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Julian whybra


Joined: 03 Sep 2005
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I must just say that it is most definitely worth getting hold of as a reference work.
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Sawubona


Joined: 09 Nov 2005
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I found it interesting that in his article Ian Knight locates the infamous "cave" quite a bit more towards the head of the spur than is commonly proposed. Interesting but a bit depressing in that I seemingly crawled into the wrong beer can and dung littered hole in the rocks after all. I even positively identified some bullet spalling in the ceiling of "my" cave proving once again (if he's correct) that we can often see what we want to see rather than what's actually there!
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Alan
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Joined: 30 Aug 2005
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I hadn't heard that about the cave. Are there two? The one I killed myself
getting up to was via Younghusband's company memorial stone.

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Sawubona


Joined: 09 Nov 2005
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I've got to dig out my copy of Awful Row for details, Alan, but I recall that in that book Ian Knight locates the cave well to North (at the other end of Isandlwana). I think it was David Rattray who pointed out to me the well worn path up to a cave (or maybe it was Rob Gerrard?). But apparently Ian doesn't (or didn't at the time of writing) think that the one to which I climbed (and perhaps you as well) was the correct cave at all.
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Alan
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These are my pics.

The way up to the cave. (I added the hand)

Younghusband cairn, passed on the way up

Obviously not on the northern slopes

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Mel


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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In his article in "Awful Row", Ian describes how a warrior from the uVe regiment states that the soldier was the sole survivor who struggled to the cave after fresh companies of the right horn were ordered up to finish off Younghusbands company "after they had retired slowly, and always fighting, up the slopes of Isandlwana.
The cave could not be the one at the northern end of Isandlwana.

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Mel
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Alan
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You say it could not be the one on the northern end. Is there a cave there?

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Mel


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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Alan
Ian includes a photo of the northern end of Isandlwana in his article. This shows a cave he suggests could be the one used by the soldier.

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Mel
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Alan
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Sorry but I have to confess to not having seen Ian's piece. Are you able to say what makes him say that?

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Mel


Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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Ian says that the cave has been the traditionally held place due to it being the only one large enough to shelter a man standing upright. He states that against this must be set the fact that it is located away from where the main stands on the shoulder were. However, as the incident took place late in the day, when both British and Zulu forces were intermingled, this does not rule it out.

The reason I said it could not be the cave in question is that it is, indeed, a long way from the main stand on the shoulder. Whilst there are several cairns along the slope, the main fight took place on the shoulder itself. Although the two sides would have been intermingled at some stage of the fight on the shoulder, I can't see how a soldier could have worked his way back down the slope to the northern side without being seen and killed.

It seems, to me, that the cave just above the shoulder is the most obvious location. Like Saw, I've crawled inside to the back of the cave and (whilst you could not stand upright) you could certainly pot any Zulu who tried to get a look inside. (Until your ammo ran out or the cave was rushed, of course.)

Poignant thought. If that was the cave then the soldier may well have seen Chelmsford in the distance, returning from the Mangeni. (I think this has been discussed in prev threads?)

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AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
Posts: 921
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All,

I note that copies of Knight's publication can be had from �28.

It the internet not a wonderful thing?!

AMB
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Alan
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Ouch.

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AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
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Alan,

I said FROM �28! Some dealers are even more enthusiastic in their pricing!

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Alan
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I've tried the internet and couldn't find one.

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AMB


Joined: 07 Oct 2005
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Alan,

Wow. At the start of the week there were several copies on the 'Net. Now I can locate none. Have people been watching our discussion?!

AMB
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Knight's "THERE'LL BE AN AWFUL ROW ABOUT THIS AT HOME&q
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