Maritime Adventures of the Anglo-Zulu War 1879

After the battle of Isandhlwana 1879 British reinforcements were urgently required in South Africa but there was as yet no cable communication between England and the Cape (this was established in 1880) by which news of the catastrophic defeat by the Zulus 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.

R.M.S. Dunrobin Castle

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 given rise to a perception among the Zulus that the British were sending women to fight. 

R.M.S. Pretoria

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.

Finding passengers UK-SA after 1890

If you believe your ancestor travelled to South Africa by ship during or after 1890, your best bet for further information is to search findmypast.co.uk Passenger Lists under the Travel and Migration section of the site.

Not only can you search by surname, but also browse by name of ship. This may be the answer to a recent blog visitor’s query re the Grantully Castle’s movements in 1896. The Grantully Castle made three voyages between England and SA in that year, departing from Southampton in March, May and October. Further exploration – under passengers’ names - on findmypast should prove rewarding.

This ship was the first Grantully Castle, 3454 tons, built in 1880 and a sister ship to the first Kinfauns Castle. In December 1896 Grantully Castle ceased her work in the Cape service and was taken over by the Booth Line, with her name changed to Augustine, which doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. However, she traded between Liverpool and South America until 1912 before ending up in the breakers’ yard. Grantully Castle (2), 7617 tons, was built in 1910 – by Barclay Curle, Glasgow, as was the case with Grantully Castle (1).

Passengers travelling from England to South Africa in the early days of the Union and Castle Lines had various options as to port of departure. Union HQ was at Southampton, from where the steamer would leave for the Cape, with a stop at Plymouth for the mails. The Plymouth call ended in September 1888, ships then calling at Lisbon instead where late mails, sent overland via Paris, were taken on. A sleeping-car service was arranged between Paris and Lisbon. The arrangement for the mails at Lisbon came to end in 1891.

Currie Liners, based on London, made a stop for some hours at Dartmouth after leaving the Thames. This route was more popular than that of the Union Line because it provided a pleasant visit to the beautiful estuary of the River Dart. The fortnightly departure of the Donald Currie Steamer from Dartmouth was an event, bringing business to the small port – shore-visiting passengers from London as well as arrivals by rail who were to join the ship at the river.

By June 1891 the Currie steamers changed their route, departing from Southampton instead of Dartmouth, thus ending the latter port's golden era.  It was only after the amalgamation of the Union and Castle Lines in 1900 that all mail steamers were finally based on Southampton.