A series of 12 programmes presented by Rene Cutforth
4: We could stay here forever And that, in the prophetic words of their commander General Colley, is what most of the soldiers did who fought at Majuba Hill, in the First South African War of 1880-1, the last redcoat campaign, and the last in which colours were carried in action.
Was the Boer commander right when he said:
What did you expect, fighting on a Sunday?
Or was Sir Ian Hamilton nearer the mark when he said:
A commander who undertakes a dangerous feat of arms with detachments instead of units is asking for trouble.
The real explanation of the defeats at Majuba and at Isandhlwana in 1879 is much longer and more involved.
Gordon Gostelow as Wheeler
Other parts DOUGLAS BLACKWELL LIONEL NGAKANE , JACK CARR KERRY FRANCIS , PAUL GAYMON DENIS MCCARTHY , PETER PACEY
BETTY BASKCOMB , STEPHEN THORNE Musical direction by CHARLES CHILTON
Singer CHARLES YOUNG
Written and produced by ROBERT CRADOCK in association with the National Army Museum
The next four programmes, from the War of the Spanish Succession to the American War of Independence, will be broadcast in the New Year