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Date	Original Topic
15th February 2002	Zulu Shield Organisation By Glenn Wade Many historians have put Zulu down with remarks like 'Historically inaccurate' and hailed Zulu Dawn as being more accurate but have you noticed that in Zulu the Zulus are organised into regiments according to shield colour whereas in Zulu Dawn they are not? Just a thought. Glenn
Date	Replies
15th February 2002	John Young Glenn, You're prempting me here. Why are the shields drawn up in the same uniform colour? That classic scene where you see all the Zulu amabutho deployed was just a trick. A trick perpetrated by nailing a number of shields to a plank of wood, and having two Zulus, one at each end stand there holding it. Looks great, but now I've given the game away. My informant for this was John Poyner, the Property Master for the production. Professor John Laband has stated that by 1879, the uniformity of regimental shield pattern had gone. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
16th February 2002	Greg King Ouch!!that one hurt John .That bit were they appear on the hill is my favourite part.And I`m sure poor pvt Cole would`nt have looked so scared . Thats enough info of this nature or we will send the boys round to put an end to such blasfamy.sorry if I spelt the last word wrong .
17th February 2002	John Young Sorry Greg, but the truth often hurts. Never mind it will be computer graphics next time! John
2nd March 2002	Mike McCabe Interesting point on John Laband and shield patterns, but the Second Edition of published notes on the Zulu Army (See copy in Killie Campbell Collection), in (I think) June 1879 still features shield patterns as an identifying characteristic for Zulu regiments. This when a number of regiments were already seriously depleted by losses in engagements to date.