[1] When the Anglo-Zulu war was declared in January 1879 the 5th Brigade was a part of the central column of the invasion force which set up their camp near the lion shaped hill called Isandlwana on the 20th.

In the early hours of the 22 January the General Officer Commanding Lord Chelmsford decided to split his forces in order to chase what turned out to be a Zulu decoy.

[3] Having spent much of the morning turned out in a defensive position they returned to the camp at 11 am only to be sent back out at 12 where they came immediately into action against a large body of Zulus about 3–4 thousand yards away.

Major Smith was killed some time later during the flight as they climbed down a cliff but Curling was able to cross the Buffalo river safely, his horse swimming with three or four men hanging on to it.

[7] After the Zulu war he was promoted to captain on 16 August 1879[8] in charge of C Battery, 3rd Brigade based in Kabul, Afghanistan, then on 6 February 1885 gained his Majority[9] whilst serving at Aldershot Command.