Rorke's Drift 22 / 23 January 1879

Ooh It’s a Corner

Ooh It’s a Corner

Well-known member
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead, began when a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from their main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, diverting 6 miles (9.7 km) to attack Rorke's Drift later that day and continuing into the following day.

Just over 150 British and colonial troops defended the station against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The massive but piecemeal attacks by the Zulu on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the much smaller garrison, but were consistently repelled.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.

Victoria Cross

•Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers

•Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead; B Coy, 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot (2nd/24th Foot)

•Corporal William Wilson Allen; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Frederick Hitch; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Alfred Henry Hook; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Robert Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private William Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private John Williams; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Surgeon-Major James Henry Reynolds; Army Medical Department

•Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton; Commissariat and Transport Department

•Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess; 2nd/3rd Natal

The role of honour spine tinglingly read by Richard Burton at the end of the film Zulu

Rest in peace Men of Harlech
 
Ooh It’s a Corner said:
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead, began when a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from their main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, diverting 6 miles (9.7 km) to attack Rorke's Drift later that day and continuing into the following day.

Just over 150 British and colonial troops defended the station against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The massive but piecemeal attacks by the Zulu on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the much smaller garrison, but were consistently repelled.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.

Victoria Cross

•Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers

•Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead; B Coy, 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot (2nd/24th Foot)

•Corporal William Wilson Allen; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Frederick Hitch; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Alfred Henry Hook; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Robert Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private William Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private John Williams; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Surgeon-Major James Henry Reynolds; Army Medical Department

•Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton; Commissariat and Transport Department

•Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess; 2nd/3rd Natal

The role of honour spine tinglingly read by Richard Burton at the end of the film Zulu

Rest in peace Men of Harlech
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Greatest film ever made me and my late dad always watched this at xmas with a few whiskies...great days.
 
There was a view years afterwards that Chard, Bromhead and the Army embellished the account somewhat, partly to counter for the incompetence and massacre of British forces by the same Zulus a few days earlier
 
The battle at Isandlwana was the day before. Complete fuck up by British forces managed to let 20,000 Zulu’s surround them with only a handful escaping with one or two making it to Rorkes Drift to warn the small contingent to dig in.

Edit: The Welsh Regiment lost it. Sad to say
 
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Men of Harlech stop your dreaming
Cant you see their spear points gleaming
During the First World War Men of the Welsh Regiments went over the top with the battle cry
“ Remember Rorke‘s Drift Boys ! “
 
Visited around 20yrs ago, David Rattray did the commentary at the actual site, a truly moving visit, think I got something in my eye, Sadly David was murdered a few year later... Also went to isandlwana, truly moving., the only complete massacre of British forces, & I think the largest loss of life in one battle, by the British
 
Ooh It’s a Corner said:
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead, began when a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from their main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, diverting 6 miles (9.7 km) to attack Rorke's Drift later that day and continuing into the following day.

Just over 150 British and colonial troops defended the station against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The massive but piecemeal attacks by the Zulu on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the much smaller garrison, but were consistently repelled.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.

Victoria Cross

•Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers

•Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead; B Coy, 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot (2nd/24th Foot)

•Corporal William Wilson Allen; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Frederick Hitch; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Alfred Henry Hook; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Robert Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private William Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private John Williams; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Surgeon-Major James Henry Reynolds; Army Medical Department

•Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton; Commissariat and Transport Department

•Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess; 2nd/3rd Natal

The role of honour spine tinglingly read by Richard Burton at the end of the film Zulu

Rest in peace Men of Harlech
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Very good post. I've long wanted to go to and visit the battlefield. That and Isandlwana
 
Ooh It’s a Corner said:
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead, began when a large contingent of Zulu warriors broke off from their main force during the final hour of the British defeat at the day-long Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, diverting 6 miles (9.7 km) to attack Rorke's Drift later that day and continuing into the following day.

Just over 150 British and colonial troops defended the station against attacks by 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The massive but piecemeal attacks by the Zulu on Rorke's Drift came very close to defeating the much smaller garrison, but were consistently repelled.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, along with a number of other decorations and honours.

