The Zulu ‘Rebellion’

Even after I thought I had settled down in Johannesburg there was to be no settled life for me. Just when I felt that I should be breathing in peace, an unexpected event happened. The papers brought the news of the outbreak of the Zulu ‘rebellion’ in Natal. I bore no grudge against the Zulus, they had harmed no Indian. I had doubts about the ‘rebellion’ itself, but I then believed that the British Empire existed for the welfare of the world. A genuine sense of loyalty prevented me from even wishing ill to the Empire. The rightness or otherwise of the ‘rebellion’ was therefore not likely to affect my decision. Natal had a Volunteer Defence Force, and it was open to it to recruit more men. I read that this force had already been mobilised to quell the ‘rebellion.’

Even after I thought I had settled in Johannesburg, I was not to have a settled life. Just when I felt I could live in peace, something unexpected happened. The newspapers reported the outbreak of the Zulu ‘rebellion’ in Natal. I bore no grudge against the Zulus. They had harmed no Indian. I had doubts about the ‘rebellion’ itself, but I believed then that the British Empire existed for the good of the world. My genuine loyalty kept me from even wishing the Empire harm. So whether the ‘rebellion’ was right or wrong was unlikely to affect my decision. Natal had a Volunteer Defence Force, which could recruit more men. I read that the force had already been called up to suppress the ‘rebellion.’

I considered myself a citizen of Natal, being intimately connected with it. So I wrote to the Governor, expressing my readiness, if necessary, to form an Indian Ambulance Corps. He sent immediately an affirmative reply.

I considered myself a citizen of Natal because I had close ties to it. So I wrote to the Governor, offering to form an Indian Ambulance Corps if necessary. He immediately agreed.

I had not expected such prompt acceptance of my offer. Fortunately I had made all the necessary arrangements even before writing the letter. If my offer was accepted I had decided to break up the Johannesburg home. Polak was to have a smaller house and my wife was to go and settle at Phœnix. I had her full cooperation in this decision. I do not remember her having ever stood in my way in matters like this. As soon, therefore, as I got the reply from the Governor, I gave the landlord the usual month’s notice of vacating the house, sent some of the things to Phœnix and left some with Polak.

I had not expected my offer to be accepted so quickly. Fortunately, I had made all the necessary arrangements before writing the letter. If my offer was accepted, I had decided to give up our home in Johannesburg. Polak would move to a smaller house, and my wife would settle at Phœnix. She fully supported this decision. I do not remember her ever standing in my way in matters like this. So, as soon as I received the Governor’s reply, I gave the landlord the usual month’s notice. I sent some of our things to Phœnix and left some with Polak.

I went to Durban and appealed for men. A big contingent was not necessary. We were a party of twenty four, of whom, besides me, four were Gujaratis. The rest were ex-indentured men from South India, excepting one who was a free Pathan.

I went to Durban and asked for volunteers. We did not need a large group. There were twenty-four of us. Besides me, four were Gujaratis. The rest were former indentured laborers from South India, except for one free Pathan.

In order to give me a status, and to facilitate work, as also in accordance with the existing convention, the Chief Medical Officer appointed me to the temporary rank of Sergeant Major and three men selected by me to the rank of sergeants and one to that of corporal. We also received our uniforms from the Government. Our Corps was on active service for nearly six weeks. On reaching the scene of the ‘rebellion,’ I saw that there was nothing there to justify the name of ‘rebellion.’ There was no resistance that one could see. The reason why the disturbance had been magnified into a rebellion was that a Zulu chief had advised non-payment of a new tax imposed on his people, and had assegaied a sergeant who had gone to collect the tax. At any rate my heart was with the Zulus, and I was delighted, on reaching headquarters, to hear that our main work was to be the nursing of the wounded Zulus. The Medical Officer in charge welcomed us. He said the white people were not willing nurses for the wounded Zulus, that their wounds were festering, and that he was at his wits’ end. He hailed our arrival as a godsend for those innocent people, and he equipped us with bandages, disinfectants, etc., and took us to the improvised hospital. The Zulus were delighted to see us. The white soldiers used to peep through the railings that separated us from them and tried to dissuade us from attending to the wounds. And as we would not heed them, they became enraged and poured unspeakable abuse on the Zulus.

