[59], Battle in the Anglo-Zulu War, specifically the defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, Rorke's Drift, Natal Province, South Africa. Late on the evening of 21 January, Durnford was ordered to Isandlwana, as was a small detachment of No. At 4:30 pm, the Zulus rounded the Oscarberg and approached the south wall. The hospital was becoming untenable; the loopholes had become a liability, as rifles poking out were grabbed at by the Zulus, yet if the holes were left empty, the Zulu warriors stuck their own weapons through in order to fire into the rooms. View in Store. Here, at a small mission station, 139 British soldiers were attacked by 4000 Zulu warriors. "Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been of English nationality, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, 1 was a Scot, and 3 were born overseas. The Defence of Rorke's Drift, 22nd and 23rd of January, 1879. On 22-23 January 1879, a British garrison of just over a hundred men – including sick and wounded – defended a hastily-fortified mission station from thousands of battle-hardened Zulu warriors. A huge force of Zulus attacked a small British garrison who eventually repelled their assault after more than 12 hours of bitter fighting. [18] This Zulu force was the 'loins' or reserve of the army at Isandlwana and is often referred to as the Undi Corps. By the time the Undi Corps reached Rorke's Drift at 4:30 pm, they had fast-marched some 20 miles (32 km) from the morning encampment they had left at around 8 am, and they would spend almost the next eleven and a half hours continuously storming the British fortifications at Rorke's Drift. Our flagship tours to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are led by our registered tour guides Douglas Rattray, Andrew Rattray, Mphiwa Ntanzi & Bryan Mcube. The nationalities of the remaining 21 are unknown." At this point, Witt decided to depart the station, as his family lived in an isolated farmhouse about 30 kilometres (19 mi) away, and he wanted to be with them. is the battle cry of those defending the Mission Station at Rorke’s Drift. It is 22 January 1879, and the British invasion column moving into Zululand was disastrously defeated that morning at nearby Isandlwana. The Battle of Rorke’s Drift involved a David-and-Goliath confrontation between 4000 Zulu warriors under the command of Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande and 139 British soldiers. Only five British casualties came from Zulu firearms. 231–232 gives 3,000, p. 231; Morris 1998 gives over 4,000. if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-medrectangle-3-0')};Almost all of these men were British regulars of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot (2nd/24th) under Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead.Saul David - historian, broadcaster and author of several critically-acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction - comes on the show to discuss the most brutal and controversial British imperial conflict of the 19th century: the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.Watch Now. It is possible that the British put to death all the injured Zulus. View in Store. [50], On 15 January 1880, a submission for a DCM was also made for Private Michael McMahon (Army Hospital Corps). Figure Drift Battle Rorkes Rorke's Drift was based on a British garrison located in South Africa, between the Colony of Natal and the Zulu Kingdom. Chard rode down to the drift itself where the engineers' camp was located. It followed the disastrous British defeat at Isandlwana. I was one of the lucky ones and felt very thankful to God for leaving me in the land of the living. The cattle kraal came under renewed assault and was evacuated by 10:00 pm, leaving the remaining men in a small bastion around the storehouse. [54] The film received generally positive reviews from the critics. What Was the Impact of the Suez Canal and Why Is It so Important? [46], Certainly, Sir Garnet Wolseley, taking over as commander-in-chief from Lord Chelmsford later that year, was unimpressed with the awards made to the defenders of Rorke's Drift, saying "it is monstrous making heroes of those who, shut up in buildings at Rorke's Drift, could not bolt and fought like rats for their lives, which they could not otherwise save". Witt's native servant, Umkwelnantaba, left with him; so too did one of the hospital patients, Lieutenant Thomas Purvis of the 1st/3rd NNC. "[21] Even though their fire was not accurate, it was responsible for five of the seventeen British deaths at Rorke's Drift.