Quote Originally Posted by Ryan Ross View Post
That's a great link! Thanks very much.

...I'm having flashbacks from my senior African History course now, though... "When in doubt, the answer is usually 'Jan Smuts'."


Ok, another question: I may be showing my ignorance here, but what the heck- Pipers often kept skirling away during the fighting, or so I understand, but did there come a point where they set down their pipes and picked up a rifle? Because there are only going to be two British soldiers with speaking parts in this scene, so those are the only ones that we really care about trying to get kilted.

So is it possible that the pipers could have ended up duking it out against a few Zulus?
Possible, I suppose...but consider the example of Piper George Findlater of the Gordons:

http://www.pipesofwar.com/hero-of-dargai/history.php

Findlater continued piping, even after being wounded. If anything, pipers were likey to lay down their pipes and pick up a litter, as many times, the regimental band served as stretcher-bearers.

And you can never go wrong with Jan Smuts. One of those unknown figures in history who deserves much more recognition than he gets.

T.