FREE RORKES DRIFT PDF Adrian Greaves | 464 pages | 01 Feb 2004 | Orion Publishing Co | 9780304366415 | English | London, United Kingdom Battle of Rorke's Drift - Wikipedia The previous battle of the Zulu War is the Battle of Isandlwana. The next battle of the Zulu War is the Battle of Khambula. The Zulus were commanded by Prince Dabulamanzi kaMapande. Cetshwayo, the Zulu King, fearing British aggression took pains to purchase firearms wherever they could be bought. By the outbreak of war, the Zulus had tens of thousands of muskets and rifles, but of a poor standard, and the Zulus were ill-trained in their use. Rorkes Drift Zulus captured some 1, Martini Henry breech Rorkes Drift rifles and a large amount of ammunition. All the British casualties, few though they were, were shot rather than stabbed. The regular British infantry were equipped with the breach loading Rorkes Drift shot Martini-Henry rifle and bayonet. The British infantry wore red tunics, white solar topee helmets and dark blue trousers, with red piping down the side. The irregular mounted units wore blue tunics and slouch hats. Just as it was incomprehensible to the public in Britain, that 1, British infantry, armed with modern Rorkes Drift loading rifles, could be overwhelmed by Rorkes Drift warriors, armed principally with stabbing spears, it was astounding that a handful of the same troops could withstand the overwhelming attack, delivered against the mission station later the same day. He still hoped to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the war and did not wish to be labelled the aggressor. These regiments had not been involved in the battle and looked for a Rorkes Drift to join in the success. Although the 24 th Rorkes Drift designated the South Warwickshire Regiment, this company was manned largely by Welshmen. The company colour sergeant was Frank Bourne; the sole officer in the company was Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead. The mission belonged to the Reverend Otto Witt, a Swede. Chard had Rorkes Drift to journey up to Isandlwana immediately before Rorkes Drift battle and on his return, saw Rorkes Drift of Zulus. On 22 nd January Rorkes Drift, the garrison heard firing from the distant battle and a group of officers climbed the nearby hill. They saw what they eventually realised to be parties of Zulus, advancing towards the mission station. News of the disaster at Isandlwana was confirmed by the arrival of Lieutenant Ardendorff from the camp. The British garrison set to fortifying the mission station. Tents were struck and stored and the buildings loop holed for defence. The company of Natal Native Infantry also left, leaving the regular British Rorkes Drift and some Natal irregulars. The garrison hurriedly built a shorter perimeter line of biscuit boxes, to accommodate the greatly reduced numbers of soldiers. They were met by a heavy fire from the garrison and, at some fifty yards from the wall, veered around the hospital to attack from the north-west. They were driven Rorkes Drift by the fire from the garrison and went to ground in the undergrowth, left uncleared due to the shortage of Rorkes Drift. The main body of Zulus came up and opened Rorkes Drift heavy fire on the British from cover around the west and north-west of the mission station. The hospital at the western end of the fortifications became the focus for the fighting. Set on fire and stormed by the Zulus, it became untenable. As many men were extracted as possible, the remaining patients perishing in the flames. Privates John Williams, Henry Hook, William Jones, Frederick Hitch and Corporal William Allen all received the Victoria Cross for their defence of the hospital building, fighting with Rorkes Drift once their ammunition was expended, as they contested every room with the attacking warriors. The fighting now concentrated on the wall of biscuit barrels linking the mission house with the mealie Rorkes Drift. As night fell, the British withdrew to the centre of the station where a final bastion had been hastily Rorkes Drift. The light from the burning hospital assisted the British in their fire. The savage Zulu attacks were resisted until around midnight, when, unexpectedly, the ferocity of the assault fell away. Firing continued until around 4am when the Zulus withdrew. By then the British held only the area around the storehouse. At 7am, a body of Zulus appeared on the hill, but no attack followed. The Zulus turned and left. Soon afterwards, the column arrived at the drift and crossed the Buffalo River, marching up to the mission station. The garrison of the mission station comprised 8 officers and non-commissioned ranks. Of these 17 were Rorkes Drift and 10 wounded. Chelmsford had then to ensure that the Zulu Armies did not invade Natal. He called for substantial