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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:18 am

Hi All

As promised, the account of Dalton's (Lindizwe Ngobese) visit to the UK has now been posted on "Your Travel Stories" - thanks to Mel. As most of the entries relate to UK visits to KZN, this is the exact opposite ! I hope members will find this account interesting. Dalton, who works as a tour guide at the Isandlwana Lodge is of course the great grandson of Mehlokazulu, and the great great grandson of Sihayo, both of whom will feature prominently (as I understand it) in Ian Knight's new book "Zulu Rising", due out in a few days.

Bill

Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:07 am

You can also directly reach the story on the site via this link:

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/stories/dalton_uk.pdf

Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:09 pm

Excellent stuff Bill - and thanks again for the photos on the cd you sent me the other week.

I presume you sang "Men of Harlech" for him during his visit?

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:23 pm

I really enjoyed that story about Dalton. I'm sure it will bring up great memories for all. So Bill, did Dalton share any stories of the great history his family is part of??? If I'd have met him I'd probably would have asked too many questions.

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:25 pm

An excellent story ... thanks for sharing it with us, and for all your hard work.

Smile

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:33 pm

There was a very sad end to this story. Soon after returning safely home Dalton sent the following message:

Hi there, this is Dalton Ngobese from South Africa, I hope everything goes well there.

Here we have a bad news of the guy called Petros Muzi Sibisi (35) who
has been one of the Guides on Anglo Zulu Wars,he has passed away on the 2nd of August,he's been based at Rorkesdrift. He will be buried tomorrow in his family graves. Many people know him!!

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:22 pm

That's extremely sad news indeed.

Petros was a very likeable young man. I first had the pleasure of seeing him in 2002 when he escorted myself and Bill Cainan along the Fugitives' Trail. He was just starting out learning the ropes as a battlefield guide back then and his enthusiasm was very apparent. He took the 2 of us along the trail in what must have been a world record time, we were virtually running along in his wake! How he got us both across the river - plus our equipment - I have no idea.

He was also regularly seen buzzing around on his motorbike, and always with a big smile on his face!

Mark Hobson

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:53 pm

Dreadful news; only three or four weeks ago I was asked to guide the South African War College across Isandlwana because their usual guide, Petros, was 'sick'. I had no idea how sick, though one never likes to hear the word used in this part of the world.

I first met Petros whilst representing the High Commission at the Amafa planning committee for the 125th anniversary. He was a delightful, charming and upright young man, uncommonly well versed in local history. His loss will be widely felt. God rest his soul and God bless his kind.

As ever

Mike

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 4:34 am

I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of my very good friend Muzi Sibisi, with whom I have shared several days in the Isandlwana area. It was he who took me to the site of Sihayo's homestead and the fight on 12 January 1879, and it was he who took me, with some trepidation, along the ridge of the Malakatha. As a matter of fact, I was was pleased to give him my old copy of the Laband and Thompson Field Guide. I seem to recall that the last time we spoke he was accumulating cattle to pay for his future wife. How very sad that such a vibrant, intelligent life should have been struck down at such a young age.

Vale, Muzi.

KIS

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 7:34 am

Keith Smith received this letter from Petros. He sounds like a nice bloke.

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 12:06 pm

Keith...Besides the memories, you have a fine memento from Petros. I'm sure you will treasure it. And isn't life just a bunch of relationships that we get to glean over?

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:17 pm

Very sad indeed, especially for those of you who'd had the pleasure of knowing him. But a heart warming story about Dalton from Bill - well done, Bill!

Peter

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:51 am

Peter

Many thanks for the kind words.

Rich

You asked if I'd had much chance to talk to Dalton about his perceptions on the AZW while he was over here - regretably not. The propgramme we'd put together was so intense that there was the danger of overwhelming him completely! By early evening on each day he was pretty tired out, so we didn't get as much time to talk as I would have wished. However, what he did say was that he was concerned that the Zulu way of interpreting issues in the AZW is not always known or understood. I think this is why lots of people who visit the Isandlwana lodge specifically ask for Dalton as their guide, as he can put a whole new slant on the events. Traditionally most of the books written on the AZW are purely from the British point of view and the Zulu viewpoint is all too frequently overlooked. I know Ian Knight is very much trying to reverse this trend in his writings, and has spoken at great length with Dalton to glean what oral history has been passed down from Mehlokazulu and Sihayo. What does come through most clearly from Dalton is his tremendous pride in being a Zulu.

Bill

Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 12:10 pm

Bill...thanks for the follow up. And I sure can understand that your day must've been like a whirlwind!

"May I say something? I too am all for getting that "Zulu" historical point of view that Mr. Knoght and others are trying to get across. Now has any consideration that Dalton himself may get involved in perhaps penning a book with a "history" as he has ssen it through the eyes of his family? Perhaps Mr. Knight is already involved with that? In any case, i'd think there are more "Daltons" in current Zulu society who are taking an interest in their proud past and exploring it deeply. Thanks again.

Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:32 am

Rich

Great minds think alike. Ian has had lengthy conversations with Dalton with regard to his illustrious ancestors and also with regard to his (Zulu)pereception of the AZW. All of this is clearly seen in Ian's new book "Zulu Rising" where he is telling the story of Isandlwana and RD from the point of view of the major participants. Thus, Mehlokazulu features prominently. I am only at Page 70 at the moment (having just got a copy) but it is fascinating to see how the early lives of Sihayo and Mehlokazulu are defined by their experiences and all help to explain the events leading up to 22/23 January 1879. Ian in his preface freely acknowledges the assistance he got from Dalton is writing this part of the book.

On another thread, Coll says that he has obtained a copy of the book and for him, up to where he had read, there was "nothing new". I would disagree entirely with that. Ian has cleverly woven together the backgrounds of the major participants to set everything in its proper context. The information may not be new, but the intepretation of it, is.

If you haven't got a copy of the book yet, Rich, make it your next priority !

All the best

Bill