Rorke's Drift By Those Who Were There: Volume I: 1

Product Information

Wood, M.J. (2009). Leaders and Battles: The Art of Military Leadership. Random House Digital, Inc. p.138. ISBN 9780307537034.

Of the 11 patients, nine survived the trip to the barricade, as did all the able-bodied men. According to James Henry Reynolds, four defenders were killed in the hospital: one was a member of the Natal Native Contingent with a broken leg; Sergeant Maxfield and Private Jenkins, who were ill with fever and refused to be moved were also killed. Reportedly, Jenkins was killed after being seized and stabbed, together with Private Adams who also refused to move. Private Cole, assigned to the hospital, was killed when he ran outside. Another hospital patient killed was Trooper Hunter of the Natal Mounted Police. [34] Among the hospital patients who escaped were a Corporal Mayer of the NNC; Bombardier Lewis of the Royal Artillery, and Trooper Green of the Natal Mounted Police, who was wounded in the thigh by a bullet. Private Conley, with a broken leg, was pulled to safety by Hook, although Conley's leg was broken again in the process. [35] Cattle kraal and bastion [ edit ]

Outcome

On 22 January 1879, during the final hour of the Battle of Isandlwana – one of the greatest disasters ever to befall British troops during the Victorian era – a very different story was about to unfold a few miles away at the mission station of Rorke’s Drift. When a Zulu force of more than 3,000 warriors turned their attention to the small outpost, defended by around 150 British and Imperial troops, the odds of the British surviving were staggeringly low. The British victory that ensued, therefore, would go down as one of the most heroic actions of all time, and has enraptured military history enthusiasts for decades. Note the word "some" in the third line down. A little further research tells us these "some" were English mineral and coal exploiters! After the battle, 351 Zulu bodies were counted, but it has been estimated that at least 500 wounded and captured Zulus might have been massacred as well. [37] [40] Having witnessed the carnage at Isandlwana, the members of Chelmsford's relief force had no mercy for the captured, wounded Zulus they came across, [41] nor did the station's defenders. 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. 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". [42] Laband, in his book The Zulu Response to the British Invasion of 1879, accepts the estimate of 600 that Shepstone had from the Zulus. [43]

David, Dr. Saul. Zulu: The True Story. BBC . Retrieved 29 September 2011. {{ cite book}}: |work= ignored ( help) There are many details missing from the film, well there is only so much you can fit in, and some things were outright untrue. Hook wasn't a criminal and drunk, he was a teetotaller and his reason for being in the hospital to defend it so gallantly? He was the hospital cook, and not a malingerer. C/Sgt Bourne was in his 20's and known as 'the kid' being the youngest man of that rank in the entire army. Henderson then followed his departing men. 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. [28] Outraged that Stevenson and some of his colonial NCOs [29] had also fled from the barricades, a few British soldiers fired after them, killing Corporal William Anderson. The alphabetical list of descriptions is so easily to follow, Volume 1 covers from Adendorff to Jobbins, so it is easy to realise what at least some of Volume 2 will have in store.Swedish power metal band Sabaton wrote the song "Rorke's Drift" about the battle for their 2016 album The Last Stand. [62] What we get is a sensible, reasoned and well supported new analysiss that eschews all modern accounts to return to the words of those whe were there. His arguments are cogent and difficult to deny but he is the first to admit that several survivors change their accounts over the years. Some to appease the communities where the dead came from others for self aggrandisement or simple old agae and confused memory. Whybra, Julian (2004). England's Sons: a casualty and survivors' roll of British combatants for the battle of ... Isandhlwana. One Slice Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-908901-94-1.

I've read a few books about Rorke's Drift and this is one I will be keeping in my library. The book covers aspects of the battle not previously covered in anything else I've read, such as the defence and the withdrawal from the hospital and who was where and when during this time. A more uninteresting or more stupid-looking fellow I never saw. Wood (a subordinate of Wolseley) tells me he is a most useless officer, fit for nothing." Carroll, Rory. Legendary Battle of Anglo-Zulu War marred by brutal aftermath, The Guardian 29 April 2003 The Duke of Wellington was famously dismissive of any attempt to create a record of the events of the Battle of the Waterloo. He compared it to trying to remembe who danced with whom a at a Ball. Since eveeryone's recollection is different it is impossible to divine the truth. This book is extensive and it makes it difficult to think that there is a second volume, which I'm going to buy once this is posted.Kable wrote: Wasn't part of the discussion on the forum to do with the wrong naming of the 24th at these battles ? Quoting from the Queen's Regs was just to clarify this matter. I'm just an outsider looking on.