#OnThisDay in1976: Concorde made its first commercial flight. Just 28 of 98 passengers on board paid - cheapskates!
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Zulu snipers took potshots at the soldiers using old muzzleloaders and captured Martini-Henry rifles, but in the case of the latter arms, they believed that setting the slide on the rear sight as high as possible would increase the potency of the ammunition. As a result, they usually fired well over the heads of the British.Ah yes - the power of the 0.5 inch Martini-Henry rifle (could kill three Zulus with a single shot).
The Museum of the South Wales Borderers at Sennybridge is very interesting.
Bob.
This claim is often repeated without any corroboration quiet insulting to the Zulu warriors .But most important is the fact the Rourke's drift battle is romanticised in British history and culture with the plucky tommy bravely defending against the savage heathens .The reality is that a powerful empire decide to invade and subjugate a free territory to steal it's vast mineral wealth and impose white minority rule , exploiting the indigenous folks as cheap labour in mines and agriculture.Zulu snipers took potshots at the soldiers using old muzzleloaders and captured Martini-Henry rifles, but in the case of the latter arms, they believed that setting the slide on the rear sight as high as possible would increase the potency of the ammunition. As a result, they usually fired well over the heads of the British.
I don't think that is insulting, it's quite feasible that ignorant natives (and I mean that literally not insultingly) not knowing the workings of a rifle could think that setting the slide on the rear sight as high as possible would increase their potency, I expect practise at popping off the Welsh soldiers possibly eventually taught them the correct usage.This claim is often repeated without any corroboration quiet insulting to the Zulu warriors.
my point was Chas that the claim doesn't have any basis in fact & yes the Zulu were ignorant about rifles but they were if fact a well trained army and on occasion their tactics were superior to the British.To suggest that their approach to a new weapon was based on some random idea is insulting.I don't think that is insulting, it's quite feasible that ignorant natives (and I mean that literally not insultingly) not knowing the workings of a rifle could think that setting the slide on the rear sight as high as possible would increase their potency, I expect practise at popping off the Welsh soldiers possibly eventually taught them the correct usage.
I repeat, I don't think that is at all insulting.To suggest that their approach to a new weapon was based on some random idea is insulting.
Some would disagree citing Churchills role in Gallipoli , the occupation of Norway and Operation Shingle the ww2 landings at Anzio.The greatest leader this country has ever had and I suspect ever will Winston Churchill..... died this day in 1965 .
A visionary man who helped defeat the Germans in more ways than many will know and also kept the skill set of the SAS going post war .
An interesting and enlightening book to read is "Churchills Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare" ...... gives an insight to how Churchill kept the singly most effective organisation safe from the Ministers who would have had it shut down and indeed did when Labour and Ernest Bevin ensured the complete destruction of an amazing and world beating institution ...an organisation even the Americans couldn't rival.
Like I said, lets get this thread back on track and stop the 'bickering' no more comments from me on this subject!Most folks don't want to be seen as petty minded so calling a difference of opinion bickering gives the accuser a free hit.
Certainly a flawed character who fought "The black dog" and who's experience at Gallipoli caused him much heartache when Overlord was being planned but ultimately saved lives on D Day .Some would disagree citing Churchills role in Gallipoli , the occupation of Norway and Operation Shingle the ww2 landings at Anzio.
I was working on a building site in the East End, a tower block of flats.The greatest leader this country has ever had and I suspect ever will Winston Churchill..... died this day in 1965 .
A visionary man who helped defeat the Germans in more ways than many will know and also kept the skill set of the SAS going post war .