Victoria Cross

•Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5th Field Coy, Royal Engineers

•Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead; B Coy, 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot (2nd/24th Foot)

•Corporal William Wilson Allen; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Frederick Hitch; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Alfred Henry Hook; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private Robert Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private William Jones; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Private John Williams; B Coy, 2nd/24th Foot

•Surgeon-Major James Henry Reynolds; Army Medical Department

•Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton; Commissariat and Transport Department

•Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess; 2nd/3rd Natal

The role of honour spine tinglingly read by Richard Burton at the end of the film Zulu

Rest in peace Men of Harlech
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It wasn’t a film by the way, it was real and it was an horrific waste of lives for everyone involved.
 
TangerinePeel said:
Will have to give Zulu a rewatch now!
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Limechase said:
Visited around 20yrs ago, David Rattray did the commentary at the actual site, a truly moving visit, think I got something in my eye, Sadly David was murdered a few year later... Also went to isandlwana, truly moving., the only complete massacre of British forces, & I think the largest loss of life in one battle, by the British
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Indeed a sad victim of the new South Africa
 
Recidivist3 said:

The Battle Of Rorke's Drift: A Stand Still Clad In The Myths Of Empire | HistoryExtra

On 22 January 1879, 150 British troops fought 4,000 Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift. To Victorian readers, the stand became one of the supreme symbols of imperial heroism. But the battle is still clad in the 'myths of empire', as Dominic Sandbrook explains
www.historyextra.com
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Recidivist3 said:

The Battle Of Rorke's Drift: A Stand Still Clad In The Myths Of Empire | HistoryExtra

On 22 January 1879, 150 British troops fought 4,000 Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift. To Victorian readers, the stand became one of the supreme symbols of imperial heroism. But the battle is still clad in the 'myths of empire', as Dominic Sandbrook explains
www.historyextra.com
Click to expand...
Recidivist3 said:

The Battle Of Rorke's Drift: A Stand Still Clad In The Myths Of Empire | HistoryExtra

On 22 January 1879, 150 British troops fought 4,000 Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift. To Victorian readers, the stand became one of the supreme symbols of imperial heroism. But the battle is still clad in the 'myths of empire', as Dominic Sandbrook explains
www.historyextra.com
Click to expand...
Written by scum endorsed by scum who are free to leave whenever they like
 
I've read the accounts of the battle and the aforementioned embellishment of the truth, but, can you imagine facing those odds, whatever weapons were available to both sides? I first saw the film at the King Edward Cinema, which I presume is now long gone. Very brave men, all of them.
 
Curryman said:
I've read the accounts of the battle and the aforementioned embellishment of the truth, but, can you imagine facing those odds, whatever weapons were available to both sides? I first saw the film at the King Edward Cinema, which I presume is now long gone. Very brave men, all of them.
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They were and it has
 
Isn't the Welsh angle overplayed in the film and in reality it was mainly the Warwickshire regiment ? I was there about 25 years ago, and the landscape is quite different to the actual film as it was filmed miles away.
 

I’ve been to both battles sites twice and I was at the 120th Anniversary in 1999. The Royal Regiment of Wales sent out a contingent of troops in commemoration of the battles.

See the link above written by the historian Ian Knight. There is also a link to the soldiers singing “Men of Harlech” at the local church near Rorkes Drift.
 
Lala said:
I find it all terribly sad.
I definitely commemorate their bravery but the loss of lives any battle causes and the fear these men must have experienced is just tragic.
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That's your empathy shining through, Lala 👍 Oddly, I watched it last weekend, and feel the same way. To have these legends we honour, many had to die in dreadful conditions. I will always honour those who fight for our country, but we haven't half had some muppets in charge.
 
Seasider3610 said:

I’ve been to both battles sites twice and I was at the 120th Anniversary in 1999. The Royal Regiment of Wales sent out a contingent of troops in commemoration of the battles.

