Major Allan Wilson is best known for his leadership and heroism in the last stand of the Shangani Patrol, also known as Wilson's Last Stand. His courage and death in battle made him a national hero in Rhodesia.
During the First Matabele War, Maj. Wilson was in charge of the Victoria Column. He was sent with a small group of scouts, officers, and troopers to find the Matabele King Lobengula. The battle that ensued resulted in the death of nearly ever member of the patrol and over 300 Matabele wariors. Here is the battle as described in the 1899 film, Major Wilson's Last Stand:
"Major Wilson and his brave men are seen in laager in order to snatch a brief rest after a long forced march. They are suddenly awakened by the shouts of the savages, who surround them on all sides. The expected reinforcements alas arrived too late. The Major calls upon his men to show the enemy how a handful of British soldiers can play a losing game as well as a winning one. He bids them to stand shoulder to shoulder, and fight and fie for their Queen. The horses are seen to fall, and from the rampart of dead horses, the heroic band fight to the last round of revolver ammunition. The Major, who is the last to fall, crawls to the top of the head of dead men, savages and horses, and makes every one of the few remaining cartridges find its mark until his life is cut short by the thrust of an assegai in the hands of a savage, who attacks him from behind."
During the First Matabele War, Maj. Wilson was in charge of the Victoria Column. He was sent with a small group of scouts, officers, and troopers to find the Matabele King Lobengula. The battle that ensued resulted in the death of nearly ever member of the patrol and over 300 Matabele wariors. Here is the battle as described in the 1899 film, Major Wilson's Last Stand:
"Major Wilson and his brave men are seen in laager in order to snatch a brief rest after a long forced march. They are suddenly awakened by the shouts of the savages, who surround them on all sides. The expected reinforcements alas arrived too late. The Major calls upon his men to show the enemy how a handful of British soldiers can play a losing game as well as a winning one. He bids them to stand shoulder to shoulder, and fight and fie for their Queen. The horses are seen to fall, and from the rampart of dead horses, the heroic band fight to the last round of revolver ammunition. The Major, who is the last to fall, crawls to the top of the head of dead men, savages and horses, and makes every one of the few remaining cartridges find its mark until his life is cut short by the thrust of an assegai in the hands of a savage, who attacks him from behind."
Major Allan Wilson is best known for his leadership and heroism in the last stand of the Shangani Patrol, also known as Wilson's Last Stand. His courage and death in battle made him a national hero in Rhodesia.
During the First Matabele War, Maj. Wilson was in charge of the Victoria Column. He was sent with a small group of scouts, officers, and troopers to find the Matabele King Lobengula. The battle that ensued resulted in the death of nearly ever member of the patrol and over 300 Matabele wariors. Here is the battle as described in the 1899 film, Major Wilson's Last Stand:
"Major Wilson and his brave men are seen in laager in order to snatch a brief rest after a long forced march. They are suddenly awakened by the shouts of the savages, who surround them on all sides. The expected reinforcements alas arrived too late. The Major calls upon his men to show the enemy how a handful of British soldiers can play a losing game as well as a winning one. He bids them to stand shoulder to shoulder, and fight and fie for their Queen. The horses are seen to fall, and from the rampart of dead horses, the heroic band fight to the last round of revolver ammunition. The Major, who is the last to fall, crawls to the top of the head of dead men, savages and horses, and makes every one of the few remaining cartridges find its mark until his life is cut short by the thrust of an assegai in the hands of a savage, who attacks him from behind."
During the First Matabele War, Maj. Wilson was in charge of the Victoria Column. He was sent with a small group of scouts, officers, and troopers to find the Matabele King Lobengula. The battle that ensued resulted in the death of nearly ever member of the patrol and over 300 Matabele wariors. Here is the battle as described in the 1899 film, Major Wilson's Last Stand:
"Major Wilson and his brave men are seen in laager in order to snatch a brief rest after a long forced march. They are suddenly awakened by the shouts of the savages, who surround them on all sides. The expected reinforcements alas arrived too late. The Major calls upon his men to show the enemy how a handful of British soldiers can play a losing game as well as a winning one. He bids them to stand shoulder to shoulder, and fight and fie for their Queen. The horses are seen to fall, and from the rampart of dead horses, the heroic band fight to the last round of revolver ammunition. The Major, who is the last to fall, crawls to the top of the head of dead men, savages and horses, and makes every one of the few remaining cartridges find its mark until his life is cut short by the thrust of an assegai in the hands of a savage, who attacks him from behind."
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