To give me status, make our work easier, and follow established practice, the Chief Medical Officer gave me the temporary rank of Sergeant Major. He also appointed three men I had chosen as sergeants and one as corporal. We received our uniforms from the Government. Our Corps was on active service for nearly six weeks. When I reached the scene of the ‘rebellion,’ I saw nothing to justify calling it a ‘rebellion.’ There was no visible resistance. The disturbance had been magnified into a rebellion because a Zulu chief had advised his people not to pay a new tax. He had also speared a sergeant who had gone to collect the tax. In any case, my heart was with the Zulus. When I reached headquarters, I was delighted to hear that our main work would be nursing the wounded Zulus. The Medical Officer in charge welcomed us. He said that white people were unwilling to nurse the wounded Zulus. Their wounds were festering, and he did not know what to do. He called our arrival a godsend for those innocent people. He gave us bandages, disinfectants, and other supplies, and took us to the makeshift hospital. The Zulus were delighted to see us. The white soldiers would peer through the railings that separated us from them. They tried to discourage us from treating the Zulus’ wounds. When we refused to listen, they became enraged and hurled unspeakable abuse at the Zulus.

Gradually I came into closer touch with these soldiers and they ceased to interfere. Among the commanding officers were Col. Sparks and Col. Wylie who had bitterly opposed me in 1896. They were surprised at my attitude and they specially called and thanked me. They introduced me to General Mackenzie. Let not the reader think that these were professional soldiers. Col. Wylie was a well-known Durban lawyer. Col. Sparks was well-known as the owner of a butcher’s shop in Durban. General Mackenzie was a noted Natal farmer. All these gentlemen were volunteers and as such they had received military training and experience.

Gradually, I came into closer contact with these soldiers, and they stopped interfering. Among the commanding officers were Col. Sparks and Col. Wylie, who had bitterly opposed me in 1896. They were surprised by my attitude and made a special visit to thank me. They introduced me to General Mackenzie. The reader should not think that these men were professional soldiers. Col. Wylie was a well-known Durban lawyer. Col. Sparks was well-known as the owner of a butcher’s shop in Durban. General Mackenzie was a noted Natal farmer. All these gentlemen were volunteers and had received military training and experience in that role.

The wounded in our charge were not wounded in battle. A section of them had been taken prisoners as suspects. The general had sentenced them to be flogged. The flogging had caused severe sores. These, being unattended to, were festering. The others were Zulu friendlies. Although these had badges given them to distinguish them from the ‘enemy’ they had been shot at by the soldiers by mistake.

The wounded people in our care had not been wounded in battle. Some had been taken prisoner as suspects. The general had sentenced them to be flogged. The flogging had caused severe sores. The sores had not been treated and were festering. The others were friendly Zulus. They had been given badges to distinguish them from the ‘enemy’. Even so, the soldiers had shot them by mistake.

Besides this work I had to compound and dispense prescriptions for the white soldiers. This was easy enough for me as I had received a year’s training in Dr. Booth’s little hospital. This work brought me in close contact with many Europeans.

Besides this work, I had to prepare and dispense medicines for the white soldiers. This was easy for me because I had trained for a year at Dr. Booth’s small hospital. The work brought me into close contact with many Europeans.

We were attached to a swift-moving column. It had orders to march wherever danger was reported. It was for the most part mounted infantry. As soon as our camp was moved, we had to follow on foot with our stretchers on our shoulders. Twice or thrice we had to march forty miles a day. But wherever we went, I am thankful that we had God’s good work to do, having to carry to the camp on our stretchers those Zulu friendlies who had been inadvertently wounded, and attend upon them to as nurses.

We were assigned to a fast-moving column. It was ordered to march wherever danger was reported. Most of the column consisted of mounted infantry. Whenever the camp moved, we had to follow on foot with our stretchers on our shoulders. Two or three times, we had to march forty miles in a day. But wherever we went, I am thankful that we had God’s good work to do. We carried Zulu allies who had been wounded by mistake back to camp on our stretchers. We also cared for them as nurses.