Shangani Patrol (film)
Encyclopedia
Shangani Patrol is a war film based upon the non-fiction book "A Time to Die" by Robert Cary (1968), and the historical accounts of the Shangani Patrol
, with Brian O'Shaughnessy as Major Allan Wilson
and Will Hutchins
as the lead Scout Frederick Russell Burnham
. Also includes the song "Shangani Patrol" by Nick Taylor
(1966 recording).
Under the command of Major Wilson, the patrol tracks the fleeing Ndebele King Lobengula
across the Shangani River. Cut off from the main force they are ambushed by the Ndebele impi
and, except for the few men sent for reinforcements, all are killed. Such was the bravery of the Shangani Patrol that the victories Ndebele said "They were men of men and their fathers were men before them." Depending on your viewpoint, this part of history is one of the great mistakes and military blunders, or last heroic stand a of a gallant few. The incident had lasting significance in England, South Africa, and Rhodesia as the equivalent of 'Custer's Last Stand'. This is their story, told in a 1970
movie shot on location in Matabeleland, Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe).
, 1893. The British South Africa Company
(BSAC) (later to become the illustrious British South African Police - BSAP) is based in the encampment of Fort Salisbury (now the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare
). The film starts with a sepia toned trial of two AWOL volunteers and later deserters who were eventually court martialed from the army for stealing gold which was given to them by Matabele warriors on behalf of King Lobengula as a peace offering to end the war. In this trial (which is solely represented by archive drawings and voice-overs) the voice of TV anchor man / journalist Adrian Steed is heard as the judge (later to be seen as Major Forbes) and that of Stuart Brown playing Dr. Leander Starr Jameson
.
We then cut to a glorious sunset shot of the then Southern Rhodesia where the camp is. After a glurgey encounter between the fearless leader Allan Wilson and his wife May in which the Wilson professes the fervent wish to bump uglies with his wife in order to make dozens of little pioneer Rhodesians, we cut to the titles of the film, all based on scenes from the forthcoming film. The major problem here and the only blooper in the film: the horrific and ultimately unavoidable demise of the Patrol is shown. Fort Salisbury has a serious problem: it is surrounded by hordes of menacing Matabele warriors, one of whom demands the release of the Shona
people under the protection of the BSAC and promises that his warriors will kill them in the bush and not in the Shangani River
so as not to dirty the water.
The BSAC re-group and under orders from Dr. Jameson, are to pursue King Lobengula’s troops all the way down from Fort Salisbury to the south of Rhodesia, at that time the kingdom of Lobengula to capture King Lobengula and hold him to ransom. Wilson leads his troops on what is become an heroic but ultimately futile quest to capture the King and hope that his troops will surrender. One by one, the volunteers begin showing signs of their inexperience and sometimes even lack of courage, one even loses his nerve, runs away and gets shot for his trouble. Eventually, with ammunition and morale running low, Wilson dispatches Burnham to ride back to the fort and alert Major Forbes that reinforcements are required. After much argument, Burnham complies and the Shangani Patrol is minus another volunteer.
Burnham alerts Major Forbes of the peril that the Patrol is in, Forbes gallantly refuses to back his troops up. The Patrol is eliminated by the Ndebele after Wilson fires his remaining bullet. He and the party are killed by the Matabele, who then praised the 34 men of the Shangani Patrol as being “men of men”.
The final slaughter of the vanquished is shown in quick fire frame flashes (almost like still pictures) and with no sound, right up until the moment when the Matabele induna screams “Touch not their bodies! They were men of men and their fathers were men before them!” The last scene is of Burnham visiting the burial and monument to the Shangani Patrol at Matobo Hills.
and not far from the historical battles of the First Matabele War
. Shooting was completed in the scheduled six weeks.
Shangani Patrol
The Shangani Patrol was a group of white Rhodesian pioneer police officers killed in battle on the Shangani River in Matabeleland in 1893. The incident achieved a lasting, prominent place in Rhodesian colonial history.-Setting and Battle:...
, with Brian O'Shaughnessy as Major Allan Wilson
Allan Wilson (army officer)
Allan Wilson , was born in Scotland. He is best known for his leadership of the Shangani Patrol which resulted in his death and made him a national hero in Rhodesia....
and Will Hutchins
Will Hutchins
Will Hutchins is an American actor most noted for playing the lead role of the young lawyer Tom Brewster in the Warner Brothers Western television series Sugarfoot on ABC from 1957-1961.-Biography:...
as the lead Scout Frederick Russell Burnham
Frederick Russell Burnham
Frederick Russell Burnham, DSO was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement.Burnham...
. Also includes the song "Shangani Patrol" by Nick Taylor
Nick Taylor
Nick Taylor is a professional squash player and squash coach from the United Kingdom....
(1966 recording).
Under the command of Major Wilson, the patrol tracks the fleeing Ndebele King Lobengula
Lobengula
Lobengula Khumalo was the second and last king of the Ndebele people, usually pronounced Matabele in English. Both names, in the Sindebele language, mean "The men of the long shields", a reference to the Matabele warriors' use of the Zulu shield and spear.- Background :The Matabele were related to...
across the Shangani River. Cut off from the main force they are ambushed by the Ndebele impi
Impi
An Impi is an isiZulu word for any armed body of men. However, in English it is often used to refer to a Zulu regiment, which is called an ibutho in Zulu. Its beginnings lie far back in historic tribal warfare customs, where groups of armed men called impis battled...
and, except for the few men sent for reinforcements, all are killed. Such was the bravery of the Shangani Patrol that the victories Ndebele said "They were men of men and their fathers were men before them." Depending on your viewpoint, this part of history is one of the great mistakes and military blunders, or last heroic stand a of a gallant few. The incident had lasting significance in England, South Africa, and Rhodesia as the equivalent of 'Custer's Last Stand'. This is their story, told in a 1970
1970 in film
The year 1970 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 9 - Larry Fine, the second member of The Three Stooges, suffers a massive stroke, therefore ending his career....
movie shot on location in Matabeleland, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(now Zimbabwe).
