Battlefield Wanderers

A collection of military history and battlefields by Midge Carter and Trish Woodman

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Ntombe or Intombe Drift and Luneburg

North of Vryheid, 12th March 1879

During the evening a supply column under Captain Moriarty was stopped from crossing the Ntombe River by atrocious weather and the very high river level. Although warned that Zulus had been seen, the men went to sleep.

When the Zulus attacked, many British were killed. The survivors tried to escape across the river. As Captain Moriarty was dead, Lieutenant Harwood left Sergeant Booth in command and set off on the only horse to get help from Major Tucker at the nearby camp at Luneburg.

Harwood’s action had two results. Sergeant Booth was awarded a Victoria Cross for holding the troops and Harwood was dishonoured for leaving his men.

Casualties*

  • 1 officer, 1 surgeon (Cubbin), 64 soldiers, 15 blacks, 20 presumed drowned
  • 25 Zulu bodies found at the river

* Note: Casualty numbers from David Rattray’s Guidebook to the Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields

MHS Members at Ntombe Drift, 1973
SAMHS Members at Ntombe Drift, 1973
The SAMHS visits the Ntombe Drift Cemetery, 1973
The SAMHS visits the Ntombe Drift Cemetery, 1973
Ntombe East Drift looking north, 1973
Ntombe East Drift. Looking north, 1973
Cemetery, Ntombe Drift, 1973
Cemetery, Ntombe Drift, 1973
Ntombe Drift looking south, 1973
Ntombe Drift. Looking south, 1973
Ntombe Drift looking south, 1973
Ntombe Drift. Looking south, 1973
Tania, Darrell, Ken and Heather in Ntombe Drift, 1973
Tania, Darrell, Ken and Heather in Ntombe Drift, 1973
Tania and Ken at Luneburg Cemetery, Zulu War (1879)
Tania and Ken at Luneburg Cemetery, Zulu War (1879)
Ntombe Luneburg Earthwork defences (1879)
Luneburg Earthwork defences (1879)
Ntombe Moriarty Grave, Luneburg Cemetery from Zulu War (1879)
Ntombe Moriarty Grave, Luneburg Cemetery from Zulu War (1879). It reads “In memory of Captain Moriarty, Surgeon Cubbin, NCOs and men 80th Regiment who fell at Intombi River March 8th 1878. Erected by 4th Kings Own”.
Ntombe Drift Memorial to South Staffordshire Regiment Zulu War
Staffordshire Regiment Monument. This monument was erected on the 1st January 1911 by the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd Battalion, the South Staffordshire Regiment (late 3rd Regiment), then serving in Pretoria, to the memory and to mark the burial place of their 65 comrades of “H” Company who fell on the 12th March 1879 at Intombi Drift during the Zulu War and whose names are recorded in Lichfield Cathedral.
Ntombe Drift Cemetery where British soldiers were killed in 1901
Ntombe Drift Cemetery where British soldiers were killed in 1901
Ntombe Drift. Alma Benardie at memorial
Ntombe Drift. Alma Benardie at memorial