MARITIME ADVENTURES OF THE ANGLO - ZULU WAR

At the time of the disaster at Isandhlwana 1879 British reinforcements were urgently required but there was as yet no cable communication between England and the Cape (this was established in 1880) by which news of the catastrophe could be sent immediately to Britain.

One of Donald Currie's steamers, the "Dunrobin Castle" was about to leave Table Bay on her homeward run and her planned departure was put forward so that she sailed at 7.30 p.m., 27 January 1879, headed at full speed for St. Vincent, which was then the limit of the Western Telegraph. From there the news of Isandhlwana was cabled to London, its publication causing a sensation on 11 February.

This voyage of the "Dunrobin" was turned to good account by Currie, who subsequently instructed that another of the Castle steamers, the "Conway Castle" which was then outward bound, should also put in at St Vincent. By the time the vessel reached St Vincent, the military authorities had been informed and the "Conway" was able to pick up dispatches with the latest information about the many reinforcements about to leave for South Africa. This news being directly transmitted to the forces in Natal had a major impact on the course of the war. The garrison which was besieged at Eshowe was deterred from making the planned desperate attempt to break out and fight its way through the Zulu lines to the Tugela River. It was as a result of the services rendered by Donald Currie in connection with the war that the head of the Castle Line was later given a knighthood.

Currie's opposition, the Union Line, also played its part in the conflict. The "Pretoria" had returned to England after her first voyage when news of Isandhlwana reached London. The vessel was immediately taken into dry-dock, where alterations were carried out so that she could carry troops. A new propeller was fitted, and coal and stores taken on board - all in the remarkably short space of nine days. On 20 February she set out for Natal, carrying the 91st Highlanders (Princess Louise's Argyllshire Highlanders), and making the run in the record time of 24 days 8 hours. The landing of the "Kilties" is said to have caused excitement among the Natal native population: the white men were now clearly sending their women to fight the Zulus.

Underlining the rivalry between the two great steamer companies, Captain WC Crutchley relates in his autobiography "My Life at Sea" (published London 1912) how the coaster "African" on which he was serving was in Table Bay at the crucial moment. Crutchley was at his club in Cape Town late one night in January 1879, when the rumour was received of a British defeat at Isandhlwana. The captain realised that troops then in Cape Town would be required post-haste at the front, and also knew that Currie steamers were in port and would, if given the chance, convey the necessary reinforcements to Natal. The Union Company offices were closed at that time of night, there was of course no telephone and it was impossible to contact any of the company's officials. Crutchley, undeterred, took it upon himself to go to Government House and the Castle, offering the services of his vessel in transporting troops. The "African" was made ready and troops embarked within hours for Port Natal. Arriving a few days later, the coaster landed the reinforcements and also her own 12-pounder, which was later used in the defence of the Pinetown laager outside Durban.

Sir Donald Currie G.C.M.G. Born at Greenock on the Clyde 17th September 1825. For the first 14 years of his life he lived in Northern Ireland where his father James Currie owned a hairdressing establishment. Donald was sent back to Greenock to work with an Uncle, John Martin; the Martin family (Donald's mother was Elizabeth Martin) had interests in sugar refining. Donald's elder brother James was employed in Liverpool on the engineering staff of the Cunard Line. At age 17 Donald joined his brother in Liverpool and began work as a clerk in the freight department. From this position, Donald gradually became a well-established figure in Atlantic shipping and he realised his dream of a line of vessels of his own, starting the firm Donald Currie and Co in 1862 with headquarters in Liverpool. He was knighted in July 1881 largely as a result of the prominent part played by the Dunrobin Castle and Conway Castle during the Anglo-Zulu War 1879.

R.M.S. Dunrobin Castle, 2 820 tons; first Castle liner built for the Cape trade, 1876. She soon established her reputation as a Cape 'flyer' and made record passages.

R.M.S. Conway Castle at Dartmouth; built 1878; she ran as a mail steamer until 1883 and was then transferred to the intermediate service. She was wrecked on 10 May 1893 at Tamatave, en route to Durban.

Union R.M.S. Pretoria, 3 199 tons, built 1878; shown here after alteration in 1888 - her engines were tripled, a hurricane deck added and her yards were removed.