Natal Border Guard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natal Border Guard
Natal Border Guard of district VI at White Rock Drift
Active	20 December 1878 – 1879
Country	Colony of Natal
Allegiance	British Empire
Type	Auxiliary
Role	Border guard
Size	7,700 men
Engagements	Anglo-Zulu War

The Natal Border Guard was a special group of local fighters. They were also called the River Guards. This group was put together to help protect the Colony of Natal during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.

Lord Chelmsford, a British military leader, wanted a large group of helpers to support his plan to invade the Zulu Kingdom. But the government of the Colony of Natal, led by Governor Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer, didn't want to pay for such a big force.

Eventually, Governor Bulwer agreed to a smaller group of about 2,800 men. He said they could only fight inside Natal. These fighters worked part-time and used their traditional spears and shields. They didn't get much training.

After the British lost badly at the Battle of Isandlwana, the Border Guard got stronger. They were given some firearms. This group helped defend the border when Zulu warriors tried to raid Natal. After the war, one of their leaders even helped make peace with some Zulu chiefs in the border area.

Why the Border Guard Was Formed

Sir Henry Bartle Frere, a top British official in Southern Africa, wanted to unite all British lands there. He planned to take over the independent Zulu Kingdom. But King Cetshwayo of the Zulus didn't agree, which led to the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.

As the war got ready, Lord Chelmsford, the British military commander, set up defenses in the Colony of Natal. Natal's border with the Zulu Kingdom was along the Mzinyathi (Buffalo) and Thukela (Tugela) rivers. Natal was divided into seven defense areas. Three of these areas were right next to Zululand.

Chelmsford wanted to create a 6,000-man helper force to protect this border. This new group would be controlled by the local government. It would add to the existing Natal Native Contingent (NNC), which was under military control. The NNC was expected to join the invasion. The small Natal volunteer military units were not enough to defend the colony. Many of them were going to be part of the invading army.

How the Border Guard Was Organized

The Natal government had to pay for any defense force created for the colony. They didn't want to pay for Chelmsford's large proposed force. But they did agree to pay for a smaller border guard.

The Natal Border Guard started on December 20, 1878. It was made up of African men from each defense area. White volunteers became the officers. The group first had about 2,800 men. They took turns serving actively and being in reserve. Those in reserve could go home to care for their farms and animals. This helped save money because the government didn't have to provide as much food, shelter, or clothing.

At first, the men didn't get formal training, uniforms, or modern weapons. They were expected to fight in their traditional style with spears and shields. The units were organized by tribal groups, led by local chiefs. Getting enough men was slow. People weren't very excited because payments to the chiefs were delayed. Also, a new "hut tax" had made people unhappy. Some Border Guard units were still not fully formed by April 1879.

Chelmsford began his invasion of Zululand in January 1879. He hoped the war would end quickly before the rivers got too low. Low rivers would make it easier for Zulus to cross into Natal. The Natal Border Guard was officially under the civilian government. But Governor Bulwer agreed that Chelmsford would control their actions during the war.

At the start of the war, the Border Guard was placed at specific spots along the border rivers. These spots were usually places where the river could be crossed easily, called "drifts." There were no other British soldiers at these points. Each post usually had 300–350 men. The Border Guard was led by the commanders of each defense area. Because of where they were placed and what they did, they were also known as the "River Guards."

What the Border Guard Did

Map of the Zululand-Natal frontier in 1879

First Invasion and Aftermath

The British invasion force entered Zululand on January 11, 1879. They moved in three groups. At the start of the war, the Border Guard in the Sand Spruit Valley was led by British Colonel Anthony Durnford. His job was to defend that part of the border.

Soon, Durnford was told to move his men to Rorke's Drift. This was to support Chelmsford's third group of soldiers. On January 22, Durnford was ordered to bring his men (but not the Border Guard) to the British camp at Isandlwana, inside Zululand. Durnford and his men were completely defeated at the Battle of Isandlwana later that day.

On the same day as the battle, the Klip River Border Guard leader heard that a large Zulu force was gathering. They were planning to raid Natal. The leader doubted this information at first. But he gathered his Border Guard on the Natal side of the river to prepare. A scouting party later found that the informant had mistaken British soldiers for Zulu forces. The Border Guard then helped other British soldiers cross the river. These soldiers later pulled back after hearing about the British defeat. Together with the Border Guard, they worked to defend Natal.

Changes and New Roles

After the defeat at Isandlwana, the Border Guard got more men. These new fighters came from other parts of Natal. A group from Weenen, made of men from a disbanded British unit and African mounted scouts, helped support the Border Guard. Some Zulu-speaking interpreters were also sent to the unit.

In April, the Border Guard received some older rifles. There were enough to arm about a quarter of the men. Getting firearms made some Border Guard units more eager to fight. They even asked to join British forces on raids into Zululand. Chelmsford liked this idea, but Governor Bulwer and Sir Frere said no. The Border Guard had to stay in Natal. By May 1879, the expanded unit had about 7,700 men.

In March, the Border Guard helped a British raid into Zululand. They guarded the river crossings along a 60-mile stretch. Later that month, a British Major ordered a unit to cross the river and burn some Zulu homes. But the Border Guard refused. This was because their orders said they could not leave Natal. However, they did exchange fire with a Zulu force across the river. The Major complained, but the rules for the Border Guard didn't change.

In April, the Border Guard took over a fort called Fort Montgomery. This fort had been built by another British unit to help with raids into Zulu land. During this time, there were also Border Guard units at other river crossings and forts. A backup defense spot for the Border Guard was set up at Hullett's Stockade. Some African scouts were part of the Border Guard reserve until April 1879. Then, they were put under military control to help the cavalry in the second invasion.

The War Ends

The second British invasion began on May 31, 1879. The Border Guard might have taken over Fort Bengough from another British unit that joined the invasion. In July, some Border Guard men were used as unarmed carriers to help move supplies for the British army. But this didn't work as well as using ox wagons, so the unit was soon stopped. The Border Guard at the Middle Drift could not stop a Zulu raid there in July.

The disagreement between Governor Bulwer and Lord Chelmsford about using the Border Guard ended on July 15, 1879. This was when Garnet Wolseley became the top British civil and military commander in the area. By this time, the war was over. Wolseley took away the Border Guard's weapons by the end of the month.

In August, Henry Fynn, who had started the Border Guard in the Umsinga region, helped make peace with the Zulu chiefs along the Mzinyathi River. The Natal Border Guard was officially ended after the war. The exact date is not known, but other similar units were ended in September and October.