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Mark Hobson
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 |
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Location: Halifax |
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 6:30 pm |
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Kenty
Only just picked this up so apologies for the delay.
Yes, as you say, there seems to be a distinct lack of material written about this small but brutal action. It is a battle which in my opinion has been overlooked for too long, after all it took place only a few weeks after Isandlwana in circumstances not too different, despite the furore that the earlier disaster caused. It seems that the lessons learned from earlier in the war do not seem to have been taken onboard. Once again, laziness, a lack of good reconnaisance, and an underestimation of the enemy led to defeat.
Last year I was able to revisit the site of the battle. It is a little off the beaten track and good map-reading and local knowledge is needed to find the spot, but it is well worth the effort. The surrounding countryside is wild and beautiful.
More awareness and an increase in visitors to the battlefield are sorely needed, otherwise I fear that Ntombe will be forgotten even more.
Mark Hobson
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Kenty
Joined: 09 Sep 2005 |
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Location: Sevenoaks |
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:01 pm |
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Mark Hobson wrote: | Kenty
Only just picked this up so apologies for the delay.
Yes, as you say, there seems to be a distinct lack of material written about this small but brutal action. It is a battle which in my opinion has been overlooked for too long, after all it took place only a few weeks after Isandlwana in circumstances not too different, despite the furore that the earlier disaster caused. It seems that the lessons learned from earlier in the war do not seem to have been taken onboard. Once again, laziness, a lack of good reconnaisance, and an underestimation of the enemy led to defeat.
Last year I was able to revisit the site of the battle. It is a little off the beaten track and good map-reading and local knowledge is needed to find the spot, but it is well worth the effort. The surrounding countryside is wild and beautiful.
More awareness and an increase in visitors to the battlefield are sorely needed, otherwise I fear that Ntombe will be forgotten even more.
Mark Hobson |
Hello Mark, thank you for responding.
Your work has arrived safely and is next on my list to read after I finish Norris-Newman's book.
I actually went to the battlefields last year with Holts and although we didn't spend long at Myer's Drift it was actually my favourite (after Isandlwana) due in no small way to its remoteness. We had lunch at Luneburg, paid our respects to Moriarty and co and then went to the river. The gravesight was unfortunately in quite a bad state and I agree that out of all the sights I went to Ntombe looks in the gravest danger (no pun intended) of being lost.
I also wrote to Simon Smith who has painted two very good AZW pictures, one of RD and the other of Charlie Pope's Company at Isandlwana and I asked if he had thought about depicting the Ntombe action and he has, so fingers crossed we will see one in the future.
You've certainly done your bit to keep Ntombe alive and you have my backing.
Kind regards
Kenty
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