In March 1879 two of the three British columns engaged in the Anglo-Zulu War had received set-backs. One had been defeated at Isandlwana and the other was under siege at Eshowe.
The Battle of Hlobane, near the present day town of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was planned to divert the Zulu army from attacking the British stronghold at Kambula, as well as to allow Colonel Evelyn Wood the possible opportunity of relieving the troops in Eshowe.
Hlobane was an area consisting of two plateaus linked by steep rocky outcrops. On the top of the higher plateau were approx. 2 000 cattle and approx. 1 000 abaQulusi warriors.
The plan was for forces led by Lieutenant-Colonel Redvers Buller to scale the higher plateau with a force under Major R.A. Russell, taking the lower plateau. The plan went horribly wrong when the main Zulu army arrived and the British were forced to retreat.
The Battle of Hlobane was a Zulu victory however the following day the result was reversed at the Battle of Kambula. 15 Officers and 110 British soldiers were killed. There was also huge losses of horses with many escaping troops having to double up on the available horses.
Five VC’s were won – one of which was received by Lieutenant-Colonel Buller.
