Battle of Bembezi

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Battle of Bembezi
Part of First Matabele War
Bembezi Battle of Bembezi (Zimbabwe)
Date 1 November 1893 Location Bembezi, Southern Rhodesia Result Decisive BSAC victory
Belligerents
British South Africa Company	Ndebele Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Patrick William Forbes	King Lobengula
Units involved
700 BSAC soldiers 5 Maxim guns 3 other rapid-fire guns 2 cannons	8,000 spearmen 2,000 riflemen
Casualties and losses
Unknown	2,500 Ndebele

The Battle of Bembezi (1 November 1893) was an engagement of the First Matabele War, between the British South Africa Company and the Ndebele Kingdom.

Battle[]

The Battle of Bembezi took place on 1 November 1893. This was the most decisive battle won by the British South Africa Company in the First Matabele War of 1893.

The British South Africa Company went over to Ndebele positions and were almost ambushed, yet due to command issues they went another way with Ndebele spearman waiting for them. Though thoroughly outnumbered, (10,000 men to 700), the BSAC Maxim guns proved superior to Ndebele numbers. After sustaining heavy losses, the Ndebele began to retreat. Roughly 2,500 Ndebele were killed by the time the gunfire was over.

After the stunning defeat, King Lobengula fled the battle; the end of the First Matabele War was near.

Music[]

John Edmond wrote the song Battle of Bembezi in 1979 about the events of the battle.^{[1] [2]}

References[]

• "The decisive Battle of Bembesi (Bembasi) is fought in the First Matabele War (Ndebele), Zimbabwe | South African History Online". Sahistory.org.za. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2017.

Sources[]

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