While the Battle of Mome Gorge on the 10th June 1906, broke the back of the 1906 Poll Tax / Bhambatha Rebellion, towards the end of June 1906, the communities in the Mvoti and Thukela (Tugela) River areas went into rebellion. They were led by their amakhosi, Chief Messeni kaMusi and Chief Ndlovo kaThimuni Zulu, both of whom were descended from very prominent Zulus. Chief Messeni was a descendant of Qwabe, the brother of Zulu (the progenitor of the abakwaZulu) and Ndlovu of Thimuni, a staunch ally of King Shaka. He was also the subject of the famous painting made by George Angas in 1848. Brigadier General Sir Duncan McKenzie ordered a converging movement to be made on these two communities, using four columns and using kwaMaphumulo as a base. Colonel DW Mackay’s column comprised the Natal Carbineers, the Natal Rangers, some members of the Lancaster & Yorks and four 15-pdr QF guns & two pom-poms of the Natal Field Artillery. Colonel G Leuchars column consisted of the Umvoti Mounted Rifles, two squadrons of the Border Mounted Rifles, one squadron of the Natal Carbineers and two guns of the Natal Field Artillery. Colonel Aubrey Woolls-Sampson’s column consisted of the Natal Mounted Rifles, the Northern Districts Mounted Rifles, the Zululand Mounted Rifles and some members of Royston’s Horse. Finally, Colonel WF Barker’s column consisted of the Transvaal Mounted Rifles and two guns of the Natal Field Artillery. McKenzie accompanied Mackay’s column. Based at Bond’s Drift on the lower Tugela River was a force consisting of the Durban Light Infantry, commanded by Major Dr Sam Campbell. At 11h00 on the 2nd July 1906, Campbell received an order from Woolls-Sampson to join him at Thring’s Post, between Tongaat and kwaMaphumulo, with some supplies. They left Bond’s Drift at 13h00; the column comprised 22 wagons, escorted by 72 men of the Durban Light Infantry, 50 of the Zululand Mounted Rifles and 17 of the Northern Districts Mounted Rifles. He was accompanied by a 15-pdr gun of the NFA, a Maxim gun and three Rexer guns. The NDMR were deployed amongst the wagons to protect them. The convoy headed along the road to Thring’s Post and by the time they reached the Huletts’ farm Bulwer, night fell and Campbell decided to proceed to a little wood and iron store known as Macrae’s Store. A solitary Zulu was discovered walking along the road and as he was acting suspiciously, he was taken into custody and made to accompany the column. It was noticed that he constantly glanced to the right of the road and suspecting trouble, Campbell ordered the men to fix bayonets. As the head of the column started up the gentle slope towards the store, a dog that accompanied it began to bark and ruffled the hair on its back. The ZMR’s advance guard then discovered a large group of Rebels in a wattle plantation, illuminated by a bright three-quarter moon. The Rebels rose and formed a line across the road. Captain DJC Hulley shouted a warning and the advance guard fell back and took up a position at the head of the convoy. The Rebels then charged, shouting “Usuthu! Usuthu” (the royal war cry). Campbell formed his men into a convex line and they met the charge with rifle fire. The NFA’s gun was then brought into action and the Rebels sought shelter behind the store. They numbered approximately 600 warriors and were members of the amaMthethwa community led by iNduna Dabulabimbi and the abaQwabe under iNduna Mvukazi. After regrouping, the Rebels charged from behind the store, heading for the left of the column but were driven back once more. Campbell then brought his rearguard with two Rexer guns forward and shortly afterwards, the Rebels charged once more, with some of them heading towards the rear of the convoy. The Rexer guns were brought into action and once combined with the heavy rifle fire, the Rebel attack faltered and disappeared into the night, leaving about 40 killed and dozens wounded. One member of the Colonial force – Trooper G Coll of the ZMR was severely wounded when he was stabbed with spears. He was treated by Campbell but later died of his wounds at Thring’s Post. Campbell showed a great deal of compassion by treating the Rebel wounded as well, and his action was commemorated on the monument that was later erected on the battlefield, but which has since been badly vandalised. Another colonial casualty was the dog that probably saved the column from being overrun; it was accidentally shot by the colonial soldiers while it was running back to the column. Because the black wagon drivers and voorlopers had disappeared at the commencement of the action, Campbell decided to bivouac on the road and the march to Thring’s Post was resumed the following day, the 3rd July 1906. The photos show where the battle took place (the site of Macraes store can be seen to the right of the road at the top of the hill), the store itself (still in existence), the wording on the monument mentioning the compassion of Major Dr Sam Campbell and two photos of the monument as it appears today. Ive also included George Angass famous painting of Chief Ndlovu kaThimuni Zulus equally famous ancestor, Chief Thimuni Zulu. A photo of the two chiefs from this era - Meseni kaMusi and Ndlovu kaThimuni Zulu - appear in a previous post.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 06:17:21 +0000
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