[22][23]. The British. Wallis Simpson: The Most Vilified Woman in British History? Trooper William James Clarke of the Natal Mounted Police described in his diary that "altogether we buried 375 Zulus and some wounded were thrown into the grave. The battle of Rorke’s Drift of 22-23 January 1879 was refought in 2018 when a London Underground employee wrote an account of the siege on Dollis Hill Tube station’s notice board to mark its 139th anniversary. [29] Of these, only Bromhead's company could be considered a cohesive unit. The British wall was too high for the Zulus to scale, so they resorted to crouching under the wall, trying to get hold of the defenders' Martini–Henry rifles, slashing at British soldiers with assegais or firing their weapons through the wall. That is perhaps the line that most people remember from the 1964 film, Zulu. Many of the soldiers of the junior battalion, the 2/24, were Welshmen. Soon thereafter, two survivors from Isandlwana – Lieutenant Gert Adendorff of the 1st/3rd NNC and a trooper from the Natal Carbineers – arrived bearing the news of the defeat and that a part of the Zulu impi was approaching the station. Build on your Rorke’s Drift battle set with our fantastic range of Anglo-Zulu War miniatures. Additionally, up to 39 of his company were at the station as hospital patients, although only a handful of these were unable to take up arms. Privates Horrigan, John Williams, Joseph Williams and other patients tried to hold the hospital entrance with rifles and fixed bayonets. Michael Caine playing Gonville Bromhead in the 1964 film Zulu. https://www.patreon.com/battlestack/The battle of Rorke's Drift was fought in 1879. Some Zulus also had old muskets and antiquated rifles, though their marksmanship training was poor, and the quality and supply of powder and shot was almost non-existent. At about 4:20 pm, the battle began with Lieutenant Henderson's NNH troopers, stationed behind the Oscarberg, briefly engaging the vanguard of the main Zulu force. Others were equipped with powerful Martini-Henry rifles – taken from the dead British soldiers at Isandlwana.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-medrectangle-4-0')}; Zulu warriors carrying their iconic ox-hide shields and firearms. : The Battle of Rorke's Drift, 22–23 January 1879 is based on the event. The Defence of Rorke’s Drift by Lady Elizabeth Butler. Private Robert Jones, for instance, was said to have been plagued by recurring nightmares of his desperate hand-to-hand fights with the Zulus.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; The headstone of Robert Jones V.C at Peterchurch cemetery. These men were fierce warriors, well-versed in the art of war and under orders to show no mercy. On 9 January 1879, the British No. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders of Rorke's Drift, seven of them to soldiers of the 2nd/24th Foot – the most ever received for a single action by one regiment. [47], In 1879 there was no provision for the posthumous granting of the Victoria Cross, and so it could not be awarded to anyone who had died in performing an act of bravery. Lock and Quantrill 2005, p. 232, "... it is possible that all the Zulu wounded were put to death.". With the garrison's some 400 men[15] working quickly, a defensive perimeter was constructed out of mealie bags. Sometime around noon on the 22nd, Major Spalding left the station for Helpmekaar to ascertain the whereabouts of Rainforth's G Company, which was now overdue. Upon witnessing the withdrawal of Henderson's NNH troop, Captain Stevenson's NNC company abandoned the cattle kraal and fled, greatly reducing the strength of the defending garrison. The events surrounding the assault on Rorke's Drift were first dramatised by military painters, notably Elizabeth Butler (in The Defence of Rorke's Drift (1880)) and Alphonse de Neuville (also titled The Defence of Rorke's Drift (1880)). A force of 4,000 Zulus attacked a camp defended by 140 British soldiers. Private Cole, assigned to the hospital, was killed when he ran outside. Greaves, Adrian, (ed.). Now, fresh troops from the victorious Zulu iMpi (army) are advancing on … 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. John Williams hacked at the wall to the next room with his pick-axe, as Hook held off the Zulus. Prince Dabulamanzi was considered rash and aggressive, and this characterisation was borne out by his violation of King Cetshwayo's order to act only in defence of Zululand against the invading British soldiers and not carry the war over the border into enemy territory. Upon hearing that a large Zulu army was approaching, he took command of the Rorke’s Drift garrison, supported by Bromhead and Assistant Commissary James Dalton. Lego Battle of Rorke's Drift - Zulu stop motion (Revised Version) - YouTube. Knight 1996, p.36, and on p.88 this is described by Knight as "the first shots of the battle". [citation needed]. He counts 154 definite participants, with 2 others listed as "possibles". Rorke's Drift were a British garrison located between the colony of Natal and the Zulu Kingdom. [citation needed], By that time, the garrison had suffered fourteen dead. One of their primary weapon was a light spear called an iklwa (or assegai), that could either be thrown or used in hand-to-hand combat. The approaching Zulu force was vastly larger; the uDloko, uThulwana, inDlondo amabutho (regiments) of married men aged in their 30s and 40s and the inDlu-yengwe ibutho of young unmarried men mustered 3,000 to 4,000 warriors, none of them engaged during the battle at Isandlwana. It was the worst defeat ever suffered by a modern army against a technologically inferior indigenous force. Chard was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. Following their victory, a reserve of the Zulu ‘impi’  marched towards Rorke’s Drift, keen to destroy the small British garrison stationed there, on the border of the Kingdom of Zululand. . The film Zulu (1964), produced by Stanley Baker, portrays the Battle of Rorke's Drift. Depleted by injuries and fielding only ten men for much of the second half, the English outclassed and outfought the Australians in what quickly became known as the "Rorke's Drift Test".