The 91st Highlanders arrived in Africa as reinforcements on 17th March, 1879. Under the overall command of Lord Chelmsford, they were marched to relieve Eshowe from a ten week Zulu siege, and on the morning of 2nd April at Gingindlovu, were attacked by a Zulu impi of ten thousand men.

The Zulus attacked the laager on three sides, losing a thousand men mainly to controlled volley fire. The following day the first regiment to march into Eshowe were the 91st with their colours flying and pipers playing ‘The Campbells are Coming’.