See the link above written by the historian Ian Knight. There is also a link to the soldiers singing “Men of Harlech” at the local church near Rorkes Drift.
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We must have nearly met... We were there the week after in 1999..
 
dave1772 said:
Isn't the Welsh angle overplayed in the film and in reality it was mainly the Warwickshire regiment ? I was there about 25 years ago, and the landscape is quite different to the actual film as it was filmed miles away.
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I’m a bit of a military history buff, and studied the Zulu war for years; I still have many books on the subject.
You are correct. The battalions that made up the core force at both Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana were both from the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regt, which later became the South Wales Borderers Regt.
They recruited from England and Wales, and certainly had a higher proportion of Welshmen than an ‘average’ English regiment, but records from the Zulu war era shows that there were still more Englishmen than Welsh. They were officially an English Regiment.
I absolutely love the film, but it has many historical errors in it, and has given birth to most of the myths surrounding the battle.
They didn’t sing ‘Men of Harloch’ ( the song was adopted by the Regt. when it became SWB’s, and the version in the film was written especially for it).
Chard and Bromhead had no arguments over command, and worked brilliantly together, supplementing each other’s skills perfectly.
Pvte Hook, winner of one of the V.C.’s wasn’t actually a skiving, boozing rebellious soldier, he was a tea-total, lay-preaching Methodist; an experienced and model soldier. His family walked out of the film’s premiere in disgust of his portrayal.

According to one of the diaries I’ve read, the first words that began the battle were from a lookout who spotted the first waves of Zulus approaching -

“Here they come, black as grass, and just as thick”*

(A local common grass was black, and thick refers to their numbers, not their intelligence!)

*Other versions available 😀
 
Seasider3610 said:

I’ve been to both battles sites twice and I was at the 120th Anniversary in 1999. The Royal Regiment of Wales sent out a contingent of troops in commemoration of the battles.

See the link above written by the historian Ian Knight. There is also a link to the soldiers singing “Men of Harlech” at the local church near Rorkes Drift.
Click to expand...
We stayed at David Rattareys place near Dundee, in the middle of nowhere (well near Rourkes Drift & the Buffalo River I guess) We met several Lords & Ladies, visiting for the Regiment & Queen, apparently Prince Charles had been there too.. Also a couple of retired ex military types, the sort that never saw action, but made other people see action!! When the generator went off at night, it was black, like I have never seen ( 😂 ) black, I thought I had lost my sight it was soooo black... It was an awesome trip, & to get David himself to do the tour & story( he was a great orator,) In later years David only did tours for "important people" & we looked like a fish out of water, but the toffs tolerated us!!
When you reach Rourkes Drift, you dont recognise it, as the film was made in Zambia I think?

KwaZulu Natal Battlefield Tours | Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift | Anglo Zulu War

We offer in-depth battlefied tours of the Anglo Zulu war of 1879. Our guides will take you to Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift to see the battlefields.
www.fugitivesdrift.com www.fugitivesdrift.com
 
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Limechase said:
We stayed at David Rattareys place near Dundee, in the middle of nowhere (well near Rourkes Drift & the Buffalo River I guess) We met several Lords & Ladies, visiting for the Regiment & Queen, apparently Prince Charles had been there too.. Also a couple of retired ex military types, the sort that never saw action, but made other people see action!! When the generator went off at night, it was black, like I have never seen ( 😂 ) black, I thought I had lost my sight it was soooo black... It was an awesome trip, & to get David himself to do the tour & story( he was a great orator,) In later years David only did tours for "important people" & we looked like a fish out of water, but the toffs tolerated us!!
When you reach Rourkes Drift, you dont recognise it, as the film was made in Zambia I think?

KwaZulu Natal Battlefield Tours | Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift | Anglo Zulu War

We offer in-depth battlefied tours of the Anglo Zulu war of 1879. Our guides will take you to Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift to see the battlefields.
www.fugitivesdrift.com www.fugitivesdrift.com
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Lime yes I know where you stayed. I also went to see him do the talk at a school function a few years after "99 he was the best!

I have been with another historian on that 1999 visit called Warwick Baker. He is actually a neighbor of mine. He takes out UK tourists to all the battle sites (pre Covid of course.)

I've also been to the Spion Kop battle site. All the regiments that fought there were from the North West of England. That's why we and the bidippers have/had our Spion Kops.
 
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