Plot
Locale, Mashonaland, Southern RhodesiaSouthern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, 1893. The British South Africa Company
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
(BSAC) (later to become the illustrious British South African Police - BSAP) is based in the encampment of Fort Salisbury (now the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
). The film starts with a sepia toned trial of two AWOL volunteers and later deserters who were eventually court martialed from the army for stealing gold which was given to them by Matabele warriors on behalf of King Lobengula as a peace offering to end the war. In this trial (which is solely represented by archive drawings and voice-overs) the voice of TV anchor man / journalist Adrian Steed is heard as the judge (later to be seen as Major Forbes) and that of Stuart Brown playing Dr. Leander Starr Jameson
Leander Starr Jameson
Sir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
.
We then cut to a glorious sunset shot of the then Southern Rhodesia where the camp is. After a glurgey encounter between the fearless leader Allan Wilson and his wife May in which the Wilson professes the fervent wish to bump uglies with his wife in order to make dozens of little pioneer Rhodesians, we cut to the titles of the film, all based on scenes from the forthcoming film. The major problem here and the only blooper in the film: the horrific and ultimately unavoidable demise of the Patrol is shown. Fort Salisbury has a serious problem: it is surrounded by hordes of menacing Matabele warriors, one of whom demands the release of the Shona
Shona people
Shona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
people under the protection of the BSAC and promises that his warriors will kill them in the bush and not in the Shangani River
Shangani River
The Shangani is a river in Zimbabwe that starts near Gweru, and goes through Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces.The Shangani River was the site of the December 4, 1893 Shangani Patrol battle in which Major Allan Wilson and 31 men of the British South Africa Company were killed by the...
so as not to dirty the water.
The BSAC re-group and under orders from Dr. Jameson, are to pursue King Lobengula’s troops all the way down from Fort Salisbury to the south of Rhodesia, at that time the kingdom of Lobengula to capture King Lobengula and hold him to ransom. Wilson leads his troops on what is become an heroic but ultimately futile quest to capture the King and hope that his troops will surrender. One by one, the volunteers begin showing signs of their inexperience and sometimes even lack of courage, one even loses his nerve, runs away and gets shot for his trouble. Eventually, with ammunition and morale running low, Wilson dispatches Burnham to ride back to the fort and alert Major Forbes that reinforcements are required. After much argument, Burnham complies and the Shangani Patrol is minus another volunteer.
Burnham alerts Major Forbes of the peril that the Patrol is in, Forbes gallantly refuses to back his troops up. The Patrol is eliminated by the Ndebele after Wilson fires his remaining bullet. He and the party are killed by the Matabele, who then praised the 34 men of the Shangani Patrol as being “men of men”.
The final slaughter of the vanquished is shown in quick fire frame flashes (almost like still pictures) and with no sound, right up until the moment when the Matabele induna screams “Touch not their bodies! They were men of men and their fathers were men before them!” The last scene is of Burnham visiting the burial and monument to the Shangani Patrol at Matobo Hills.
Primary cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Brian O'Shaughnessy | Major Allan Wilson Allan Wilson (army officer) Allan Wilson , was born in Scotland. He is best known for his leadership of the Shangani Patrol which resulted in his death and made him a national hero in Rhodesia.... |
| Will Hutchins Will Hutchins Will Hutchins is an American actor most noted for playing the lead role of the young lawyer Tom Brewster in the Warner Brothers Western television series Sugarfoot on ABC from 1957-1961.-Biography:... |
Frederick Russell Burnham Frederick Russell Burnham Frederick Russell Burnham, DSO was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement.Burnham... , the American Scout |
| Adrian Steed | Major Patrick Forbes Patrick William Forbes Patrick William Forbes , was born in 1861 at Whitechurch, England. He was educated at Rugby, Warwickshire and commissioned to the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons. In 1880, he went to Cape Colony and in 1889 he was made second-in-command of the British South Africa Police... |
| Stuart Brown | Dr. Leander Starr Jameson Leander Starr Jameson Sir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid.... |
| Anthea Crosse | May Wilson |
| Lance Lockhart-Ross | Captain Indy |
| Ian Yule | Trooper Dillon |
| Patrick Mynhardt Patrick Mynhardt Patrick Beattie Mynhardt was a well known South African film and theatre actor. He appeared in over 150 stage plays in South Africa and England, 100 local and international films, TV plays and serials as well as an opera... |
Hofmeyer |
Production
Shangani Patrol was the third film made by South African producers David Millin and Roscoe Behrmann under the newly formed RPM Film Studios. The film was shot entirely on location in Rhodesia, in the Marula district, about sixty miles from BulawayoBulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
and not far from the historical battles of the First Matabele War
First Matabele War
The First Matabele War was fought in 1893-1894 between the British South Africa Company military forces and the Ndebele people. Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, avoided outright war with the British settlers because he and his advisors were mindful of the destructive power of the European weapons...
. Shooting was completed in the scheduled six weeks.