Campaign Life in the British Army During the Zulu War

In 1870 the average height of a soldier was 5’8” but by the start of the Zulu War it had dropped to 5’4”. The Zulu War was the penultimate campaign in which the British Infantry wore traditional red jackets. The exception was the 60th, whose tunics were ‘rifle green’. The British Army of the 1870’s was absorbing the reforms implemented by Gladstone’s Secretary for War, Edward Cardwell. After Isandlwana, the British soldier’s fear and hatred of the Zulus led them to become ruthless in their pursuit of defeated warriors and prisoners were rarely taken. Apart from the Battle of Nyezane, where the steadiness and discipline of the Buffs and Naval Brigade repulsed the initial Zulu thrust, the Zulus persisted in attacking static prepared positions with disastrous results. The Zulu War was over and most of the regiments embarked for the long voyage home.