Naval Brigade - Anglo-Zulu War

 

28mm Naval Brigade detachment for the Anglo-Zulu War British from Empress Miniatures. The Naval Brigade had a strength of 863 men and saw active service in the Anglo-Zulu war, for the warmer they offer a variation on the red coated infantry of the British army. The Naval Brigade was formed from men from the Active, Shah, Tenedos and Boadicea. 

I opted for a unit of 16 men and Royal Navy Gatling gun and crew. The figures wear straw hats and represent a detachment from HMS Shah, an iron clad frigate built in 1873. 

Interestingly, HMS Shah had seen action in 1877 against the Peruvian Huasca (an armoured turret ship), which had seized coal from British ships, an act viewed by Admiral de Horsey as Piracy. A three hour engagement followed which ended when the Huasca reached the safety into harbour and surrendered to the Peruvian navy. The Huasca had been seized by Nicholas de Pierola who became President of Peru following the engagement with HMS Shah having been elevated to the status of a national hero. In the following wave of anti-British feeling HMS Shah was ordered home in disgrace. On the journey home after learning of the defeat of Isandlwana HMS Shah transported the 88th Regiment (Connaught Rangers), No. 8 Battery and the 7th Brigade of Royal Artillery from the garrison of St Helena to South Africa. These joined Chelmsfords column set for the relief of Eshowe and saw action the Battle of Gingindlovu on 2nd April 1879. This was to be the last action that the men of the Naval Brigade saw, a subsequent attachment to the coastal column under General Henry Crealock saw them used to build and man forts and protecting the supply routes. For a more detailed account of the Naval Brigade please refer to the excellent account of the The Naval Brigade in Zululand by Brian Best. 

Source: B. Best (n.d.) The Naval Brigade in Zululand https://www.anglozuluwar.com/images/Journal_5/4)_The_Naval_Brigade_in_Zululand_-_BB.pdf