General Horace Smith-Dorrien, his two defining battles: Isandlwana 1879 and Le Cateau 1914

On 1 November 1878, Horace Smith-Dorrien was posted to South Africa where he was employed as a Transport Officer. He was present at the Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879. As the Zulu impis overwhelmed the British lines, destroying it in hand-to-hand fighting, Smith-Dorrien narrowly escaped on his transport pony over 20 miles of rough terrain with twenty Zulu warriors in running pursuit.

In 1914, Smith-Dorrien's decision to stand at Le Cateau enraged Sir John French, who accused him of jeopardising the whole BEF. French and his staff believed that II Corps had been destroyed at Le Cateau, although its units reappeared and reassembled after the retreat.

Although not immediately removed from command, Smith-Dorrien's actions at Le Cateau further soured relations with Sir John French. No doubt this contributed to the " 'Orace, your for 'ome" with which he was informed of his dismissal some months later. 

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