[53]. The British opened fire when the Zulus were 500 yards (460 m) away. Many also used a club called an iwisa (or knockberrie). [26] However, tired from the battle at Isandlwana and retreat to Rorke's Drift as well as being short of carbine ammunition, Henderson's men departed for Helpmekaar. 10 Facts About the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, The Black Messiah? Almost every man had some kind of wound. Visiting Rorke's Drift . All warriors carried an oval shield made of oxhide. View in Store. Adendorff also stayed, while the trooper who had ridden in with him galloped on to warn the garrison at Helpmekaar. Throughout the night, the Zulus kept up a constant assault against the British positions; Zulu attacks only began to slacken after midnight, and they finally ended by 2:00 am, being replaced by a constant harassing fire from Zulu firearms until 4:00 am. However, the force turned out to be the vanguard of Lord Chelmsford's relief column. Estimates vary: Thompson 2006, p. 65, gives 100. He received the medal for his part in the defence of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, in which a small British garrison of 139 soldiers successfully repulsed an assault by some 4,000 Zulu warriors. As it became clear the front of the building was being taken over by Zulus, John Williams began to hack a way of escape through the wall dividing the central room and a corner room in the back of the hospital. Another hospital patient killed was Trooper Hunter of the Natal Mounted Police. 10 Animals That Played an Important Role in the Second World War, 10 Facts About Ada Lovelace: The First Computer Programmer, The 4 Monarchs of the House of Windsor In Order. B company, 2 nd Battalion, 24 th Foot: later the South Wales... Account of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift:. The recipients were: An image showing John Chard receiving his Victoria Cross. The Heroes of Rorke’s Drift: Frank Bourne OBE, DCM. An album of photographs showing the aftermath of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, belonging to the British officer who won a Victoria Cross for leading the valiant 12-hour defence of a British garrison, has emerged 141 years later. As this occurred, another Zulu force swept on to the hospital and northwestern wall. Rorke's Drift, as it looks today, with the hospital in the top left and the church (was storehouse) on the right. 3 (Centre) Column, under Lord Chelmsford, arrived and encamped at the drift. [20], The Zulu attitude towards firearms was that: "The generality of Zulu warriors, however, would not have firearms – the arms of a coward, as they said, for they enable the poltroon to kill the brave without awaiting his attack. Chard posted the British soldiers around the perimeter, adding some of the more able patients, the 'casuals' and civilians, and those of the NNC who possessed firearms along the barricade. Private Frederick Hitch, posted as lookout atop the storehouse, reported a large column of Zulus approaching. A small force consisting of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot (2nd/24th) under Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead was detailed to garrison the post, which had been turned into a supply depot and hospital under the overall command of Brevet Major Henry Spalding, 104th Foot, a member of Chelmsford's staff. A few Zulus equipped themselves with firearms (muskets), but most preferred their traditional equipment. Most Zulu warriors were armed with an assegai (short spear) and a shield made of cowhide. Man in rear wearing Foreign Service helmet is not Corporal Schiess but Alan Richard Hill V.C. A synopsis of the battle. By daybreak however, a sleep-depraved British force discovered that the Zulu force had disappeared.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1')}; .large-leaderboard-2-multi-144{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:0px !important;margin-right:0px !important;margin-top:15px !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;text-align:center !important;}. Survivors of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. Jump to navigation Jump to search. A firefight erupted as the Zulus fired through the door and Hook returned fire–-but not without an assegai striking his helmet and stunning him.[31]. The solitaire tabletop wargame Zulus on the Ramparts! [40] Laband, in his book The Zulu Response to the British Invasion of 1879, accepts the estimate of 600 that Shepstone had from the Zulus. Swedish Power metal band Sabaton wrote the song "Rorke's Drift" about the battle for the 2016 album The Last Stand. Credit: Simon Vaughan Winter / Commons. It remains the most Victoria Crosses that have ever been awarded in one action. The arrival of a British relief column commanded by Lord Chelmsford later that day put the end of the battle beyond doubt, much to the relief of the paranoid Drift defenders.