Natal Native Pioneer Corps

Background: avoid repetition

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== Background == == Background == In the late 1870s the British [[High Commissioner for Southern Africa]] Sir [[Henry Bartle Frere]] was attempting to form a confederation of [[British possessions]] in Southern Africa. As part of this ambition, the annexation of Zululand was planned, this led to the [[Anglo-Zulu War]] of 1879.{{sfn|Knight|2008|p=5}} The senior British military commander in the region [[Frederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford|Frederic Thesiger]] (later and more commonly known as Lord Chelmsford) began gathering forces in the [[Colony of Natal]] for an invasion of Zululand.{{sfn|Castle|2003|p=14}} Chelmsford's plan called for an advance by five columns of troops, though manpower shortages required him to reduce this to three. The Right Column (formerly No. 1 Column) under [[Charles Pearson (British Army officer)|Charles Pearson]] was to advance on the eastern coast, the Left Column (formerly No. 4 Column) under [[Evelyn Wood (British Army officer)|Evelyn Wood]] was to launch a feint on the west flank and Chelmsford's Centre Column (comprising the combined Nos. 2 & 3 Columns) was to strike for the Zulu capital at [[Ulundi]]. The former No. 5 Column under [[Hugh Rowlands]] was assigned to defend the border of Transvaal with the Zulu kingdom.{{sfn|Raugh|2004|p=351}} In the late 1870s the British [[High Commissioner for Southern Africa]] Sir [[Henry Bartle Frere]] was attempting to form a confederation of [[British possessions]] in the region. As part of this ambition, the annexation of Zululand was planned, this led to the [[Anglo-Zulu War]] of 1879.{{sfn|Knight|2008|p=5}} The senior British military commander in the region [[Frederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford|Frederic Thesiger]] (later and more commonly known as Lord Chelmsford) began gathering forces in the [[Colony of Natal]] for an invasion of Zululand.{{sfn|Castle|2003|p=14}} Chelmsford's plan called for an advance by five columns of troops, though manpower shortages required him to reduce this to three. The Right Column (formerly No. 1 Column) under [[Charles Pearson (British Army officer)|Charles Pearson]] was to advance on the eastern coast, the Left Column (formerly No. 4 Column) under [[Evelyn Wood (British Army officer)|Evelyn Wood]] was to launch a feint on the west flank and Chelmsford's Centre Column (comprising the combined Nos. 2 & 3 Columns) was to strike for the Zulu capital at [[Ulundi]]. The former No. 5 Column under [[Hugh Rowlands]] was assigned to defend the border of Transvaal with the Zulu kingdom.{{sfn|Raugh|2004|p=351}}

The majority of British supplies were carried by ox-drawn wagons. There were no roads in Zululand and the existing tracks were ill-formed and only used occasionally by traders; they turned to quagmires in the rain and were occasionally broken by steep-sided dongas (dry river beds). River fords (locally known as drifts) were impassable in high water and quickly ruined when trafficked heavily.{{sfn|Morris|1965|pp=309-313}} The majority of British supplies were carried by ox-drawn wagons. There were no roads in Zululand and the existing tracks were ill-formed and only used occasionally by traders; they turned to quagmires in the rain and were occasionally broken by steep-sided dongas (dry river beds). River fords (locally known as drifts) were impassable in high water and quickly ruined when trafficked heavily.{{sfn|Morris|1965|pp=309-313}}