1879

South Africa

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift is celebrated as one of the most extraordinary victories in British military history, despite its relative insignificance in the outcome of the Anglo-Zulu War. It resulted in the highest number of VC’s ever awarded to a single regiment for a single action.

Against overwhelming odds, for over 12 hours, around 140 British troops, including sick and wounded, defended a hastily fortified mission outpost against 3000-4000 battle-hardened Zulu warriors. Their courage inspired the epic war film “Zulu”.

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