GGMI-02
John Jenkins Designs
At the beginning of the campaign Chelmsford had no regular cavalry regiments at his disposal, which was a setback given the cavalry traditional role of scouting and pursuit. He did however have two understrength squadrons of Mounted Infantry, who were distributed throughout the invading columns.
The Mounted Infantry consisted of selected soldiers from infantry regiments mounted on locally acquired horses.
During the Zulu war the men of the mounted infantry, chosen from nearly every infantry battalion, wore their regiment’s tunic, cord breeches and riding boots. They were armed with Martini-Henry rifles, and instead of the usual infantry equipment carried a bandolier.
Despite the mixed origins of this Mounted Infantry force, it performed extremely well, and paved the way for greater reliance on Mounted Infantry units in later campaigns.
Major P. H. S. Barrow was to command the 70 Mounted Infantry at Gingindhlovu, and had armed the men with sabres.