Formed in 1993 the Diehard Company, Victorian Military Society was set up to portray soldiers of Queen Victoria’s Army on home service in the 1880’s. However the draw of the Zulu War for enthusiasts of that iconic Victorian clash of arms soon saw us being involved in things Zulu. In 1994 we first portrayed the 24th Foot at the request of Ian Knight in the Cromwell Productions video “Campaigns in History Rorke’s Drift”
In 1999 we then travelled to take part in the first re-enactment of the Zulu War on site taking part in the 120th Anniversary events in Zululand. In January the Company made a 6,000 mile trip to the battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War to stand with the KwaZulu people 120 years to the day on the sites to commemorate and honour the fallen from both sides of the conflict. Welcomed by HRH Prince Buthelezi in Durban it was on this occasion we first met his Majesty King Goodwill and stood shoulder to shoulder with his amaButho.
In 1999 the video of the trip filmed by embedded crew “Blood Mountain” was released worldwide. On our return to the UK we featured in Channel 4’s documentary “Great Military blunders” as the 24th at Isandlwana and this was followed up by our appearing in 2000 on the History Channels “In the line of fire” series as the 24th at Rorke’s Drift. That year also saw the start of our long relationship with HRH Prince Shange (The late father of the Princess organising this festival) and various other Zulu notables when we first started working together within the UK to present the Anglo-Zulu War to the general public from both sides perspectives.
In 2001, we were honour guard at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea for Chard, Bromhead and two other VCs public displays and in October, 1½ million people in the UK watched Channel 5s documentary “Zulu the warriors return” on our trip to Zululand. In 2004, a number of the Company took part in the 125th commemorations at iSandlwana and this was repeated by a larger Company involvement in 2009 for the 130th where we laid wreaths on the sites as well as presented arms to His Majesty – the only white presence at that years commemorations. We also took part in the filming of Terry Schappert’s Warriors episode on the Zulus at iSandlwana itself.
Continued interpretations of the Anglo-Zulu War continued within the UK involving both ourselves and the Zulu nation and the 135th anniversary saw us take part in a major Zulu War fortnight at the Royal Engineers Museum at Chatham with both HRH Prince Shange, HRH Prince Joseph and other members of the Zulu nation – 2014 also saw us act as honour guard for both HRH Prince Harry and HRH Prince Buthelezi at the 50th anniversary premiere of “Zulu” in Leicester Square London raining over £200,000 for Help for Heroes and Santabele charities.
In 2017, we were asked by the Friends of the Royal Regiment of Wales Museum to put together a composite unit to represent the 24th Foot at a variety of proposed events over the following years – and A Company, 24th Foot was set up combining a number of Victorian re-enactment groups within the UK. The Company’s first outing was at Cardiff Castle where we worked for the first time in the UK with a Zulu amaButho flown over with Her Majesty the late Queen Regent Mantfombi Dlamini as part of the build up for King Goodwill’s visit planned for later in the decade. In 2018, we again acted as honour guard for Her Majesty Queen Mpumi at Brecon on her official visit there and shared worship with her at that time.
That brings us almost to date – in 2019 we travelled to Zululand as guests of His Majesty to take part in all the formal week long commemorations of the battle of iSandlwana and accompanied his amaButho from Ulundi through the various ceremonies culminating in the re-enactment of the battle on the site and the personal award of amamBathas to us by His Majesty in recognition of the work in reconciliation between our two nations. This was followed by a return event in the UK where once again we acted as honour guard and worked with the King’s amaButho at Brecon in the pageant commemorating his visit to the United Kingdom.
A promise made some 4 decades ago to always stand with the Zulu Nation to remember our shared past is still being honoured – Sibanye – we are one.
The relationship started with the Princess’ late father, HRH Prince V. A. Shange. I first met HRH Prince Shange in 1999 in Brixton Town Hall, from that day we formed a strong friendship built on our mutual interest in the Zulu War of 1879. Prince Shange was a most amiable and approachable character, as well as being a walking, talking encyclopedia of Zulu history. I believe that the Prince first met with The Diehards in 2000 at the Royal Engineers Museum during an exhibition held there. The relationship continued at the Fix Bayonets! Event held in Luddesdowne, Kent, in 2001. Further events followed at Royal Engineers Museum and other venues in Kent over the following years, securing a great relationship between Prince Shange and The Diehards. A relationship that continued until his untimely death in 2017.
John Young