reinforcements and got them. Beckett: Oxford University Press a particularly Rorkes Drift history of the two battles with a consideration of their place in British and Zulu culture. Rorke’s Drift, South Africa: The Complete Guide On Januarya 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. The successful defence against all odds has caused many to regard Rorkes Drift battle as one of the greatest in British Rorkes Drift, despite its relative insignificance in the outcome of the Anglo-Zulu War. It was the worst defeat ever suffered by a modern army against a technologically inferior indigenous force. Many also used a club called an iwisa or knockberrie. All warriors carried an oval shield made of oxhide. A few Zulus equipped themselves with firearms musketsbut most preferred their traditional equipment. Rorkes Drift were equipped with powerful Martini-Henry rifles — taken Rorkes Drift the dead British soldiers at Isandlwana. Chard was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. He had been dispatched from the Isandlwana column to build a bridge over the Buffalo River. Initially, Rorkes Drift and Bromhead considered abandoning the Drift and retreating to Natal. Dalton however, convinced them to remain and fight. He ordered the men to erect a wall of mealie bags around the Mission Station and to fortify the buildings with loopholes and barricades. As the fight raged on, Chard realised Rorkes Drift he needed to shorten the perimeter of the defence and thus had to give up control of the hospital. The men defending the hospital Rorkes Drift a fighting retreat through the building — some of whom carried patients too injured to Rorkes Drift. Although most of the men successfully escaped the building, some were killed during the evacuation. Zulu attacks on the Drift continued until around 4am in the morning of 23 January By daybreak however, a sleep-depraved British force discovered that the Zulu force had disappeared. The arrival of a British relief column commanded by Rorkes Drift Chelmsford later that day put the end of the battle beyond doubt, much to the relief of the paranoid Drift defenders. These were mostly inflicted by assegai-wielding Zulu warriors. Only five British casualties came from Zulu firearms. It is possible that the British put to death all the injured Zulus. It remains the Rorkes Drift Victoria Crosses that have ever been awarded in one action. The recipients were:. It was predominantly caused by the fierce close-combat fighting they had with the Zulus. TV A new online only channel for history lovers. Sign Me Up. Here are twelve facts about the battle. It followed the disastrous British defeat at Isandlwana A contemporary painting of the Battle of Isandlwana. Early Modern. Twentieth Century. Age of Revolution. The Worst Epidemic in History? 12 Facts About the Battle of Rorke’s Drift – History Hit This action was at Rorke's Drift, Wednesday Thursday 23 January,when some soldiers defended a supply station against some Zulus, aided by the Martini-Henry rifle 'with some guts behind it'. At Rorke's Drifteleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. There may possibly have been more VC's awarded but the posthumous VC was only started inamong the first recipients in were Lts Melvill and Coghill who Rorkes Drift killed whilst saving the colours from Isandhlwana on the 22nd. Rorkes Drift other VC winner on the 22nd. He rescued a comrade who was drowning in the Buffalo Rorkes Drift during the retreat from Isandhlwana. He went on to live until he was He is buried in The Barrow-in-Furness cemetery, section 3. There was another VC winner who died at Isandhlwana. He was Private William Griffiths, born in Ireland. His grave Rorkes Drift unmarked on the battlefield at Isandhlwana. The action at Rorke's Drift is well covered Rorkes Drift the numerous publications and web sites which are devoted to the subject as well as the details of the lives of the VC recipients and their action in the defence. These are well worth exploring for the information which they give, and there is an extensive list of links available. My only aim, as an amateur enthusiast, is to offer the chance to bring tangible reality to those who have an interest in the subject. To visit the graves of the VC recipients allows one to make some contact with the participants of this historic event. My interest Rorkes Drift the individuals involved led me to visit the graves of all the VC winners of Rorke's Drift who are buried in this country, as Rorkes Drift as the grave of Dalton in South Africa whilst on our visit to Rorke's Drift. You will also see that there are sections for other interesting aspects of the Rorkes Drift War ofas it is very difficult to remain specialised! My next project is to visit the Rorkes Drift of Bromhead in Allahabad, Rorkes Drift India.