1879

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, 22–23 January 1879, fought during the Anglo-Zulu War, in present-day South Africa, has come to symbolize British resilience.

Zulu warriors earned a fierce reputation for wielding the shorter style

Assegai spear, called the ‘iklwa’. Its name is said to mimic the chilling

Sound made as it was pulled from the victim. Alongside this formidable weapon, they carried an oxhide shield, known as the ‘ishilunga’.

In January 1879, Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford led a British force into Zululand, seeking to expand imperial control in southern Africa. However, on crossing the Buffalo River at Rorke’s Drift mission outpost to engage King Cetshwayo’s Zulu forces, the British misjudged the Zulu’s agility and combat skills. On 22 January 1870, 20,000 battle-hardened Zulu warriors launched a sudden assault on Chelmsford’s camp at Isandlwana. Ill-prepared and dangerously dispersed, most of the 1,700 British troops were killed.

Survivors from Isandlwana reached Rorke’s Drift bringing urgent news of the advancing Zulu forces. Lieutenants John Chard and Gonville Bromhead conferred with Assistant Commissary James Dalton of the Commissariat and Transport Department to determine whether to retreat or defend the mission outpost. Dalton reasoned their small troop of men, including sick and injured, would make easy prey for the swift-moving Zulus in open terrain. Consequently, they resolved to stand their ground

and fight. Knowing this would mean certain death!

They began the work of fortifying their position, they hastily constructed makeshift barricades using 'mealie' (maize) bags, biscuit boxes, and crates of tinned meat. Additionally, the buildings were adapted for defence by creating loopholes for firing positions. All the while, keeping a vigilant watch as the Zulu force advanced ever closer.

Around 140 British troops defended Rorke’s Drift against a formidable force of 3000-4000 battle hardened Zulu warrior.

The battle commenced as the Zulu army reached Rorke's Drift at 4:30pm, launching a relentless assault on the British defences for the next 12 hours. The stronghold was primarily manned by soldiers of the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment, who faced wave after wave of attacks.

Initially, the Zulu warriors struggled to strike the defenders with their spears, unable to breach the barricades. Many fell to point-blank gunfire, while those who managed to climb over perimeter walls were swiftly repelled.

Even wounded British soldiers contributed to the fight, reloading rifles and distributing ammunition to those still able to fire. Meanwhile, many of the Zulus armed with firearms lacked proper training, rendering their shots largely ineffective.

As the battle intensified, the Zulus turned their assault toward the hospital, setting it ablaze and forcing their way inside. With ruthless determination, they attacked the wounded, but the defenders fought back fiercely, driving them out with bayonets. In a desperate bid to save the surviving patients, soldiers hacked through the walls separating the rooms, pulling the injured through the openings and into the safety of the barricaded yard.

As darkness fell, the British forces retreated to the heart of the mission outpost, where they had hastily constructed a final defensive position. Rallying their strength, they managed to repel the relentless Zulu offensive. As dawn broke, the British forces could see that the Zulus were gone. Hundreds of Zulus lay dead across the battlefield. The British suffered 17 fatalities, though nearly every soldier bore wounds from the ferocious encounter.

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift is celebrated not just for the fierce defensive action taken by officers and soldiers, but also for the recognition of their bravery by the award of 11 Victoria Crosses, with 7 going to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, the most ever awarded to a single regiment for a single action.

However, Rorke’s Drift had minimal impact on the overall course of the Anglo-Zulu War. The struggle persisted for several months before culminating in the decisive British victory at the Battle of Ulundi in July 1879.

Chard: “The [British] Army doesn't like more than one disaster in a day.” Bromhead: “Looks bad in the newspapers and upsets civilians at their breakfast.”

Stanley Baker and Michael Caine as Lts Chard and Bromhead in Zulu (1964)

Lord Chelmsford c1870

King Cetshwayo

Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead VC, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, 1879

Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard VC, Royal Engineers, 1879 (c)