by and encamped at their leisure on ground of their own choosing - came to be annihilated by a tribal people very largely with only spears. It also tells the story of the successful defence, on the night of the massacre, of a tiny outpost held by just over 100 men, against repeated assaults of some 4000 men. This is a revised edition of Ian Knight's "Zulu".

Edition details

• Publisher: Waterman (William) Publications,South Africa
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1874959021
• ISBN 13: 9781874959021
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 162