Shangani Patrol annihilated in the First Matabele War

Background. The First Matabele War was fought between 1893 and 1894 in modern-day Zimbabwe. Lobengula made war on the new arrivals and the Mashonas in 1893, angered by the British South Africa Company's attitude towards his authority. The Shangani Patrol was a 37-soldier unit of the British South Africa Company, empowered to raise and run a police force, which was involved in the conflict.

Approach to the Shangani. Scouting ahead of Major Patrick Forbes's column attempting to capture the Matabele King Lobengula, the patrol crossed the Shangani late on 3 December 1893. According to one of Lobengula's izinDuna, speaking after the war, the king had attempted to buy the pioneers off just before Forbes' column reached the Shangani. Petchan and Sehuloholu reportedly reached the column on 2 December 1893; accounts differ on whether they gave money and a message to two men in the rear guard or hid in the bush as the column went by.

Annihilation and Aftermath. The patrol was annihilated by over 3,000 Matabele warriors on 4 December 1893. First-hand Matabele accounts confirm that three white men, including Burnham, left during a lull in the battle, just after Wilson withdrew to his final position. On the column's return to Bulawayo on 18 December 1893, Forbes was received in muted disgrace.