A Lost Legionary in South Africa

From the Ninth Cape Frontier War and the Anglo-Zulu War to the Bechuanaland Expedition and the uSuthu Rebellion

George Hamilton-Browne

• Publisher: Greenhill Books
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781036153083
• Subtopic: African History
• Index: History

The Zulu War has long captured the public imagination, yet original accounts by participants in the campaign are rare. This revised edition of Hamilton-Browne’s classic memoir is therefore a welcome addition to the literature on this legendary conflict.

‘Colonel’ George Hamilton-Browne was a British soldier of fortune and adventurer who served in the Ninth Cape Frontier War in 1878, before fighting in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884–5 and the uSuthu Rebellion of 1888. The centrepiece of the book is Hamilton-Browne’s vivid recollections of the battle of Isandlhwana – one of the greatest and most humiliating defeats in the history of the British Empire. He was also part of the force that returned to the stricken British camp after the battle and relieved Rorke’s Drift the following day.

This new, expanded edition offers readers a greater insight into the events Hamilton-Browne describes thanks to an introduction and commentary throughout by John Laband and a Foreword by Adrian Greaves, both leading Anglo-Zulu War experts. This fascinating and distinctive memoir will be essential reading for anyone interested in the Anglo-Zulu War.

‘Colonel’ – he never held a rank higher than major – George Hamilton-Browne (1851 –1916) was a soldier of fortune of Irish descent who emigrated to New Zealand in 1872 and then to the Cape Colony in 1878. In southern Africa he commanded colonial and local troops in many campaigns: the Ninth Cape Frontier War (1878); the Anglo-Zulu War (1879); the Bechuanaland Expedition (1884 –5); the uSuthu Rebellion (1888); the First Matabele War (1893); the Second Matabele War (1896); and Mashonaland (1896–7). He returned to England in 1902 where he wrote three popularly received books of colonial adventuring, including this one. He died in Jamaica in 1916.Colonel George Hamilton-Browne (1844-1916) was a British soldier and adventurer of Irish descent who took part in Britain's march into Zululand under Lord Chelmsford and fought in the Anglo-Zulu War. As an officer of the Natal Native Contingent (a Major in the 1st Battalion/3rd Regiment), he took part in the action at Sihayo's Kraal on 12 January 1879 and witnessed the final moments of the the battle of Isandlhwana ten days later on 22 January 1879. He died in Jamaica in 1916.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Prologue by Adrian Greaves
• Introduction by John Laband
• A Lost Legionary in South Africa
• Part I
• Part II
• Appendix: Hamilton-Browne’s Medals
• Sources Cited
• Professor John Laband