Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana (The Anglo-Zulu War Book 1) by James Mace

Author:James Mace
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Legionary Books
Published: 2016-08-01T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter XX: Pulleine Assumes Command

Eastern Riverbank, near Rorke’s Drift

17 January 1879

Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pulleine

Officer Commanding, 1/24th Regiment

While Lord Chelmsford continued to lament the tediously slow progress of his army, for the officers of 1/24th an old friend had finally returned. Forty-year old brevet Lieutenant Colonel Henry Burmester Pulleine had held his commission for twenty-three years. Originally gazetted with the 30th Regiment where he spent his first three years in Her Majesty’s armed forces, he had since served with both battalions of the 24th in various postings. Though an accomplished administrator, staff officer, and commissariat, as well as having performed exceptionally well in raising frontier regiments during the Cape Frontier War, he had never held a substantive command during all his years of service. It was with a touch of trepidation and much excitement that Pulleine finally returned to his regiment as commanding officer for 1st Battalion.

“Welcome home, sir,” William Degacher said, extending his hand as Pulleine dismounted near the officers’ mess.

Henry clasped his hand and then entered the large tent. The former acting-major, now reverted back to his substantive rank of captain, had been reviewing a couple of personnel reports with the adjutant, Lieutenant Melvill, and a few others. The officers stood, and Henry eagerly clasped each by the hand.

“Thank you, William. A pity that you were not allowed to stay on as battalion major. God knows, you’ve earned it.”

“I will be here to assist, sir,” Degacher reassured him. “I’ve left Mister Porteous in command of A Company, so that I may be of better use to you.”

“And for that, I am grateful.” Henry looked to the adjutant. “Mister Melvill, I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have you with us. It was quite the noble and selfless sacrifice you made, giving up Staff College and likely your captaincy, to re-join the Regiment.”

“My loyalties are here, sir,” Melvill asserted.

“As are mine,” Henry added.

Despite the vast difference in their respective ranks, Pulleine and Melvill developed a close friendship over the years and so had their families. This was, in part, because they were very close in age. Their wives, Frances Pulleine and Sarah Melvill, became inseparable, almost like sisters during their time in Gibraltar. Henry Pulleine had always taken Lieutenant Melvill’s lack of promotion as a matter of bad luck and unfortunate circumstances rather than lack of ability. Among both the officers and other ranks, the battalion adjutant was regarded as one of the bravest, quick-thinking officers within the entire regiment.

Pulleine also knew he owed his own promotions in part due to his family’s wealth. He had managed to purchase his captaincy and majority, with his promotion to major coming just prior to the army’s abolishment of commission purchase. And though very intelligent, with a knack for theoretical strategy and tactics, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Pulleine knew that, against the Zulus, he would have to rely on men like William Degacher and Teignmouth Melvill. Both had the knowledge and the practical experience of leading men into battle, as did the battalion’s ranking NCO, Sergeant Major Gapp.

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