Rorke's Drift - photos taken by Lt Chard ...

[dogtag]

Funny how the movie looks so much better than the real thing.
The Zulu chief was clearly a bad tactician.
If you have superior numbers then use them -
as the Russian General said "Quantity has a quality all it's own"

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9059159/Rorkes-Drift-photos-scene-Zulu-battle-1879.html

[Vern Humphrey]

A Co, 28th Foot (South Wales Borderers) was left at Roark's Drift to build the bridge -- Chard, an Engineer officer, was there to supervise. That company was chosen because Bromhead, the company commander was deaf and not suited for combat.

[dogtag]

A British Company is commanded by a Major.
A Platoon by a 2nd Lt. Battalion by a Lt Col.
Both Chard and Bromhead were 2nd Lts

Back then of Course, who knows ?

[Vern Humphrey]

A British Company is commanded by a Major.
A Platoon by a 2nd Lt. Battalion by a Lt Col.
Both Chard and Bromhead were 2nd Lts

Back then of Course, who knows ?

But nobody denies that A Company, 28th Foot defended Roark's Drift, nor does anyone deny that Bromhead was a lieutenant. In fact, Chard, who was also a lieutenant, commanded the defense because he had date-of-rank on Bromhead.

Basic law of science: If a thing did happen, it could happen.

[dogtag]

Looks like a God forsaken place.
The Zulus were better dressed in the movie.

[Mark in Ottawa]

An interesting historical point is that whent he Zulus departed, they did not take their wounded with them. When the British relief column arrived, they simply executed most of the wounded, throwing the bodies and some wounded, but still living Zulus, into a large pit and burying them. For some reason that I have never understood, they hanged some of the Zulus rather than bayonetting them. By the time the releif column arrived, the British were almost out of ammunition so their arrival was literally a life-saver. The Zulu commander was actually the King's brother and was under orders not to cross the river and leave Zulu territory but he did so anyway

[dogtag]

The Zulus had a ritual (British called it mutilation) to honor dead warriors.
The British were furious as they did not understand the ritual, and mercilessly
hunted down the Zulus. Not something to be proud of.

[JB White]

Gentlemen, at Rourke's Drift it was a remaining company of the 24th along with native Natal troops and Royal Engineers.
The 28th ( Gloucestershire) wasn't in South Africa.

Rank was equal but command for the record was established according to date of commission.

[barretcreek]

Deleted.

[Sunray]

"...28th Foot..." 24th Regiment of Foot. 11 VC's awarded for the battle.
The estimated 3,000 or 4,000 Zulus who attacked had missed the fight at Isandlwana(22 January 1879) earlier in the day and wanted to make their name.
"...did not take their wounded..." No medical corps anyway. Or any place to take 'em.
"...he had date-of-rank on Bromhead..." Date of Commission. Makes engineers crazy when you tell 'em they dig holes. snicker.
The movie was supposed to be a vehicle for Stanley Baker(The knife guy in Guns of Navarone) but Caine, in his first starring role, stole it.
Crank up the volume. It's my Regiment's March too. (Along with hordes of other Regiments.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSEU5zHgcTc

[JB White]

A misnomer is calling the 24th the South Wales Borderers during 1870,s.
That name didn't come about until the reforms of the 1880s. A few years after the battle. But once again, the film industry has rewritten history. Some leeway allowed for letting the audience identify with the unit though.

There was a lot, and I mean a LOT, of artistic license involved in the making of the film. It worked on me. I walked out of the theater begging my father for a Martini rifle :)

[Sunray]

Named the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1782. South Wales Borderers from 1689. Most English regiments changed names several times over the centuries. A bunch were amalgamated a few times as well.
'Zulu' is still the best movie ever made.

[JB White]

Doesn't change the fact that during the Zulu wars in the 1870's they were the 24th and had very few Welshmen in their ranks.