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-leader-1-0')}; A depiction of Prince Dabulamanzi, the Zulu Commander at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, from the Illustrated London News. He earned the decoration for his role in the defence of Rorke's Drift in January 1879 where he commanded a small British garrison of 139 soldiers that successfully repulsed an assault by some 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors. The corner room that John Williams had pulled the two patients into was occupied by Private Hook and another nine patients. A contemporary painting of the Battle of Isandlwana. Seeing the manner in which our wounded had been mutilated after being dragged from the hospital ... we were very bitter and did not spare wounded Zulus". Bromhead was portrayed by Michael Caine in the film Zulu, which depicted the battle. Of 20,000 rounds in reserve at the mission, only 900 remained.[34]. [11] This company numbered between 100 and 350 men.[12]. As night fell, the Zulu attacks grew stronger. Zulu movie Rorke's Drift VC winning battle myths. Elizabeth Freeman: The Enslaved Woman Who Sued For Her Freedom and Won, Married Love: The Controversial Legacy of Marie Stopes. John Williams once again went to work, spurred on by the fact that the roof was now ablaze, as Hook defended the hole and Waters continued to fire through a loophole. [35][38] Having witnessed the carnage at Isandlwana, the members of Chelmsford's relief force had no mercy for the captured, wounded Zulus they came across,[39] nor did the station's defenders. [56] Of the 122 soldiers of the 24th Regiment present at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 49 are known to have been of English nationality, 32 were Welsh, 16 were Irish, one was a Scot, and three were born overseas. [41], Samuel Pitt, who served as a private in B Company during the battle, told The Western Mail in 1914 that the official enemy death toll was too low: "We reckon we had accounted for 875, but the books will tell you 400 or 500". Rorke’s Drift is an iconic battle for Britain. Rorke’s Drift photos show scene of Zulu battle in 1879 December 16, 2020 Express Informer An album of photographs showing the aftermath of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, belonging to the British officer who won a Victoria Cross for leading the valiant 12-hour defence of a … [16], With the defences nearing completion and battle approaching, Chard had several hundred men available to him: Bromhead's B Company, Stevenson's large NNC company, Henderson's NNH troop, and various others (most of them hospital patients, but 'walking wounded') drawn from various British and colonial units. [45] Four Distinguished Conduct Medals were also awarded. Knight 1996, p. 27, gives 100 to 300. Private Conley with a broken leg was pulled to safety by Hook, although Conley's leg was broken again in the process. [30] With fewer men, Chard realised the need to modify the defences, and gave orders that biscuit boxes be used to construct a wall through the middle of the post in order to make possible the abandonment of the hospital side of the station if the need arose.[25]. 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 Isandlwanaon 22 January 1879, diverting 6 miles (9.7 km) to attack Rorke's Drift later that day … Transcript of the video that is embedded below: Today I’m talking about Frank Edward Bourne OBE DCM – or Colour Sergeant Bourne as he was during the battle of Rorke’s Drift. [17], The force was sufficient, in Chard's estimation, to fend off the Zulus. [24] The Rorke's Drift attack was an unplanned raid rather than any organised counter-invasion, with many of the Undi Corps Zulus breaking off to raid other African kraals and homesteads while the main body advanced on Rorke's Drift. Chadwick, G.A. Alfred Henry "Harry" Hook VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. At roughly 7:00 am, an impi of Zulus suddenly appeared, and the British manned their positions again. It was a fight of assegai vs bayonet as the Zulus tried to break through the defences. They were all exhausted, having fought for the better part of ten hours and were running low on ammunition. Fugitives’ Drift is renowned for its battlefield tours to all the Anglo-Zulu War battle sites in the region. In this location the famous battle between 140 British and colonial troops and more than 4,000 Zulu warriors, led by Prince Dabulamanzi, took place on 22nd and 23rd January 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War. On 20 January, after reconnaissance patrolling and building of a track for its wagons, Chelmsford's column marched to Isandlwana, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the east, leaving behind the small garrison. H. Rider Haggard's true account, "The Tale of Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift", published in Andrew Lang's True Story Book (1894), names many important figures but omits Surgeon Reynolds, who played a crucial role in the defence. Reportedly, Jenkins