Lieutenant Charles Cavaye

Charles Walter Cavaye was born in Rajkote, India, the son of a general. He was 29 at the time of his death at the battle of Isandhlwana where he was in command of E Company, 1st Battalion. Cavaye and his men were placed a mile away from the camp, at the top of the spur, the expected route of any Zulu attack. He detached Dyson's section 500 yards further west to watch the rear approaches to Isandhlwana. They were the first men of the regiment to open fire on the charging Zulus who were pursuing Lieutenant Raw's Troop of the Natal Native Horse. F Coy were sent up the spur to reinforce E Coy, but having these two companies so far from the camp was one of Pulleine's big mistakes. They were forced to retire and form part of the line around the north edge of the camp that was eventually overwhelmed by the massed impi.

Regimental details | Soldiers at Isandhlwana