Yuku free message boards

It looks like the I.V has just become obscured or poorly stamped, the 1. is its designation as a 1st class weapon, it is too low to be a Mk designation which should be under the lock viewers arrow.

I have seen alot of the stencilling on the Mk4's, there is a picture of one of the Military advisors to the Nepal haul holding a stencilled Mk4 in Lagan Silekhana.

Regards

Edlee
I am finding more and more evidence that the Mk4 was being used in the Navy and Volunteer forces around 1895-1900 in England and around the colonies, and not purely sent to India etc. I have a dated 1898 edition of "Our Army and Navy Illustrated", so very nice shots of the Mk4 in use. Without close ups of the arsenal roundels its difficult to asses, although there does appear to be a 1908 stamp on the stock in relief under the rack numbers, very much like the RP Rawul Pindi stampings found on the Nepal guns.

There is also a few similar pics of Mk4's published in the British Militaria section of the site.

Ron
If you were at Hlobane you should have gone to the summit and seen the devils pass, also the reverse slope looking out toward Ntenyika nek where the border horse were litterally pushed over the edge by the Zulus. Hlobane was a debacle on a mini Isandlwana scale. 2 VC's won on the ascent and on on the descent. The walls the Abuqulisi built to retian their cattle ...and the irregular cavalry on 22.31879 are still there, although the grave to Piet Uys has been dug out.
Did you go to Khambula? a magnificent battlefield, the redoubt built by Evelyn Wood is still there and the little cemetary is only a short stroll from the site of the camp, Khambula was the turning poimt of the Anglo Zulu wars, Meyers Drift, scene of the 80ths debacle under the hands of Mbelini or the Prince imperials memorial, all within an hour of Hlobane. if you are in Vryheid, if you can see the television mast them Hlobane summit is worth it, if it is covered in cloud forget it. If you want a guide, go to the Spur Steak ranch restaurant in Vryhied the owner is Sean Freind, an excellent Hlobane guide to the battlefield there, the devils pass is stunning, and to see where Chops Mossop leap is breathaking.

For Museums, if you stay in the Rorkes Drift area, it is worth the trek to Mtonjaneni museum near Ulundi, by far the best collection of Anglo Zulu war artefects you will find, however the museum at Talana in Dundee is worth a visit. If you go to Ulundi the site of the Britishsquare is a nice place, it is just past Mangasuto Buthelezi Airport, and while you are in Ulundi, go and visit the site of Cetchwayos kraal, and the Zulu cultural village.

For the total battlefield experience, try and stay at Fugitives Lodge at Rorkes Drift, ok, a four hour drive from Joberg but worth it, thier guest house is quite reasonable and in Rob Caskie there is no better guide for Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift and the surrounding area. In the evening you can stroll down (on their reserve) to see Fugitives Drift and the Graves on Lt Teinmouth Melvill VC and Lt Neville Coghill VC 1/24th who died attempting to save their queens colours, thier grave is a lonely place, but surrounded by the magnificence of the Buffalo gorge and the view out to Isandlwana. The sound of the Buffalo river, scene of desperate fighting around 3pm on 22.1.1879 breaks the silence.

As for a bona fide Zulu wars Martini, then get to the back of the queue behind me...I am still looking

Regards