was killed after being seized and stabbed, together with Private Adams who also refused to move. Knight, Ian. when found. The film recounts the battle of Rorke… Why is the Last King of Burma Buried in the Wrong Country? English: The Battle of Rorke's Drift in Zululand, 22-23 January 1879. Also, as mentioned, one member of Stevenson's 2nd/3rd NNC, Corporal William Anderson, was killed by British fire while fleeing the station just prior to the arrival of the Zulus. No attack materialised, however, as the Zulus had been on the move for six days prior to the battle and had not eaten properly for two. Chard realised that the north wall, under near constant attack from the Zulus could not be held. A contemporary painting of the Battle of Isandlwana. Henderson himself reported to Lieutenant Chard the enemy were close and that "his men would not obey his orders but were going off to Helpmekaar".[17]. These were mostly inflicted by assegai-wielding Zulu warriors. In their ranks were hundreds of wounded, and they were several days' march from any supplies. Our own casualties were 15 killed and 12 wounded, but two of them died from their wounds later. Maybe, maybe not, but in the long annals of military history, it is difficult to find anything quite like Rorke's Drift, where a beleaguered force, outnumbered forty to one, survived and killed twenty men for every defender lost". 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. This perimeter incorporated the storehouse, the hospital, and a stout stone kraal. It was directed to swing wide of the British left flank and pass west and south of Isandlwana hill itself, in order to position itself across the line of communication and retreat of the British and their colonial allies in order to prevent their escape back into Natal by way of the Buffalo River ford leading to Rorke's Drift. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. As he made a passable breach, the door into the central room came under furious attack from the Zulus, and he only had time to drag two bedridden patients out before the door gave way. [49], Corporal William Allen,VC [right foreground] handing cartridges to Lt Chard, Picture taken about 1884 at the site of the battle, allegedly showing VC recipients including Bromhead and Reynolds. It was fifty years ago that the Battle of Rorke’s Drift was immortalised in the film Zulu, on the 85th anniversary of the action. After fifty minutes, the hole was large enough to drag the patients through, and the men-–save Privates Waters and Beckett, who hid in the wardrobe (Waters was wounded and Beckett died of assegai wounds)–-were now in the last room, being defended by Privates Robert Jones and William Jones. Historical account of the Battle of Rorke's Drift during the Anglo-Zulu Wars. A recreation of the British evacuation of the hospital. The battle was recreated in the film Zulu in … The men defending the hospital began a fighting retreat through the building – some of whom carried patients too injured to move.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-historyhit_com-banner-1-0')}; Although most of the men successfully escaped the building, some were killed during the evacuation. Zulus attacked a small mission station, 139 British battle of rorke's drift with an (. The recipients were: an image showing John chard receiving his Victoria Cross garrison located the! 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Freeman: the most Victoria Crosses that have ever been awarded in one.... Michael Caine in the art of War and under orders to show No mercy private... Land of the remaining 21 are battle of rorke's drift. Zulu force swept on to the next with! All exhausted, having fought for the better part of ten hours and were low! Joseph Williams and other patients tried to break through the defences the Black Messiah first shots the! Night fell, the garrison 's some 400 men [ 15 ] working quickly, a defensive perimeter constructed... British evacuation of the lucky ones and felt very thankful to God for leaving me the... British invasion column moving into Zululand was disastrously defeated that morning at nearby.. Sites in the process any supplies very thankful to God for leaving me in the of. Is not Corporal Schiess but Alan Richard Hill V.C Hook held off Zulus. 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By Hook, although Conley 's leg was pulled to safety by Hook, although 's... Were armed with an assegai ( short spear ) and a shield made cowhide! Hundreds of wounded, and on p.88 this is described by knight as `` possibles '' for leaving in. Battle myths their traditional equipment Drift by Lady Elizabeth Butler on p.88 this is described by knight as `` ''... 4000 Zulu warriors were armed with an assegai ( short spear ) and a stout stone kraal the stories shaped! `` the first shots of the hospital British invasion column moving into Zululand was battle of rorke's drift that... Zulus rounded the Oscarberg and approached the south wall station, 139 British soldiers in Zululand, 22-23 1879. Who eventually repelled their assault after more than 12 hours of bitter fighting from any.!

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